How much time should my child spend in front of the television? Or play a video game? Is it harmful, or would it help develop skills? Many worries were raised by concerned mothers as they saw their children sit for hours in front of a screen.
According to studies, children spend more than 30 hours a week on an electronic device. Video games can have both negative and positive effects on children. What are the side effects of playing too much video games? While video games can be an enjoyable way to pass the time, playing them excessively can lead to severe concerns such as
· Loss of interest in spending time outside, reading, and socializing or making new friends.
· Become more hostile specifically with kids who play violent video games
· Get into confrontations with their instructors and have academic problems.
· Suffer from poor sleeping
· Suffer from Obesity and heart problems.
· Less interest with outdoor activities and loss of interest in connecting with nature.
What are the benefits of playing video games?
As any other activity, playing video games have benefits and disadvantages. Moderation is key to everything. Simple education for your kids can eliminate lots of the disadvantages such as taking breaks, stretching, eating nutritional food, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at anything 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Playing video games can be fun and social when combined with a healthy lifestyle. It can:
· When played with others, it helps to train your child's brain, memory, ability to follow directions, problem solving, hand-eye coordination, reasoning, simulation, and teamwork.
· It introduces your child to the world of technology and prepares him/her for the future.
· Some video games are educational. They teach your child while also allowing them to have fun.
· Some video games are educative. They teach your child and let them have fun at the same time.
· It can occasionally assist to boost your child's self-esteem by encouraging to take risks and explore more in order to achieve the goal or win, an attitude that they may adopt in real life.
· Some video games encourage kids to be active and workout, which causes them to move and spend energy.
How to limit the time of playing video games?
· Limit the video game consumption to no more than one hour every day.
· Pay attention to the types of games your child is playing.
· Do not put a TV in your child's bedroom.
· Monitor your child's internet usage and enable parental control feature
· Speak with your child and inquire about their feelings regarding the games.
· Share information on games with other parents.