Video Game Advantage for Kids: Video Games = Good? (Part 3 of 6)

By: Kate Camillo

This week, we will be discussing how video games can spark children’s interest in history and culture! If you’re new, check out our previous blogs on other awesome benefits video games can bring to children- self-expression and problem-solving skills are on the rise! We’re halfway through this series and if you’re not on board yet, you are about to be! So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the virtual ride!

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Children divulge into other worlds and outer dimensions easily; they dive head first into other cultures and new places, learning about cultural traits and exploring places through their games. Most popular games bring kids into a new virtual world, leading to expanded perspectives and knowledge of the surrounding world. The content in these video games inspires kids to learn and research. And we certainly cannot forget that content counts! As a parent, there are many opportunities to encourage your kids to learn about all sorts of topics such as world history, geography, ancient cultures, and contemporary international relations. It's time to take advantage of these opportunities and spark your child's interest in history, culture, and all related subjects. Video games are part of our contemporary culture; we need to embrace and pull out the best elements and benefits of them. 

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As we know children's brains are like sponges, absorbing everything. It’s time to embrace video games’ learning and growth opportunities. Whether it’s the history of the very streets they walk on or the culture of a country thousands of miles away, children are constantly learning about what interests them and their peers. This creates a bigger platform for you, the parent, to be more involved in your child’s interests. This is a way to connect to your children; help them learn more about the place where their favorite or loathed character lives – whether it’s ancient Greece or the farmlands of Scotland, video games animate what can tend to be a boring subject for many – history! (sorry Mr. Moore; my high school history teacher). Learning history through a video game is a great tool that we need to take advantage of, parents!

The Fujimini Island Adventure book series, website, social media and game app appreciates and strives to expose children to Asian culture. While playing our game and reading our books, your children will be learning and having fun at the same time! Which truly is what we want, right?

Thanks for tuning in and staying clicked in! Next week, same time sound good to you? Awesome, see you then!

Video Game Advantage for Kids: Video Games = Good? (Part 2 of 6)

By: Kate Camillo

Welcome back! If you are new, we are in the middle of a series about why video games are actually good for your children! Check out last week’s post that really got the ball rolling. We talked about improvements to problem solving skills and concentration. This week we are going to be talking about goal setting and self expression, two qualities that are important for your children to master. Both play a monumental role in helping children develop into successful and happy adults and isn’t that all we can ask for of our kids?

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Whether you have played video games or not, there are levels and stages to every game. Games keep score and track progress. This can teach children to set goals and work to achieve them. Without challenging themselves or thinking of things in a different light, children would not be able to complete the mission or slay the dragon. The act of setting goals is an important part of life and can lead to advances in work and school. It can teach kids discipline as they are pushing themselves to reach whatever goal they set.

Practice makes perfect, that’s why kids spend a huge chunk of time playing games. They are trying to perfect their moves or reach the next level. Often times, in multiplayer games, players will have to work together to complete the mission to upgrade to new gear or unlock a new item. Your kids are using teamwork and goal setting together to conquer the game. Video games open kids’ eyes to the realization that they can achieve what they once thought was impossible, using practice, hard work and a little creative thinking.

Self expression can be a HUGE challenge for children as they don’t have many outlets; sometimes there are restrictions on how they can express themselves in public settings like school. Through video games they can express their inner beings, whether it be through the look of the character or through the design of the game. As a parent, one thing that is important is that your children loves themselves and is able to project who they are so they do not feel stifled. 

Luckily, self-expression is a huge part of video games! Especially if we are talking about Sims or any other character based game. “Modding” is a term that describes modifying something in the game. This can include how something looks or how something behaves, depending on the game. Kids can pick their avatar and change its clothes and hair. They can customize their tools of choice and most of these tools come from upgrades which they get how? By achieving their goals! See it all ties together to make video games this wonderful little ball of benefits! Modding is a great way for kids to express themselves and it also helps them understand the game better. Video games allow for a new way of highlighting personalities and interests among children.

Come back next week for our post on how video games help kids develop more of an interest in history and culture, a topic we hold very dear to our hearts here at Fujimini Island!

Video Game Advantage for Kids: Video Games = Good? (Part 1 of 6)

By: Kate Camillo

“Video games rot your brain!” your mom yells as she comes into the kitchen door from work. You’ve been playing Super Mario Bros. (circa 1983) since you got home from school and are one challenge away from making it to the next level, the highest you’ve ever achieved! And no one is going to stop you, especially not the false statement that your mom yelled from the kitchen while preparing dinner.

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Back in the day, video games faced push back from many claiming they were detrimental to children. However, scientists and parents have turned over a new leaf and now acknowledge the benefits that these games can provide to kids of all ages! Video games are a norm to modern childhood and often riddled with significant advantages. Throughout the next couple of weeks, let’s dive into these benefits and much more; let’s really explore why video games can improve aspects of your child’s life such as problem-solving, creativity, and societal skills. Does your kid have dyslexia? Don’t worry, video games can help that too! And we’ve got the blog post coming up!

Current research shows that video games provide much more than entertainment for children. While flying through space and time, and decoding maps and finding coins, your child is demonstrating problem solving skills that can help them throughout life. Not only are they able to use strategy, but they can also anticipate consequences. They see they are rewarded for some actions and punished for others. This can help them understand when the reward/punishment system is paralleled in their daily lives.

Have a dream of your child becoming a surgeon? Good news, some video games help that too! A study of small incision surgeons showed that surgeons who played video games more than three hours a week made 32% fewer errors during practice procedures compared to the surgeons who didn’t play at all. Who knew we were compromising the future of our doctors by telling our kids to turn off the video games and get some fresh air? “You know what Jimmy, you get back inside and you play those video games for as long as your little heart desires!” (Well, maybe not for that long, but at least until dinner!) 

Video games improve concentration and focus; they help enhance memory, and reward kids for being risk takers! From an early age, kids can learn the risk-reward payoff, but also see how educated risks advance them more than spontaneity and recklessness. They learn how to challenge themselves and build a healthy competitiveness that, with the ever-growing competitive job field, they are going to need a little fire under their butts! Video games motivate kids like no other and this intrinsic motivation is going to help with school, jobs, and most importantly, life itself.

We have decided to embrace video games in all their glory as they are powerful tools important to your child’s growth! Bring on Candy Crush, bring on Minecraft and bring on Fujimini Island!