While growing up, I constantly heard how bad it was to spend time playing video games. "They suck the life blood out of you", was what I heard. "They turn you into a couch potato", was another common statement. "They take time away from your studies", was another common message. Those messages made sense to me and I avoided the video game culture that others enjoyed. It also kept me from buying video games for my children.
Asher, in particular, LOVES video games. Whenever we go to the movies or Chuck E. Cheese or anywhere where there is a video game, he runs to it and he'll play for as long as we let him. Asher especially loves the "shoot 'em up" games, which I find particularly disdainful. Asher's love for video games and his physical developmental issues have strengthened my resolve to keep video games out of the house.
Raj and I have been researching elementary school programs for Asher. We identified three excellent possibilities and we have taken Asher to each of the three, to see which is the best fit for Asher -- and the family.
During these elementary school visits, we brought Asher's early intervention evaluation and results which identify his areas of strengths and weaknesses. In one of them, we asked the principal, someone who I respect greatly, to give us ideas on how to help Asher develop his areas of weakness. Imagine my surprise when he suggested getting Asher some video games, the Leapster and the Wii in particular. He even pointed out the "shoot 'em up" games are GREAT for strengthening some of Asher's areas of weakness. My jaw hit the floor.
In hearing what the principal said, my sweet brother, Uncle Peter, sent Simi, Asher, and Leila a present: A Wii system with the sports bundle. The kids now play tennis, bowling, boxing, golf, and some other games. The boxing, in particular, is GREAT exercise. Asher spent 30 minutes yesterday boxing a digital opponent and worked up a sweat. Asher NEVER exercises hard enough to work up a sweat! My jaw, once again, hit the floor.
Another positive is that the boys are playing the Wii instead of watching mindless cartoons. I like that.
Thank you, Uncle Peter and Aunt Karen, for bringing my children to "the dark side" and introducing them to the world of video games. Their muscles and hand-eye coordination thank you, too. Perhaps, with the help of these games, we can help Asher rise out of the 9th percentile in gross motor skills.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Welcome to the darkside!!! I LOVE watching my kids play the Wii. It is the best investment ever! Roman actually has been preffering to play Wii over any other system... yes we have just about all of them. I do agree with the Leapster too. It helps with all sorts of hand eye cooridination and fine motor skills... writing, drawing and such. It is very stimulating in an educational way. ALL the games are educational based. Great for car rides. The games are really fun too. At first we just got them for the girls when Roman got his gameboy. Wasn't too long before we realized that mistake as they began fighting over the leapsters until we broke down and bought him his own! So many educational "toys" are outgrown far too quickly. It's nice to know we'll have at least 5 years out of the thing with Bethany judging by R's response to it! (she was 3 when she got hers and at 8 Roman's still going strong!)
Post a Comment