This is an addendum to my post yesterday, "Why kids love video games & what parents can do about it".... There has been a lot of legislation written, news stories published, and research conducted about the effects of violent videogames on kids. New laws have consistently been rejected by the courts as unconstitutional, and the research has shown that "a very small number of kids, about 3%, … [Read more...] about Addendum: But isn’t videogame play bad for kids?
gaming
Powerful play: A mom & son in World of Warcraft
I met Malinda at an educators' conference several years ago and, over dinner, so enjoyed hearing the story you're about to read. I later got to meet and dine with both Malinda and her son Dillon and wish you could enjoy that too. Recently I asked her if she'd be willing to tell of this experience in NetFamilyNews, because I wanted fellow parents to know that this kind of long-distance camaraderie … [Read more...] about Powerful play: A mom & son in World of Warcraft
E3 shows game consoles no longer king
The No. 1 takeaway I'm seeing from the US's No. 1 videogame convention – the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) that just ended in Los Angeles – is that consoles' grip on the videogame market is slipping. It's what anyone who plays electronic games or has kids who do probably senses: "After dominating the market for decades and making their way into 1 out of every 2 U.S. homes, consoles are … [Read more...] about E3 shows game consoles no longer king
Videogames good for girls: Study
A study about kids and videogaming just published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found benefits for girls who play with their parents (and no real upside for boys). Slightly surprising to the authors, they told the Vancouver Sun they found "an increase in pro-social behaviour, a decrease in aggression and a stronger bond with parents. But when it came to boys, the study found absolutely no … [Read more...] about Videogames good for girls: Study
How social gaming works & who likes it
Xbox Live-like game chat has gone mainstream, it seems. The Washington Post says a 31-year-old mom and clinical social worker who has plenty of "real world" friends but sometimes catches up with them in a "Scrabble-like" cellphone game called Words with Friends is a good example of social gamers. Words with Friends is her favorite among all features and apps on her iPhone, and she taps into it … [Read more...] about How social gaming works & who likes it