These 4 are
the Video Games mostly being sold on Amazon as Gifts this Holiday
Season. These are Best Sellers on Amazon in the category of
Computer & Video Games.
Why video games are good for
kids?
Video games
can isolate children socially and distract them from homework,
right? In fact, they may not be so bad for kids after
all.
Researchers have found that kids who clock
regular console time may have better-developed brains. Plus,
video games can improve their hand–eye coordination, their
grip on science and even their IQ.
In 2009, the Mind Research Network in New Mexico and the
Montreal
Neurological Institute found that when 12- to 15-year-old
girls played Tetris for 30 minutes a day, regions of
their cerebral cortex became thicker than those of girls who
didn’t play video games. Some of these regions are
associated with critical thinking, reasoning and language.
That backs up a 2002 U.K. study of 700 children, aged seven to
16, which found that simulation and adventure games, such as Sim
City and RollerCoaster Tycoon, developed children’s
strategic thinking and planning skills.
Bishop John Robinson Primary School in London, England, actually
started a pilot project where students, aged nine to 10, used 16
Nintendo DS consoles to play Maths Training Game. The kids
were so engaged that other classes are now sharing the
consoles, and some students have asked their parents to
buy the games to use at home. Video games are now a regular
part of the school’s curriculum.
What video games should kids play?
David Hutchison, chair of the department of teacher education at
Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., and author of Playing
To Learn, agrees that video games can help kids
learn. So which ones should parents buy for their kids to
play at home? “LittleBigPlanet for the PS3, and most
E-rated [suitable for ages 10 and up] racing games are good
choices,” he says. “Racing games can be good for teaching
math skills.”
This article was originally titled
"Video games: Actually, they're not bad for kids" in the
January/February issue of Best Health.
Five video game buying tips for
parents
Just as there are movies, TV shows and books
that are inappropriate for young eyes, not all video games are
ideal for players of all ages.
Granted, you already know this, thanks to
widespread media coverage of many "Mature"-rated video games, such
as the Grand Theft Auto series. I don't think many parents want
their 7 year-olds playing games where you can shoot police officers
or pick up prostitutes -- even if it is "just a game." And imagine
if you accidentally gave this kind of game as a gift to a
child?
Considering the holiday season is upon us, the following are
some helpful tips for parents (and/or gift-givers) buying video
games, courtesy of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada
(www.theesa.ca).
1. Check the recommended age ratings. An age
rating is featured on the lower left of every game package, and it
gives information as to age appropriateness. For example, "E" is
for "Everyone," "T" is for "Teen" and "M" is for "Mature."
2. Read the back of the package. Called
"content descriptors," the back of the game box will tell parents
why games are classified for certain ages. It might say something
like "strong language," "violence," "blood" or "sexual
references."
3. Monitor your child’s game play. Sit down
with your kids when they play these games so you can see what they
do in them. Create a dialogue with your child about their game
playing -- their habits, feelings and with whom they play
online.
4. Use the parental controls. All three video
game consoles -- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii -- all
have built-in controls that allow parents to restrict content based
on the age of the user. In most cases you can also set time limits
for play.
5. Go beyond the box. There are many other
resources for information about video games, including game
reviews, trailers and demos, both online and in store. The
Entertainment Software Rating Board website (www.esrb.com), for instance, will give you
specific examples of what can be found in each new game.
By Marc Saltzman, MSN Tech &
Gadgets
VERY IMPORTANT:
Understanding Video Game Ratings from
Amazon
Amazon.ca aims to give you the information necessary to make
intelligent video game buying decisions. We are proud to
participate in the game industry's standardized rating system,
developed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). ESRB
ratings are designed to give consumers information about the
content of an interactive video or computer entertainment title and
the ages for which the title is appropriate. The ratings are not
meant to tell you what to buy or to serve as the only basis for
choosing a product. In addition to using the ratings, consumers
should check out content descriptions for more specific information
about a game's content.
ESRB Ratings
Defined
Each product is rated by three independent, trained raters. The
raters represent a wide range of backgrounds, races, and ages and
have no ties to the interactive entertainment industry. Raters
include retired school principals, parents, professionals, and
other individuals from all walks of life. Ratings can be found on
the cover of each game, and this site also features a text
description of each rating on product detail pages. Here are the
ESRB rating definitions:
Early Childhood: Titles rated
Early Childhood (EC) have content suitable for children ages 3
and older and do not contain any material that parents would
find inappropriate.
Everyone: Titles rated Everyone
(E) have content suitable for people ages 6 and older. These
titles will appeal to people of many ages and tastes. They may
contain minimal violence, some comic mischief (slapstick
comedy, for example), and/or some crude language. This rating
was formerly known as Kids to Adult (K-A).
Teens: Titles rated Teen (T)
have content suitable for people ages 13 and older. Titles in
this category may contain violent content, mild or strong
language, and/or suggestive themes.
Mature: Titles rated Mature (M)
have content suitable for people ages 17 and older. These
products may include more intense violence or language than
products in the Teen category. In addition, these titles may
include mature sexual themes.
Adults Only: Titles rated Adults
Only (AO) have content suitable only for adults. These
products may include graphic depictions of sex and/or
violence. Adults Only products are not intended to be sold or
rented to persons under the age of 18.
Rating Pending: The product has
been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting final rating.
Early Childhood: Titles rated
Early Childhood (EC) have content suitable for children ages 3
and older and do not contain any material that parents would
find inappropriate.
Everyone: Titles rated Everyone
(E) have content suitable for people ages 6 and older. These
titles will appeal to people of many ages and tastes. They may
contain minimal violence, some comic mischief (slapstick
comedy, for example), and/or some crude language. This rating
was formerly known as Kids to Adult (K-A).
Teens: Titles rated Teen (T)
have content suitable for people ages 13 and older. Titles in
this category may contain violent content, mild or strong
language, and/or suggestive themes.
Mature: Titles rated Mature (M)
have content suitable for people ages 17 and older. These
products may include more intense violence or language than
products in the Teen category. In addition, these titles may
include mature sexual themes.
Adults Only: Titles rated Adults
Only (AO) have content suitable only for adults. These
products may include graphic depictions of sex and/or
violence. Adults Only products are not intended to be sold or
rented to persons under the age of 18.
Rating Pending: The product has
been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting final rating.