Stop Worrying about Video Games

By Jennifer Comet Wagner

Parents have many things to worry about. It comes with the job. However, one of the things that many

parents worry about needlessly is playing video games. As you will see, gaming conveys many benefits

Why don’t you know about these benefits? The newspapers love to write stories about violence in video
games because it sells. However there have been hundreds of studies during the last decade on video
games benefits and some that also show that violent video games do not create violent kids. The fact
that parents were only hearing one side of the story was the reason that I decided to write The Gamer
Generation: Reaping The Benefits of Video Games.

Here is a list of the various benefits discussed the in the ebook:
In my book, The Gamer Generation, I share many resources – articles, books, websites, videos, etc.

1. Socialization – For most teens, gaming is a social activity and a major component of their overall
social experience.
2. Physical and Health Benefits – With all the new motion controllers, kids don’t sit still while
playing anymore. Video games are being created to help with a number of medical conditions.
3. Violence in Video Games: The Studies You Don’t See – “Video games are bad for you? That’s
what they said about Rock ‘n Roll.” There are a number of studies that disprove the theory that
violent video games make gamers violent.
4. Cognitive and Creative Benefits – Today’s video games are so complex that gamers become
experts at multitasking with improved cognitive processing.
5. Video Games in Education – Kids enjoy learning when they are having fun. And games are
perfect for education with the game design of clear goals, leveling up, ability to risk take and
rewards.
6. Educational Value of Video Game Creation – “It is paradoxical that many educators and parents
still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital
connection between them.”

Author Jennifer Comet Wagner with a character from Pop Cap's Plants Vs. Zombies.

7. Business and Careers – In Massively multiplayer online role-playing games, players develop the
ability to multitask, think creatively, work in teams, and become leaders.
8. Serious Games – “Serious games are games with purpose beyond just providing entertainment.”
Serious games are being created in many areas that are impacting the world with charitable and
other endeavors.
9. Family Connections – Video games can bring families together. There are so many family
friendly games that families can spend hours having fun together.

A recent article that I’d like to recommend is Are Video Games Good for Girls?  This is another excellent
article that brings out many of the benefits of video games.

As long as your kids play age-appropriate games, and don’t play every waking moment, gaming is not

something to worry about at all. It can actually be a very good thing. Give it a try so that you too might
reap the benefits of video games.

To find out more, you can find Jennifer Comet Wagner’s ebook,  The Gamer Generation: Reaping the Benefits of Video Games at Amazon.com.