My husband and I have fallen into the habit of zoning out on the couch after dinner and staring at the television. While there are a few shows that I really like, there are more times when I feel like we really should do something else; something more interactive and mentally stimulating.
Common sense (and research) tells us that mindlessly staring at the television and prolonged sitting are unhealthy. But, I wondered, is playing games good for you? I mean it seems like it would at least be a little more social, right?
So, I sat at my computer and did a few searches for information on ‘playing games’. I started fairly generally in my inquires but ended up having to narrow them down a bit. The general queries only led to websites discussing video games. There was some research on them showing that a limited amount (and type) of video gaming actually increased learning and social skills in children. That surprised me, but it really wasn’t the type of information I was looking for.
Refining my search questions, I found some websites that discussed adults and games – real games like board games, puzzles and card games (other than gambling – also not what I was looking for). They also came to the consensus that playing games is good for you. Games, played regularly, improve memory function, stoke our imaginations and increase attention span. Games are also social and can increase self-confidence. All good things for all of us!
So, now – who’s ready to play?
Common sense (and research) tells us that mindlessly staring at the television and prolonged sitting are unhealthy. But, I wondered, is playing games good for you? I mean it seems like it would at least be a little more social, right?
So, I sat at my computer and did a few searches for information on ‘playing games’. I started fairly generally in my inquires but ended up having to narrow them down a bit. The general queries only led to websites discussing video games. There was some research on them showing that a limited amount (and type) of video gaming actually increased learning and social skills in children. That surprised me, but it really wasn’t the type of information I was looking for.
Refining my search questions, I found some websites that discussed adults and games – real games like board games, puzzles and card games (other than gambling – also not what I was looking for). They also came to the consensus that playing games is good for you. Games, played regularly, improve memory function, stoke our imaginations and increase attention span. Games are also social and can increase self-confidence. All good things for all of us!
So, now – who’s ready to play?