Modern games, owing their existence to the introduction, and growing prevalence, of technology in today’s society, are games played through the medium of a mobile screen, as opposed to classic games played without a technological gadget. It is believed by many that children’s growth benefits more from the latter than the former. I fully concur with this idea.
Admittedly, video games have been fairly helpful in fostering children’s cognitive abilities and social skills. It is difficult to find a mobile game that does not require strategic thinking to win. For example, in strategy games like Hayday, a popular farm simulation game where users grow, harvest, raise livestocks, and run their farm businesses, children need to rely on task management and strategic planning to complete tasks successfully and grow their virtual world. Young players’ logical thinking is also promoted through action-packed or fighting games as they have to devise a way to gain advantage over their opponents. Children can also develop their social skills with multiplayer games. League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena game, for instance, allows young players to cooperate and compete against other teams, providing a virtual playground conducive to teamwork and communication skills development.
It is true that young children can derive logical and social skills from participating in traditional games just in the same way as online gaming. By being tactful in chess or tag games, they learn to think. By communicating in sports games or board games such as monopoly, they learn to collaborate. However, I believe that traditional recreations have more to offer. Coupled with mental and social developments, playing traditional games places children closer to nature, further from the virtual world and its adverse effects on physical growth. Constant exposure to video games leads to eye strain and potentially, myopia, while lack of physical activity could hamper the child’s normal physical growth. Another positive value brought upon by traditional games is the opportunity for children to engage in real-life interactions. In games such as Hopscotch or Capture the Flag, children do not solely play to win or lose, but partake in countless instances of typical social interactions with their peers. They may cheer, yell, argue, or express feelings. These reactions also form a bedrock for a child’s development of emotional well-being.
In conclusion, traditional games are far more effective for a child’s social, mental and physical growth than modern games. With such classic, outdoor, age-old games, children improve their thought processes, social skills and social interactions, as well as physical growth.