Video games, even violent ones like GTA could be good for your child!

A recent study suggested that video games, including violent ones, actually improve a child's learning ability and health!

A recent study suggested that video games, including violent ones, actually improve a child's learning ability and health! This is quite contrary to popular opinion, which blames video games for everything from childhood obesity to mental disorders to violent behaviour. A 2013 meta-analysis found that playing shooter video games improved a player's capacity to perceive objects in a three dimensional scale, just as well as academic courses to enhance these same skills.

'This has critical implications for education and career development, as previous research has established the power of spatial skills for achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,' lead author Isabela Granic, PhD, of Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands, said. This enhanced thinking was not found while playing other types of video games, such as puzzles or role-playing games.

Playing video games may also help children develop problem-solving skills, the authors said. It was found that the more adolescents reported playing strategic video games, such as role-playing games, the more they improved in problem solving and their school grades were better the following year. Children's creativity was also enhanced by playing any kind of video game, including violent games, but not when the children used other forms of technology, such as a computers or cell phone, other research revealed. (Read: Are mobile phones and tablets ruining your child's development?)

Simple games that are easy to access and can be played quickly, such as 'Angry Birds,' can improve players' moods, promote relaxation and ward off anxiety, the study said.

The authors also highlighted the possibility that video games are effective tools to learn resilience in the face of failure. By learning to cope with ongoing failures in games, the authors suggested that children build emotional resilience they can rely upon in their everyday lives.

The study was published by the American Psychological Association.

We talked to our experts AnjaliChabbria, a practising psychiatrist and GayatriAyyer, a counselling psychologist who works with children. Here's what they had to say:

Dr Anjali Chabbria (Psychiatrist): Video games have been a great source of entertainment and relaxation especially for kids and those who commute frequently for long distances or have a busy schedule. They are becoming more popular and have become more enjoyable due to increasing variety.

Initially there was concern shown for the same, as it was believed that it did not have any benefits like outdoor sports that increases stamina, team spirit, leadership and social skills; board games improve visual-motor co-ordination, spatial/ organizational skills, foresight and concrete thinking. Thus, there were mostly discouraged at first. However, with the increasing use of mobile phones, computers, and other technology, playing video games has risen exponentially. Research has shown that playing video games leads to certain cognitive improvements in the player, such as problem-solving skills and spatial skills. Certain games have also been found to improve the mood of the player, and help in controlling anxiety.

However, it is important to consider the ill-effect of violent video games. It may encourage aggressive behaviour and 'mean world syndrome' i.e. child can associate real people to imaginary characters in games. They also use tools like swords or guns to kill the opponents in games which may cause immediate gratification leading to poor tolerance. At times, children become too involved in video games and tend to remain aloof. Thus, they may have difficulty in social interaction and may feel less confident or anxious in such situations. (Read: Understanding your child's temper tantrums)

Thus, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. It is advisable to not be overly indulgent in violent video games.

Gayatri Ayyer (Counselling Psychologist)

I agree with some parts of the study, the bit that says that games do make children better at problem solving and other skills mentioned. However, role-playing games with violent gameplay is harmful for children's vocabulary and emotional development. The language, costumes and violence shown in games like World of Warcraft,Grand Theft Auto, etc. are not age appropriate and children learn age and developmentally inappropriate concepts which hamper their psychological growth.

On the other hand games like Angry Birds benefit children by teaching them spatial relationships, physics, geometry, etc .; when they to aim and shoot targets. Also a child's problem solving skills will be enhanced.

Health.india.com Verdict: While video games aren't the devil incarnate that they are made out to be, make sure your child only spends limited time playing with these games. Swapping the real world for the virtual one could have disastrous consequences.

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