Is Gaming Good for Kids

Is Gaming Good for Kids

By The Conversation, adapted by Newsela staff

Published:04/12/2021

Word Count:416

Recommended for:Lower Elementary School - Upper Elementary School

Text Level:3

Scientists have studied video games. They found that people who play them have better vision. It is one good thing that comes from playing video games.

Some people think video games are a waste of time. Some people think they are bad for you. Science shows something different, though.

Poll

What do you think about gaming? Is it good for kids, or is it bad for kids?

• Good for kids

• Bad for kids

Good Practice

You use a controller to play video games. You make moves based on what you see on the screen. This uses your brain. 

Your brain loves this. It can grow from playing video games. It is one reason video game players can be good surgeons. These are doctors who do operations. Some doctors use video games to get ready for operations.

Multiple Choice

The author supports the idea that gaming is good for you because...

• video games keep you occupied.

• the brain can grow from playing video games.

• video games are good.

Video games can help with other things, too. They can teach you to never give up. You have to keep trying to reach the next level. It shows you that hard work will help you reach your goals. This is true in the game and in real life.

In video games, working hard is not enough. You have to be smart, too. Beating another good player is not easy. You cannot just use the same plan again and again. Video games teach you to solve problems by trying different things.

Multiple Choice

An important detail in the text supporting why video games are good for you is

• video games are for kids

• video games keep you out of your parents way

• video games teach you to solve problems

Helping Others

Think about your favorite games. They give you problems with more than one answer. This makes you see that solving problems can be fun. Playing video games can teach you how to think. 

One of the best things about video games is friendship. You can make new friends. You can also play with your old friends. Video games are a place where helping is normal. Helping to build a fort builds friendships. It also can fix broken friendships.

Teammates who help each other in video games help each other in the real world. They might help strangers, too. Video games teach you about teamwork. You can use this in your life. 

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the section “Helping Others” explains what the reader can learn from video games?

• Playing video games can teach you how to think.

• Teammates who help each other in video games help each other in the real world.

• They might help strangers, too.

The Game Of Life

You can play a video game and feel strong. But games are like playing life on the easiest level. Real life is harder.

Think about playing an easy game. It can get boring. It gets more fun when you make it harder. That is why life can be more rewarding than video games.

Poll

In your opinion which is harder?

• real life

• challenging video game

It is hard to learn to play a real guitar. It is easier to play a video game guitar. But playing guitar in real life is more fun. 

So enjoy playing video games. But don't forget the challenges of real life.

Multiple Choice

But don't forget the challenges of real life.

What does the word challenge mean in the sentence?

• struggles or difficult tasks.

• having a fun time

• questions