Video Games - To play them or not to play them?

This video game requires serious concentration.

Video games! Oh, video games... Some people love them. Some people hate them. Some think it's a waste of time. Some think it's making kids/people dumb. Oh....let me rant about video games.


I remember hearing many moons ago that a study had been done that found that there was an area of the brain that apparently nothing but video games could access. So, first off, isn't that awesome?! How could using a section of your brain that nothing else does be a bad thing? Secondly, most (not all) people whom I have ever heard knock down video games are the biggest couch potatoes I have ever seen. How could watching countless hours of t.v. be ok, but video games bad? o.O No sir. Now let me tell you why...


Most recently in my personal experience... Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars hockey team stated that to improve hand eye coordination and to improve on teammate skills that he and Louie Erikson played video games together. If you do not follow hockey...if you do not follow the Dallas Stars....when Jamie Benn and Louie Erikson play together on the same line, holy smokes! They are amazing.

Co-Op Portal 2. A puzzle game that requires team work and problem solving skills in order to move through various rooms with many obstacles. 

On an even more personal note. My husband whom is undiagnosed (we deliberately do not seek an official diagnosis for him as it would not change anything for him) but you can bet your piggie bank on it....well he spent most of his life working and playing video games. He doesn't like people. He can't relate to them. They don't relate to him. He hates being forced to be around people. Outside of me and the kids you are hard pressed to find anyone he likes. However, he still plays online games which by their very nature force him to interact with people.


The reason why ASD people don't like people (don't like the social aspect of being around them) is because most of the social aspect is body language. We all know that they can't read that. Everyone hates standing next to two people whom are chatting up a storm in a language they don't understand. I imagine that this is exactly what it is like to an ASD person (of any age) when they are around other people physically. They are missing all the cues. Throw in the fact that they can be as literal as the day is long...it's spelling disaster. As is, when talking with my son he has to stop and ask all the time, ok did you mean X or Y, because I am given the understanding that there are two possible meanings for what you just said.

When you have trouble talking to the person next to you... Whip out the handheld's and play a game together. WHEW! Pressure alleviated! :)

So you take ALL of that away. Let them play games. Now they are interacting with people without having to worry about what the other persons body is saying, they don't have to worry about what their own body is saying....the playing field has been leveled. Now they can interact with people care free. AND they might even have an ace up their sleeve in this situation. They have something in common with the people that are there. Sure, maybe those people aren't ASD, BUT they at least like the game. **side note** I know people whom enjoy playing online game together so much that they will play other games together. ie; When a new game is coming out, if one wants to try it, they both try it.


Now for some back up to what I cannot express in personal experience (which is mostly on the social front). Here's the science in it. Proof that video games don't make you dumb. Proof that video games increase your brain use, and thus can make you...smarter.


Here's an article stating that children who play video games think more, and that surgeons who play video games are better surgeons.

Watching Spongebob lowers IQ.

As with all things, moderation and variety are important. However, if your feelings towards video games are solely based on the lack of "outside world" experience your child is getting... I wouldn't worry about it so much. They are connecting with people in a way that is more comfortable to them than face to face. Physical exercise is important as well as doing educational work. My kids are required to get one hour minimum of physical activity outside every day as well as spend at least one hour more doing something educational. The something educational can not be an educational video game. They only play approved by parent video games. And they can only play them in their own free time. We have plenty of family time together. We go out and do things. If we watch t.v. it is almost always on the Science or Discovery channels (Well, unless it's Sheldon of course).

Let's work on our spelling, planning, and cognitive skills by playing Scrabble.