How Kids Love Video Games
It might not be surprising to us why kids love video games. It is the chief source of entertainment that allows them to interact as a character in a world that they perceive to be of their own doing. The need to do something extraordinary plays out well with their creative side.
As a kid grows up and slowly understands his limitations, video games provide almost none of that. Limitations are present in video games but they don’t perceive this element. All they understand is that they can be a soldier now and a warrior next in just one easy change of disc or cartridge. Virtual role-playing has replaced the old school recess games of cops and robbers.
Using sharing options or playing individually, kids can be found glued to their game consoles. So it isn’t true that video games have rendered most kids as loners. Whether a kid would be a loner or not is still up to his upbringing. Often kids find friends amongst their peers by means of video games. Someone who they otherwise wouldn’t talk to is now someone they can strike up a conversation with. And this allows them to share thoughts and strategies in the game, as well as in their young lives. A shared interest would lead to a friendship that could provide them with the necessary socialization skills.
The feeling of achievement is something that those kids who can’t play video games during weekdays love. Often, video games are given by their parents as a reward for doing well academically. This allows kids to work hard on their education as well as enjoy the fruits of their labor, unadulterated video game time during the weekend.
To move away from what makes them feel comfortable is one of the reasons why some introverted kids love video games. For most role-playing video games, a kid needs to make certain decisions to be able to play the game well. This way, he is able to understand that his success is the sum of his decisions, something he can apply in real life.
Kids love video games because it allows them to visit places that they know, even in their young minds, would be far from their reach. Some games are hooked online, making interactions among gamers almost as cultural as it is interpersonal. Kids see them as potential allies and possible enemies so it makes the video game more exciting.
Kids might not know that these are the reasons why they love video games. Gaming elements and image quality are what they usually talk about. Levels of difficulty and bragging rights are a frequent topic. Video gamers have two choices in the end, to continue to play or to outgrow video games. So the next time you kid wants cheap Fable 2, cheap Clone Wars Light Saber Duels, or used Gears of War 2; maybe you should say yes.