There was a time when video games were seen as a hobby of the “nerds”. It is now the fastest-growing entertainment medium in the world. Everywhere, you will see people playing their favorite video games. According to the latest figures, there are now 3.2 billion video gamers worldwide with 1.17 billion people playing online. In 2015, the number of gamers stood at 2.03 billion. So, it has been an impressive rise. The video gaming market is currently estimated to be worth $282 billion.
The COVID-19 pandemic helped increase this number as a lot of people took to gaming to find relief from stress, enjoy their leisure time, and connect with friends.
What Happens When Gamers Become Parents?
Video games appeal to people of all ages. The parents of today were the first generation of gamers. Many of them grew up playing video games. It was an important part of their childhood. They used to find and review online games on websites like fortunaua.com and others.
So should they give up playing when they become parents? What if gaming becomes a distraction? What will be the influence on the children when they see their parents playing video games? These are critical questions that need to be answered.
Parenthood does not mean you have to give up on gaming. It is always important to have time for yourself, especially for the moms who had to carry the unborn child inside her for so long and make so many sacrifices.
Gaming with the Family is a Good Idea
Far from having a negative influence, new research shows that playing video games with kids may actually have a positive impact on them and improve the quality of family time. Gaming with children can be a fun way of sharing something that both the kids and their parents love. Many of the parents of today grew up with video games. So, when they see their children become interested, they see it as an opportunity to share something that interests them both.
The Entertainment Software Association, which is a trade association of the video game industry, published a report in 2019. According to this report, 164 million adults play video games and 57% of them play video games with their children once a week at least.
The eSafety Commissioner Report
A new report from this online safety watchdog reveals that more than 50% of children and one-quarter of teenagers who play video games online want their parents to play with them. The Commissioner report finds that when parents are involved in gaming, the benefits go beyond spending quality family time. For example, they feel more comfortable reporting online abuse and bullying to their parents. In many multiplayer games, gamers hook up with others through chat and their microphones with people who can be strangers.
Playing Video Games with Children is a Good Idea
A recently conducted ESAC survey discovered that online gaming is a popular social activity among friends and in communities where people meet virtually. The survey also found that many families are getting together to play online games or on consoles, such as PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo. 74% of the parents who play video games said that they play with their kids, which is a 9% rise over the last two years. 69% of these parents also said that playing video games allows them to spend more time with their children.
● Selecting age-appropriate games and playing with children can improve their creative thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.
● Video games can also provide joy, relief from relief, and improve their cognitive development.
There can be many teachable moments in multi-player games. They can offer lessons in conflict resolution and empathy. They can reinforce social and leadership skills.
Also, video gaming isn’t a sedentary activity anymore. Now, when you play the games, you can be a part of the experience through virtual reality and motion detection, whether it is active role-playing with Nintendo’s Ring Fit Adventure or golfing on PlayStation VR. So, a parent can play and enjoy these games together with the children while moving.
How to Ensure That Children Are Playing Safely
By setting boundaries and rules, the parents can make sure that the children are gaming safely. It is important for them to know the games they are playing, how much time they are spending on the games, and knowing whom they are playing with. Of course, the parents will be able to moderate actively when they join the kids. This approach always works better rather than telling them what they can do and what they cannot. Strict imposition is old-school parenting. It doesn’t work in the modern age.
When you join them, it will be easier to establish rules. For example, you may prohibit any game that involves connecting with strangers and voice chat. You can also review the level of violence. You can limit screen time and even set up automatic shut-off, where the game will shut off on its own when the time is up. As a parent, you can ask them to play in a common space of the house, where you can clearly see what they are playing and doing. You can monitor whether the game is pushing for purchases.
Gaming with children is fun and a good way of socializing and coming close to them. However, parents also need to emphasize that face-to-face interactions are always a priority over online gaming. Online gaming is not the real world. In the future, as they grow up, face-to-face interactions will help them develop their socializing and leadership skills much more than online gaming. It will help them in every area of life.
An Occupational therapist, freelance content writer and more importantly a stay-at-home mom, Sara, like all other parents juggles her many roles. Her passion for writing combined with her professional expertise as an Occupational therapist (working with children with special needs) has helped her craft content specific to child health, wellness and learning skills. At present, Sara alternates her time between raising her two young children, and writing about what she knows best- children!
