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Should You Buy Your Young Child Game Systems or Computers?

As your child gets older their requests go from the doll or toy race car to an iPod or a laptop. Should young children get such luxury items, or are they necessities in today’s society? It would probably depend on who you ask as to the answer to that question. Many individuals from older generations are going to say they are luxury items not necessary for a young child, while someone from a younger generation may have a different opinion.

Individuals in their 30′s and 40′s would probably have mixed feelings. These individuals grew up in a rapidly changing time where they can remember not having a lot of technology, but as teenagers the technology was being developed and first introduced. Therefore as a generation we were just as fascinated with the gadgets and the new products that came along. We can remember the excitement of the original Atari video game systems and having to go to a store to play it because our parents couldn’t afford the system and was addicted to Pac Man, Kangaroo, or Donkey Kong. Now things are so much different but we are still just as fascinated. So when things come out and our kids ask for them, we want them just as much.

The key is to teach your children responsibility and that they have to earn the items they receive. It is never a good idea to just give children anything they ask for without requiring them to do something to earn it, even if it is just them cleaning their room.  We all remember wanting something as a child and often repeat the actions of our parents. Make sure you show responsibility if you choose to buy game systems or computers for your children.

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Best Game System for Young Children

You like to play video games but adult video games and video game systems are not meant for young children. So what is the best video game system if you have young children that are becoming old enough to begin the journey into a digital world?  There are several things to consider when buying a video game system for your child, such as how sturdy the system is, how much it costs and what games are available for the system?

Depending on each child how the need for a sturdy video game system may vary. You may have a child who is very gentle with everything or a child that destroys anything they touch. For the latter you should also take cost into consideration. If you are going to have to replace a system every other month then you may want to consider something relatively inexpensive.

For younger children between about 4 to 7 an educational game such as Leapster is a very good choice. This game allows a child to learn while having fun. As your child gets older you can gradually progress to other educational devices until you feel they are old enough to move on to the more popular systems such as Playstation, Xbox or Wii. Edutaining Kids offers a rev

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Best PC Video Games

When you read about video games you often think of Xbox, Playstation or other gaming systems. Yet, some still love the world of PC games. So what are some of the popular PC games at this time or even of the past decade? Are there good games out there or do you have to have a gaming system to enjoy the various game titles?

Edge listed a top 100 list of PC games since 2000 and there are some very interesting titles. Some you may remember playing and some that are still available to entertain you and your kids. The number one spot goes to The Sims.  This game has had a variety of spin-off games, but it is still considered the best selling PC games of all time. There are several other titles in this series that have made it into the Top 100 list.  Other games on the top ten of the list include some old favorites World of Warcraft, Age of Mythology, and even Zoo Tycoon. The top 100 also has a variety of games from Atari Arcade Hits to Halo Combat Evolved.

Of course there will always be individuals who will have their favorites and disagree with the placement of some of the video games on the various best of lists. Many of the video games that are available for gaming systems are also available for the PC. So, just look for the PC logo on the video game box to determine whether it can be played on your computer. What some may consider the best may not be what you do, but take time to try some of them out and you may be surprised how fun they can be.

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Violence in Video Games

One of the main complaints by many parents about video games is in regards to the amount of violence that is contained in many of the current titles. Violence seems to be everywhere and it is very difficult to protect our children from exposure to violence. Video games are no exception. Yet, you can do your research to find out what video games are appropriate for children and which are not good games for your child to play.

Parenting.com has a list of ten violent video games to avoid for your children. These video games include Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, Fallout: New Vegas, Castlevania, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Dead Rising 2, Halo: Reach, Naughty Bear, Mafia II, and the final game on the list is Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days. These games all have a high level of violence. Some have a great deal of profanity and sexual content. After reading the reviews it makes one even wonder if they are appropriate for adults.

There is no way to completely shelter your children from the worst aspects of the world, but you can try to educate them about violence without providing games. The debate about whether violence in video games can make children violent will continue to rage on, but as a parent one should use appropriate judgment as to what you allow your child to view and play. Children must be taught about the difference in fantasy and reality and it is up to the parent to provide a proper role model to follow. Although the games are violent and intended for adults often they find their way into the hands of children. This means that parents should be supervising what is being played. If you as a parent play the video game and cringe at the sight of what you are playing then it is definitely not appropriate for your child.

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Educational Games for Children

Parents often worry that their children will fall victim to mindless video games. Yet, some games can actually be educational for children. If parents monitor which games their child plays they can actually help their child learn. Granted some games should be relaxing fun without mind bending problems, but if you can make education fun for your child you can help your child want to learn.

Arcademic Skill Builders is a free site that is dedicated to helping to make math, language and geography fun. On this site you can find games to teach addition, multiplication, division, even fractions and ratios.  Other games include spelling bees, Word Frog, and geography games like Penguin Hop. The site is geared toward younger children who are in the process of learning the basics in the areas of math, language and geography.

Gwen Dewar, Ph.D. has an interesting article on Parenting Science that argues both sides of the debate on whether educational video games are actually helpful. Apparently there is evidence that some can be very beneficial, but a parent should be careful of poorly designed educational games. The article does contain links to what Dewar suggests to be good educational video games for your children.

When getting a video game for your child it is always a good idea to play the game yourself to ensure that the game is appropriate for your child. Many parents blame video game manufacturers for the corruption of their children, but parents are ultimately responsible for making the decisions on the games that are bought. Even if you give your child an allowance and let them select games, you should still monitor their selections. There are a variety of resources that have reviews of video games. Taking the time to do research and playing the games yourself can help make sure that your child is getting the best education while having the most fun. Take the time to spend playing the game with your child to make sure they enjoy the game, and if not why and what they would prefer so you both will be happy.

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The Evolution of Gaming

The term “gaming” today has a very specific connotation, conjuring up images of computer bound video gamers, rapt in their attention towards their desktop or laptop, controllers in hand. Video and electronic games are a multi-million dollar industry and growing, but did you know that even the most advanced gamer owes their modern day entertainment to the games played not by their parents and grandparents, but even their ancestors before that?

That’s right – the evolution of gaming should really be traced back to the first board games made by humankind. Currently, the oldest board game known is the Senet, an Egyptian board game from circa 3500 B.C. It would appear that this game had both an element of luck as well as strategy and since then many variations of game play have continued over the centuries, with each culture and era bringing rise to new innovations in entertainment. For example, whereas the Senet was board that was constructed, the game of Mancala was the perfect game-on-the-go since the game could easily be played without a board, just by creating grooves in the ground and using pebbles as playing pieces.

In modern times, board games continue to be both a favorite of children and adults alike and although playing cards has long provided generations of entertainment, there has recently been an increasing rise in the popularity of card and gambling-style games such Poker, Texas Hold’em and 21. This trend has created a style of entertainment all its own through the growing popularity of home game rooms. Sometimes just an extra room in the house, such as a spare bedroom or the formal dining room, and sometimes the entire basement or garage – their original purpose discarded to make way a complete dedication to these more physical styles of games, complete with custom poker tables, pool tables and dart boards.

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Are video games distracting?

There are times when in certain gatherings it is tempting to argue whether or not video games are addictive and distracting. When a negative aunt at a holiday gathering nay-says a game given as a gift, one might want to say something.

A video game player who is old enough might want to say, “Oh, they aren’t so bad.”

The argument may carry on towards evidence of hand-eye coordination and successful integration into modern society. It may even reach that sometimes necessary phrase regarding the nature of the “times we live in.”

However, all of those arguments will be countered soundly with a few basic responses. And these very firm arguments against video game are so reasonable and grounded in evidence that they will likely keep that video game defender from ever speaking the first word.

The aunt will start with something like, “In my day we played outside.”

This, of course, is a stab at the strength and virility of the video game player in general. It is not just an allusion toward the general healthiness of fresh air. It is as if to say, “I would have been able to fight off a mountain lion when I was ten. You would probably be eaten because you spend too much time playing your games.”

The second argument she will front, however, is even more devastating because of it’s universally true nature. Playing a video game, any video game is a task which requires concentration. That said, it’s not the sort of endeavor to undertake whilst also attempting to have a conversation with someone.

The aunt will illustrate the negative manifestation of this truth by stating, “When he’s got his head stuck in those things he doesn’t have a clue what’s going on.”

True enough. Then again, that’s probably because they are so much fun.

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Best Game Ever

With the multitude of video games options and platforms out there, it’s a daunting task for any critic to try and pick ‘the best’. Plus, what is good for one video gamer is subject to the opinion of the next gamer.

That being true, picking the right video game really depends on what the gamer is after. In the last decade certain terms have cropped up which can help the curious game shopper more accurately narrow down what they want to tell the teenage kid working at Game Stop they are looking for.

Here is a general list of some of those terms;

* First Person Shooter – Hello Halo, Call of Duty and the like. In these games the player will generally be viewing a battlefield of some sort from the perspective of the avatar. That means a couple of arms sticking out in front, usually holding some insanely powerful weapon. While there are various styles of game play within these types of games, the basis idea is to shoot, bomb, explode or otherwise vanquish the enemy.

* RPG – The video role playing game was invented for Dungeons and Dragons player who were tired of rolling the dice, or couldn’t find a good game master. In these games a central character will be able to expand on their abilities, items and equipment throughout the game. There is usually a sort of leveling involved, where experience pays off with a stronger character.

* RTS – The real time strategy is the short attention span’s answer to chess. These games commonly feature a playing board viewed from above, where the gamer can build resources, bases and armies in order to invade neighboring players.

Keep in mind these are only a few popular options and don’t include other massive genres like sports games, simulators, action and adventure and skill or puzzle games.

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Most Popular Types of PC Games

Personal computer games began as very simple games such as checkers and card games. They have advanced quickly into one of the number one forms of home entertainment. There are a variety of games now available to play, ranging from the old fashioned style of arcade games, to types that can include many players from across the world, joining to make up teams for sports or war games.

One of the most popular styles of personal computer games are anything to do with sports. Children and adults alike enjoy playing competitive sports games. Nearly every sport can be played through a computer, including football, basketball, soccer and tennis. The games have advanced so much that player’s are able to invent their own team members and individualize the players appearance.

Board games are quite popular with players of all ages. These include games such as Monopoly and checkers. Word games such as Scrabble can be played online with players from all over the world competing against each other. Most board game styles of PC games don’t require anything more then a computer, a key board, a mouse and possibly a high speed Internet connection.

Action games are one of the most played styles of personal computer games. Many adults enjoy this type of entertainment. This style of game not only allows the player to pretend they are a super soldier, but they can actually help with hand/eye coordination skills.

Popular too, are most of the educational games. These can even be played by toddlers and can be purchased so that they are specifically made for the age group of the child. Many of these styles of games include story settings that enable the child to follow along at their pace while using their skills to move on to the next page of the story. Puzzles and games that involve finding a hidden object are quite fun for younger children and adults alike.

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Can Playing PC Games Become Addictive?

Nearly everyone that owns a computer enjoys playing a PC game every so often. Some enjoy it so much that it becomes an obsession, which of course is not healthy. Many that play PC games can easily become addicted, especially children. Playing a PC game can be fun entertainment for a child and can even be educational, but parents need to be aware of how long a child is spending on the computer and monitor the situation if it seems to be getting out of control.

One sign that a child may be becoming addicted to PC games is that they no longer take interest in outside activities such as playing sports or simply spending time with their friends. As stated, playing a game on a personal computer can help teach a child many things, including better hand/eye coordination, but the human body also needs fresh air, sunshine and exercise to stay healthy.

Children that become addicted to gaming may become loners. Their social life will become more limited. Health problems may even occur if too much time is spent on the computer. Problems with socialization skills may develop because the child is losing contact with other children. A lack of sleep is a common problem. Eyesight can be affected, and obesity may become a problem because the child isn’t getting the proper amount of physical exercise. These problems rarely occur, but are truly possible if a child becomes addicted to playing games on the computer.

If a parent thinks their child is spending too much time on the computer, then they probably are. Unfortunately, some parents use video and computer games as a babysitter. For concerned parents, a child’s addiction to playing computer games can be quite scary. One tip to help break the addiction it to slowly start lowering the amount of time that the child is allowed to plays games. Doing parent/child activities together can help lure the child’s interest away from gaming.

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