Parents Gaming With Kids Has Unexpected Benefits
A recent poll of parents with gaming children conducted by AOL and the Associated Press show only four in ten play games with their kids. Those featured in the article see games as a worthwhile means of bonding with and educating their children.
"Being a single mother to a son can offer many gaps," says Tammy McCoy, a single mother who games with her 17-year-old son. "Gaming became a way to bridge the gaps—which is what helped to make our bond even stronger."
One parent notes that even prohibiting violent games can lead to a positive outcome. Brian Albright turned a denial of his son's hopes to play Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC, PS3, X360) into a discussion of the realities of war and the politics and policies surrounding it.
"I think that what he's doing is basically the essence of parenting, which is to say, find a way to have teachable moments. You could have the same sorts of discussions about music lyrics, and you could have the same sorts of discussions about Jamie-Lynn Spears, or drinking on Friday Night Lights," said pediatrician Don Shifrin.
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mrwolf710
replyI've been playing a lot of games on the Wii with my two 7 year olds and even my 3 year old. They love it, I love it, it's so much fun. I can even noticeably see it improving their coordination and critical thinking skills (depending on what we are playing, obviously). It's pretty cool. They know that I really like games so getting to participate in games with me is cool to them I think since they can't really participate in the PC games I play.
