Are you ready for it to be game over for your kids when it comes to the Xbox, Playstation and other video technology? You're probably not alone. There are plenty of reasons to be concerned if your child is a major gamer. Studies show that adolescent girls spent an average of five hours a week playing video games, while boys spend a whopping 13 hours a week.{relatedarticles}That's a lot of wasted time that could be far better spent, especially when you consider that kids who play violent video games for long periods of time are usually more aggressive, more likely to have confrontations with teachers, may fight with their peers and usually see a drop in school grades. Kids who play more video games are also at greater risk for childhood obesity. But before you throw out Halo and all of those other video games and rip those consoles out of your children's rooms, consider this - what if there are some benefits that can come out of gaming? Some experts believe that gaming can help kids who suffer from attention deficit disorder to focus and develop social skills.
Gaming is also thought to help develop hand-eye coordination. Some people believe gaming can assist with problem solving, motivation and cognitive skills. So while video gaming may have its pros and cons, it's important to remember everything in moderation. For starters, if you're going to let your kids play video games, why not steer them away from ones with a violent agenda? {relatedarticles}Encourage your kids to take part in educational video and computer games that can help them hone skills they need for their education. Take Tetris for example. One study showed that playing Tetris actually made the brain more efficient. Set a time limit for your child for playing games. Allow him or her to play during that time. The video game console should not be in the children's bedrooms but in another living space. Get the balance right, and everyone, including your children, will be happy.