Do games help our grains grow?

[Peench]

Every year we are bombarded by ignorant remarks by politicians, lawyers and newscasters about how games are bad for us and our children. Games "cause" people to shoot each other; Games "cause" people to fail out of school; Games "cause" people to lose relationships, etc. But are games getting a bum rap?

I ask this because there are a variety of games that not only challenge the dexterity of our fingers (or arms in the case of the Wii), but which also challenge our brains. Think back to the puzzle-type games we've all played. Without the ability to solve the puzzles, move the blocks around, solve the riddles, jump in the right direction, etc., we could not have progressed in the game.

While these games do not get as widespread press (unfortunately positive things rarely do in the media these days), they do exist and they still function to challenge our minds while offering up some entertainment. I ran across an MSN review of "Professor Layton and the Curious Village" for the DS and "Downstream Panic" for the PSP this morning and was pleased at the positive outlook of the story. The games themselves also sounded interesting.

Is there really a need to limit the fact that we have to solve challenges in every game we play to solely riddle or puzzle type games? Don't all games we play challenge us in various ways? Don't these challenges fire up our synapses and cause our brains to grow? I don't know, but I have to imagine we're always learning while gaming. Since gaming is an interactive experience, we must be... right?

What do you think? Do games (any type of games) help our brains grow?

[Twilight]

Grains grow? (read the thread title) Yes I think they do build abstract thinking and problem solving to some degree.

[ZoomZoom71]

Brains? Yes.

Grains? I dunno. Any PGL'ers from the Heartland?

[TheEman28]

When the good Lord was passing out brains, a man thought he said grains and said, "I don't want any." LOL

Anyway...I do think that games offer a mental and physical stimulus. I have watched my son start at the age of 2 playing computer games and video games. He will be 7 next month and is doing very well in school thus far. A normal education and development a toddler gets is very important, adding some gaming I believe can enhance some of the learning and development. Look at the Leapfrog stuff and other interactive devices that are out there.

Through gaming, he has developed not only great hand-eye coordination but also real good puzzle solving skills. I also believe that gaming has helped him in other academic areas also. Games that have a lot of text in them help develop word recognition skills and increase reading ability. Looking at scores (especially gamerscores) and other "numbered" aspects of games help with addition and subtraction skills too. Some games even incorporate "money" in them which help kids learn about money too. You can't buy an item in Viva Pinata without having enough chocolate coins. Not to brag, just a proud parent as most people with kids are, but my son is ahead of his grade in both reading and math. I am not saying that all of this is from video games, but they are an additional way for him to learn these skills, most of the time without him even knowing about it. Now my 3 year old daughter is also playing video games and she too is influenced by playing them.

As with some things and a persons mental make-up, a compulsive habit can form, this is where video games can be a bad influence and drive unhealthy addictions. As a good parent, a child can be guided along the right path and prevent the misuse of video games, but that is up to good parents, right?

[Peench]

LMAO! I'm tempted to change the title to "brains", but I won't. It's more fun this way! Can ya tell I was tired last night?!?

[lovekeiiy]

Grains...now we see why you spend so many hours at the office. And I thought it was because you were working, LOL>

I think games can help, but they have to be used probably. They in themselves, not really. I wouldn't call GOW and Halo mental challenges.

[Dom]

Voted yes,

And lmao @ Grains.

[almightyhawk]

mine changed color... is that a sign?

[Xadow1]

Absolutely. Every time I play video games I feel my brain swell up. Sometimes it even causes me to have headaches. And I get dizzy. At least I think that's the video games.

[Prophet0ne]

Huh? What was the question? I'd like to buy a vowel Pat.

[Peench]

Originally Posted by Prophet0ne

Huh? What was the question? I'd like to buy a vowel Pat.

What is the square root of 69?

[TheEman28]

I don't know off the top of my head what the answer to the square root is but if it has anything to do with 69 it has to be fun figuring it out! LOL