When to Introduce Young Children to Video Games
Kids have been playing video games since Pong came out in the early 70s. Before school closings, children spent an hour or more each day playing social games like Minecraft and Fortnite, according to Common Sense Media . But in the era of social distancing, screen time has increased significantly. In the past year, aspiring gamers have searched for Nintendo Switch everywhere in physical or online stores to connect with friends through games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
When should children start?
The new rule our country has forced many parents to wonder not only about whether they should be familiar with video games their young children, but when. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that children under 18 months old should avoid using screens altogether, toddlers between 18 and 24 months old should use high-quality programs or apps only with their parents, and preschoolers aged two to five years should not spend more than an hour a day watching “high-quality programming. ”Such as PBS Kids.
But Dr. Sinem Siyahhan , co-director of the joint doctoral program in educational leadership with the University of California San Diego at California State University San Marcos, believes that children and adults can also spend meaningful time exploring the world through video games.
“I have a three year old and we played Minecraft together,” she explains. “We do this because when he showed interest in making animal sounds, I thought it would be great because I can walk around the screen and name all these animals instead of going to the farm. I can ask him, “What sound does a cow make?” And this is really useful because it creates a dialogue. “
We asked Siyahhan, who is also the co-author of Family in Play: Connecting and Learning with Video Games , for some tips on how and when to introduce children to play.
Find a game that’s right for your age
As with movies, books, and TV shows kids watch, you need to find a video game that is age-appropriate. But Siyahkhan also recommends finding something that matches their level of skill and knowledge. Complex control games can overwhelm a preschooler, so she suggests starting by browsing websites like Common Sense Media to find games that are right for your child’s age group.
“Don’t be afraid to go to Google Play or the App Store and see what people are saying,” she says. “Try downloading the game to your tablet and giving it a try. Explore your curiosity. “
Siyahhan says there is a common misconception that all video games are not suitable for children because some of them contain violent scenes. But as the popularity of pills has grown, the environment has become more diverse. There are many educational games and apps featuring characters like Dora the Explorer, designed for preschoolers and older.
You can’t just watch your kids play
Siyahhan says it’s not enough just to choose the games your kids will play. You still need to get involved with them in some way, although that doesn’t necessarily mean you should join them. Look at the screen your kids are playing on and get ready to look for opportunities to build relationships through play.
“When children know all the mechanics of play and can teach an adult, it makes them proud and they feel that what they are doing is valuable,” she says.
And you can encourage your kids to actively learn by delving deeper into the educational aspects of the game. For example, if they are playing a game with dinosaurs, they may want to know more about when these creatures ruled the earth 65 million years ago. And you can also talk about how to think for yourself and deal with your frustrations when they can’t get past a level.
“You also teach them that they have to persevere,” says Siyahkhan. “If they die three times and surrender, this is not the best lesson. You can use this as a learning opportunity. Wait a few days and invite them to take the controller and try again. Discuss it and ask what they think happened. “
Start setting limits
There are many reasons to encourage young children to play video games, including speculation that it could lead to careers in computer science and other STEM professions. But that doesn’t mean you should let your kids spend all their free time playing Minecraft instead of going outside.
Siahhan is hesitant to suggest specific options, but says that as you explore video games with your child, there are likely to be limitations related to your parenting style and values. She also says that the fact that video games are not the same as playing sports does not make the time spent playing them less valuable – it is still quality time together.
As they get older, all of these priorities – finding age-appropriate games, learning them together, and setting limits – will help lay the foundation for how they will discover and play new games and applications in the future.