| Your daughter just came home with a straight A | | | | incredibly creative graphics and storylines that are |
| report card and an academic achievement award. | | | | sure to inspire any creatively inclined youths. They |
| She is already taking college credit classes and | | | | are especially good for any children who dream to |
| she is only in the tenth grade. Her brother who is | | | | become writers some day. It is important to be |
| two years older is graduating this year and | | | | able to build imaginary worlds as a writer, and |
| heading off to college over the summer. He will be | | | | many of the fantasy based games show them |
| attending a major University on a full academic | | | | what is possible when you think creatively. |
| scholarship. And he was the one you used to | | | | Playing computer games can also be good for |
| think would be better off attending a trade school. | | | | language skills. Many of the games involve foreign |
| You and your spouse like to think that you are | | | | languages and translations from Japanese to |
| both pretty smart, and that your two braniac kids | | | | English, and visa versa. |
| are just a couple of chips off the old blocks. But | | | | There is also the cultural aspect of playing a game |
| before you start to think too highly of your own | | | | that was made in a foreign country. Many games |
| DNA, you need to know about some recent | | | | depict scenarios that are found in the country |
| scientific studies that say you and your spouse | | | | where it was made. Children can learn about the |
| are not the only ones who should take the credit. | | | | differences and similarities between them and the |
| Video games played on systems like Xbox 360, | | | | people in other countries around the world. They |
| Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii and PSP (Playstation | | | | can gain access to anthropological information |
| Portable) should also get a lot of the credit for | | | | every time they play a video game on their Xbox |
| making your kids so intelligent. | | | | 360, Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii consoles. |
| One thing is for sure, and that is the fact that | | | | Not all video games offer an escape into a realm |
| your kids are growing up in a world that is quite | | | | of fantasy. Some have real world geography that |
| different than the world that you grew up in. | | | | teaches children about the planet they live on. |
| Technology and its influences are far more | | | | These types of games also teach them |
| pervasive now than they used to be back in your | | | | navigational skills, for they involve the use of |
| childhood. The whole learning experience is just | | | | maps and directions. |
| mechanically different. For example, you grew up | | | | So if you are wondering why you your kids are |
| playing with puzzles instead of video games. | | | | over-achieving in school, you need look no further |
| Puzzles are good for visualization of geometric | | | | than their Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii |
| patterns, along with recognition and recall of | | | | and PSP games and consoles. You may have |
| geometric designs. The theory says that if | | | | been the one who taught them their first words, |
| puzzles are good for this, then video games are | | | | how to walk and how to ride a bike, but their |
| even better because the shapes and designs are | | | | video games taught them things like |
| constantly changing and moving, which makes | | | | problem-solving skills, critical thinking and sequential |
| them more challenging. In essence, a more | | | | reasoning abilities. |
| challenging learning experience means that a child | | | | If you are a parent with a child that cannot seem |
| is working their brain harder, and this makes them | | | | to get enough Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and |
| smarter. | | | | Nintendo Wii games or PSP downloads, and you |
| There are many other benefits that come with | | | | are starting to feel like the teacher's assistant |
| the use of Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii | | | | instead of the teacher, I would not worry too |
| and PSP games. Recent studies have proved that | | | | much. You have one big advantage over |
| playing video games helps to develop | | | | computer games and that is the ability to enjoy |
| problem-solving skills, critical thinking and sequential | | | | the fruits of your labor. When you see your |
| reasoning abilities. They are also good for the | | | | children graduate and blossom into mature, |
| development of spatial reasoning and memory | | | | well-educated adults you can rest assured that |
| skills, as most games involve the placement of | | | | you did a good job raising them, with the help of |
| objects in 3-dimensional spaces as well as the use | | | | video games of course, who by the way will have |
| of floor plans, maps, mazes and puzzles. | | | | no idea that they were partially responsible for |
| Video games are also good for the development | | | | your children growing up so smart and well |
| of artistic abilities in children. Many games have | | | | adjusted. |