Are my children becoming smarter because they're spending time engaged with XBox 360 and Play Station 3? Maybe they're becoming 'dumber' -- or, maybe they're not experiencing any effects either way. Hmmm... what are my real thoughts on this from a mom perspective?
My generation wasn't exposed to gaming until the rise of Atari in the early 80s. Handheld games were available, but limited in game variation. Football was the most sought-after handheld game. Pac Man was available on console systems in public areas like the bowling alley, movie theater, and shopping mall too.
Today, gaming seems to be a way of life for kids. Our 15 year old received his first Play Station at the age of 4. I vividly remember thinking to myself, "wow, this is scary. He's only 4 and he can master (read: beat/defeat) a video game." Toy Story was his first game, and he was captivated by it. I didn't think past the moment, and gave little thought to the potential consequences of having allowed video gaming at such a young age.
Eleven years of game interaction have passed. Do I think gaming has affected my children? Absolutely. Has it enhanced their intellect or detracted from it? I think it's done a little of both. My boys are both very savvy with their knowledge of weaponry, and seemingly possess excellent fine motor skills. I've also seen an interest in electrical wiring and technical programming emerge in my 15 year old son. However, I've also witnessed a decline in outdoor activity, and personal interaction with friends. Live gaming allows for communication and exchange between players, but it's not face to face. Do I believe gaming poses the risk of addiction? Yes. But, social networking, internet socializing, and texting do too (in my opinion).
Balance and moderation are key. As parents we've chosen to take a proactive stance. We've established clear time limits, and monitor the boys' overall usage. School nights are off limits, and Sunday at 7:00pm is the weekend cutoff time. Summertime is closely monitored as well, and limits are adjusted accordingly. Our boys are active in sports, and both engage in hobbies. Thankfully, finding the time to game has become a challenge -- for both. I don't regret allowing my boys to indulge in gaming, but would recommend strict limitations to parents entering into the 'gaming' phase of parenting.
Honestly, I do worry about their (my boys') future gaming interest levels. My husband and I have NO interest in gaming whatsoever, but I have heard of situations where heavy gaming involvement has led to the dissolution of marriage. Hopefully their lives as adults will be full without the need to spend time gaming. Again, finding a healthy balance is important with all things in life.
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