Gamers Gonna Game
The internet has been able to offer us so much and I love all the possibilities it still offers. One of the many, many opportunities that has arisen from the glorious thing called the internet is online gaming. Online gaming has become a huge part of youth’s fun-time. However, the internet is not always the safest place for our youth. In order to foster safe and responsible use of online games or “connected play,” I think it is important to recognize the dangers that can occur. Unfortunately, there are online predators out there and so it is vitally important to remind ourselves that the internet isn’t all unicorns and rainbows. Unless of course, you are playing a game with unicorns and rainbows. The point is, however, is that it is important to recognize that while online gaming is fun, it needs to be appropriate for kids and in an environment where kids can feel safe. One basic measure is to have online games require an account that can be monitored by adults. Another addition is password protected games as well as disclaimers that tell the viewer what their game is appropriate for. Since there are many opportunities for learning that includes gaming and having fun, I think it is well worth our time to dive deep into thinking of collective ways to foster safe and responsible use of online games.
One tip that I would offer to teachers and parents/guardians is to be aware of what your child/student are downloading and playing. If they are playing a game meant for adults, and your 5 year-old is playing, that is not good. Password-protect your accounts and downloading apps and keep tabs on what they are playing and what they have grown out of. Another tip is to play the game that your child/student wants to download. Reading the description is not enough to understand what the game entails. If you want to know exactly what they are playing, play yourself and make sure it is age appropriate. And finally, trust your gut. As their caretaker, their teacher, you know them best. Take into account their health and what they can handle. Don’t be afraid to take it slow, and always have open and honest conversations with them. If they are old enough to play video games, they can have a conversation with you too.
To be honest, I don’t play many video games. I barely know how to play mario kart, as my six-year old kiddo that I nanny is always happy to remind me. The one game I do know how to play is called 8 Ball, which is basically just an online version of pool. It’s fun, easy to play, and super quick. I do it over text on my iPhone and I love playing with my family and friends. When I’m texting my friends (social life these days with covid) it’s fun to play a game too. It might not be super educational, but I could see some basic math skills that could be taught with the game. Probability and geometry are the first to come to mind — maybe using the pythagorean theorem to find the distance between balls or something. I’m not a math teacher, but I think there are always opportunities for learning.
