Effect Of Video Games and Tips for Parents Concerning Video Games/Television Shows

        

                              Here's What I Think About Video Games:
 As we know, video games is the favourite way for most of the children to spend their free time. Some parents also use video games as a babysitter for their child when they are busy in their working life. However, isn't video games good for children? In my view video game is really a nice tool for kids but I believe sometimes it is depending on the situation and an individual who is keeping in touch with it. This article link below have shown effective result and analysis about the effect of video games towards children. This shows parents have responsibility in helping the children while the children are engage in video games and it will influence the effect of the video games effectively. For example, as the adult we can, carefully choose the types of games for the children, limit the time of playing with it and adult intervention with children is the best way. The most important thing is change our perspective about video games. The video games can be use in a positive way to help children learn knowledge and skill from it.

THE ARTICLE LINK:
        http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0816/is_6_21/ai_n9772319/?tag=content;col1

 Tips for Parent When it Comes to Video Games/ Television Shows:

• Look for age-appropriate programs and games. Think about your child's age and choose the types of things that you want him to see, learn, and imitate.
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• Look for TV shows and video games that:
      — teach your child something
      — hold his interest
      — encourage him to listen and question
      — help him learn more words
      — make him feel good about himself
      — introduce him to new ideas and things.
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• Limit the time your child spends watching TV and playing video games. Keep a record of how many hours your child spends watching TV and playing video games each week, as well as what he is watching or playing. For example, some experts recommend that children limit their TV watching to no more than 2 hours a day. Remember that watching TV and playing video games are not substitutes for activities, such as reading, playing with friends, spending time outside, making projects, and talking with family members, which are important to his development.
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• Learn about current TV children's programs, DVDs, and video games, and help your child to select good ones. Many good children's television programs are available on public television stations and on children's cable channels, and many of those programs also offer related educational video or computer games.
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• Look for educational shows and games. There are many children's programs, movies, music performances, and games that emphasize reading, language, and math skills.
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• Talk to your child about what interests him. After selecting programs or games that are appropriate for your child, help him decide which ones interest him. When watching television, turn on the TV when one of these programs starts and turn it off when the program ends.
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• Watch TV and play the games with your child, so that you can answer questions and talk about what he sees. Pay special attention to how he responds, so that you can help him to understand what he's seeing. Try to point out the things that are part of your child's everyday life.
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• When you can't watch TV with your child or monitor his video game use, spot check to see what he's watching and playing. Ask questions after the program ends. See what excites or troubles him. Find out what he has learned and remembered.
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• Go to the library and find books that explore the themes of the shows and games he's enjoying. Help your child to use his drawings or pictures cut from magazines to make a book based on the programs and games he is using.
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• Follow-up TV viewing or game playing with activities. Have your child tell you a new word that he learned from a TV program. Together, look up the word in a dictionary and talk about its meaning. Have him make up his own story about one of his favorite characters from his video games.
• Make certain that TV and video games aren't used as a babysitter. Instead, balance these forms of entertainment with other enjoyable activities for your child.
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• Model good TV viewing habits. Remember that children often imitate their parents' behavior. Children who live in homes in which parents and other family members watch a lot of TV are likely to spend their time in the same way. Children who live in homes in which parents and other family members have "quiet" time away from the TV when they read (either alone to each other), talk to each other, play games or engage in other activities tend to do the same.

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/26555