The Effect of Video Games On Your Child’s Behavior

            Video games have become increasingly popular in this era of technology that we are currently living in. Parents – I’m sure you have a child who has either played, is playing, or even will play a video game at some point in their life. Today, it seems like video games are consuming so much of a developing child’s time and has almost become the “norm” of a child’s regular routine. However, devoting so much time and energy into playing video games for hours on end at a time is certainly not in a child’s best interest.

           

            Because video games are essentially taking over children’s lives, it is nearly impossible to cut out gaming for them as a whole. Although there are various types of video games available on the market today, realistically speaking, a child isn’t going to choose an educational game over a game where he/she is able to get a thrill out of killing people for potential reward. An interesting study found that, “student’s who had played a violent virtual reality game had a higher heart rate, reported more dizziness and nausea, and exhibited more aggressive thoughts in a posttest than those who played a nonviolent game” (Cesarone, 1998).  

            Working in a preschool classroom, I observed a group of 3-year-old children interact with one another in the dramatic play area one morning. Interestingly enough, I heard one child yell out, “Shoot the zombie, BAM-BAM-BAM!” Although I presume this child is not actually playing video games at home himself, I do however believe he is watching an older sibling at home participate in such violent actions. Overall, it is safe to conclude that children don’t always have to participate in such actions; they are simply influenced by things occurring around them.

These the types of qualities are certainly not what we want in our children that will one day make up our future. It is important to come together to promote the importance of participating in extracurricular activities with peers and friends and place less emphasis on the addiction to avid gaming.