Technology

Study Shows Video Games Help Children

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― It's time to give up the paternal guilt. A new study came out Tuesday that shows the video games you let your children play, might actually help them out in life!

Video games have evolved quite a bit over the years and are much more complicated than they used to be.

The Pew Study from the Pew Internet ad American Life Project found that almost all American teenagers play video games, and that it's actually good for social and intellectual development.

CBS 3's Stephanie Abrams spoke with the CEO of Council for Relationships in Philadelphia who says he's not surprised.

Stephen Treat explained that video games build a set of skill like dexterity, conceptual thinking and even civic interest.

The Pew Study shows 64-percent of kids playing video games also raise money for charity and engage in civic activities.

Treat says, "They accomplish academic challenges with it and they feel good about themselves. It's a way of building identity, and building a sense of self."

Whitney Hoffman is a stay at home mother in Chadsford, Pennsylvania. She says both her children, ages 10 and 13, really enjoy their video games. She's also seen them gain a sense of accomplishment, self confidence, and even learn scholastically by playing the games.

Her son James is not athletic, but when playing Wii Nintendo Tennis, he's a pro. Her younger son John really enjoys being a Guitar Hero.

James also plays a game called Civilization, where he learned about ancient history before it was taught in school. That game alone kept him ahead of the class.

James says that playing video games helps him focus, and "maybe find ways of solving a problem that I had no clue before."

That's why his mom says, "If they're getting something out of it and enjoy it as a positive and successful experience then that's a really good thing because life is not always positive and successful."

RELATED LINK:

Pew Internet

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