Physical activities like exercise, playing games and sports are essential part of our life. It helps in a better functioning of our body and keeps us fit and healthy. Playing sports since an early age strengthens the bones and muscles and tones one’s body. Thus sports provide the body with a complete exercise. But these days’ children and teenagers are not much into playing sports and doing physical exercise as they prefer to spend their time on computers and in playing computer games/video games.
It is known that we are living in technological era. The computers became irreplaceable tool in everyday life of almost every person. The youngsters use it for internet and computer games. The major impact of computer technology is on teenagers. Their life standards have changed dramatically because of the technology. They spend more time on internet and give less time to their families. Computers have made them lazy and they want to play computer games instead of playing some physical games. In addition to this, time spent on reading books, novels, magazines and newspapers has decreased drastically.
Talking about psychology, it depends upon genre of computer games. Unfortunately the market of computer games consists of games that include killing, attack, aggressive actions, and cruel behavior. These factors lead to change in human psychology and mind. Gamers become wicked, more aggressive to each other and to other people. They are more inclined to aggression and violence. Also, they may spend less time in other activities such as doing homework, reading, and sports. Too much video game playing makes your kid socially isolated, the user withdraws from friends and family as he spends more and more time on the computer. Relationships begin to wither as the user stops attending social gatherings, skips meetings with friends and avoids family members to get more computer time. Even when they do interact with their friends, users may become edgy when away from the computer, causing further social harm.
Video games do not exercise your kid’s imaginative thinking. Using imagination may be important in developing creativity. Video games may also have bad effects on some children’s health, including video-induced seizures and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome. Over the long term, computer games addiction can cause physical damage. Using a mouse and keyboard for many hours every day can lead to repetitive stress injuries. Back problems are common among people who spent a lot of time sitting at computer desks. Late-night computer sessions cut into much-needed sleep time. Long-term sleep deprivation causes drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and depression of the immune system. Someone who spends hours at a computer is obviously not getting any meaningful exercise, so computer addiction can indirectly lead to poor overall physical condition and even obesity.
What can be done?
Encourage your children to play Physical gamesIf needed then push your children to go and play physical games. Repeatedly alarm your children about the adverse effects of long term use of computer games.
Ask your children to play Educational games
You will find lots of interesting educational games for your kids on grammar, math, sports, spellings etc. You as a parent may sometimes have to tolerate a certain amount of violence in games.
Play with the kids
Your kids love games & they love you too. So, why not pull a chair & sit with them & enjoy. Yes, your little kid will love it, especially when they beat you hands down. And you too would get to learn something about games and computers.
Set the time limit
You have to set time limits & see that your child follows it. Be strict if necessary & see they don't neglect their homework.
Keep a watch
Kids are smart these days. It is possible your smart kid may be enjoying games at his friend’s home. Keep a check & remind him not to play violent games.
