BY KAHA G – 13 YEARS OLD
Did you know that 91% of kids play video games on a daily basis? According to https://www.healthline.com/, it’s 99% boys and 94% girls. That statistic proves the stereotypes that claim “girls don’t play video games” wrong. I personally love playing video games especially over the weekend and breaks we get from school, however, there are negatives to it, which is why I will be explaining the pros and cons of playing video games.
The average child is supposed to spend about 30-60 minutes playing video games, but instead, they are playing for three or more hours. This means kids are prioritizing video games over more important things: like homework, reading, and family time. It is why parents are very strict when it comes to their child or children wasting their entire day playing video games. If someone constantly plays nonstop, it could turn into a gaming addiction, which is every parent’s worst nightmare.
Gaming addiction is a mental health disorder that can ruin someone’s life. You would start to play day and night without taking a break, and that leads to sleep deprivation. Furthermore, in games where you can interact with others is very dangerous, because you never know who’s fake, and who’s real until you meet them in real life. Predators play children games to persuade them that they’re just like them when in reality their intentions are far from that. When you feel uncomfortable with someone you meet online, you should tell a trusted adult immediately, so that the situation does not escalate for the worse.
Despite all of the negative things that can happen if you play excessive amounts of video games, there are positives too. For example, video games are enjoyable and reduce stress after a long day of school or work. Moreover, it can: improve your problem-solving skills and could increase your grey matter. The grey matter in your brain is the pinkish-grey outer layer that processes information.
As you can see, playing video games has more negative effects than positives, but it doesn’t mean you can’t play video games at all. It means that you have to be cautious and limit the amount of time you spend playing video games so that none of these horrible downsides happen to you. Along with limiting your playtime, you should practice time management, so that you can fit playing video games in your schedule after you’re done with all of the important things you have to do each day.
