The balance of video games...

It seems we're living in a culture where all of the sudden, screen time and video games are the brunt of a bad rap. But, what isn't looked at, is the balance of juggling them with other daily activities.

In today's world, you can be a millionaire by 7 years old, just by playing video games. -Being a YouTuber, is a growing profession- Which blows my mind why parent's still get upset when their children have the constant urge to sit and play... You wouldn't stop your budding piano player from practicing their craft daily. So why would you stop a child from playing something that can potentially be a profession later on down the road?

Being an early 80's child and growing up with the major video game pioneers like, Atari, Coleco, and Nintendo, I remember countless days of sitting in front of my TV, playing games. The difference isn't the games themselves, it was the balance.

There were days we played all the time, and other days when we didn't pick up the controller for a week... But none of that was to replace family dinners, family conversations, and family gatherings.... 

We didn't sit 24/7, playing video games or watching television, without human conversation. We weren't ignored by our parents, or we didn't want to ignore them. We played randomly (unless we were trying to beat Final Fantasy II, then that was all consuming) - but, we also played outside with the neighborhood children - playing baseball for hours, sleigh riding all day, bike rides, and long games of team hide-and-go-seek when the sun dipped below the horizon - a sad reminder that our times don't allow.

So today, our children moved forward with what our times do allow, when both parents are working full time and the outside is too dangerous to roam around without adult supervision. Children today, adapted to the modern era. They're not able to just pick up and run out the door first thing in the morning to a friend's house, the way we all did as children. So now, they must attain their social contact other ways, via online video games or social media.  

We've all become attached and reliant on these tools. They're the modern age kick the can, two hand touch football, hide and go seek, and anything else you remember from your childhood. 
*Kids can actually play hide-and-go-seek with other children from around the world on Roblox.

However, the most important information to absorb is, technology should never be a substitute for parenting, and in our home, it definitely isn't. In other words, you can't just hand your child a tablet or set them up on the Xbox, and walk away to catch up on your Netflix shows or hop on social media for hours, and expect there not to be any repercussions. But if you find the balance of family time and have a mutual trust and respect among your children, games/screens/technology can fit into your lives without feeling the "society downside." 

You can incorporate outside activities, friends, sports, family time, adventures, and anything else you want to do, along with technology. 

They aren't an all or none thing. 

They can be balanced...

And children can learn a lot from all of it, like how to strategize, count, colors, read, teamwork, determination, etc etc etc...

And video games can also be a fun family thing to do, together - like Mario Kart, The Voice, playing Obbys on Roblox, and especially, Just Dance... That game takes on a life of it's own.

So, enjoy the modern era of having everything at your fingertips. And having the ability to play all these fun games, without leaving the comforts of your home. But while also remembering, there is a huge outside world only a few steps from you...