Comment My son (Score 1) 503
My 3.5 year old has been playing Guitar Hero II for about six months...and we just got GH3 about two weeks ago. It has really helped him develop hand-eye and hand-hand coordination. He hit 68% on Easy for the first time earlier this week, which amazed me. I think it has also helped him develop an interest in music and I'm considering piano/keyboard lessons soon.
He's been playing various children's computer games for the past year and is often tasked with "learning" how to play the new games they get in his daycare class and teaching the other children how to play them. He plays Wii Sports at his mom's house, along with various other Wii games. The key is moderation, knowing that we have to limit his time playing so that he experiences a variety of activities and doesn't get stuck doing one thing.
The only problem I've discovered has been Wii Boxing. While I don't fall into the camp of those who believe that video games necessarily alter behavior, there certainly is an argument for Wii Boxing showing a 3 year old how to hit someone, as he's taken to punching me from time to time. I talked with his mom and she agreed to limit his playing of Wii Boxing, especially since there are so many other games he enjoys.
I really think that as long as you don't let video games become a babysitter, along the same lines as not letting the television become the babysitter, and be sure to encourage other activities, that they can be both a learning mechanism, as well as a great source of family fun.
He's been playing various children's computer games for the past year and is often tasked with "learning" how to play the new games they get in his daycare class and teaching the other children how to play them. He plays Wii Sports at his mom's house, along with various other Wii games. The key is moderation, knowing that we have to limit his time playing so that he experiences a variety of activities and doesn't get stuck doing one thing.
The only problem I've discovered has been Wii Boxing. While I don't fall into the camp of those who believe that video games necessarily alter behavior, there certainly is an argument for Wii Boxing showing a 3 year old how to hit someone, as he's taken to punching me from time to time. I talked with his mom and she agreed to limit his playing of Wii Boxing, especially since there are so many other games he enjoys.
I really think that as long as you don't let video games become a babysitter, along the same lines as not letting the television become the babysitter, and be sure to encourage other activities, that they can be both a learning mechanism, as well as a great source of family fun.
