|
|
Article: 9 reasons to let your kids play video games: "because he begs for them" isn't one of them. Experts reveal why playing in a virtual world is so much more than fun and games--and which programs they'd buy for their own kids.(be a better parent)
- Article from:
- Redbook
- Article date:
- July 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Hearst Communications, reprinted with permission of Hearst. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
For many parents, the mere mention of video games conjures visions of kids' little brains turning to mush from staring at a screen all day. Just ask Claire Teller, a Boca Raton, FL, mom, about her 9-year-old son, Eric. "No matter how much he plays, it's never enough," she says. "Every day, Eric begs for more computer time."
With studies showing that kids spend more time on the computer than ever before--and that violent games can indeed lead kids to think and act aggressively--parents' worries are understandable. But not all video games are harmful. Although you should mix your child's computer time with other activities, "many positive developments occur when ...