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.