Are Educational Video Games a Valid Learning Tool?

Parents with children of a certain age have almost certainly witnessed the iconic pose: head down, hands wrapped around a colorful plastic box, thumbs and fingers tapping furiously at buttons, or stylus zipping up and down in seemingly random motion. In this posture, absorbed in a universe contained entirely within the confines of the Nintendo DS screen, a child may seem lost to the world. It sounds a bit disturbing, and it can lead to problems like video game addiction if not managed correctly. Yet, educational video games also are available, and the use of these on handheld devices or video game consoles is considered a valid learning tool by many.

The use of educational video games to help teach kids is known as "edutainment." Educational computer games can be as straightforward as simple word-search games or mathematical puzzles. Or, educational material can be imbedded into games that, on the surface, appear to be designed merely to entertain. Among the types of games available for handheld or console devices are:

• Simulation games - includes flight simulators and society building games

• Strategy games - map skills and sound economic choices are necessary to "win"

• Historic re-creation - using actual events from history as plot points in a story-driven game

• Mystery games - help improve reading and logical reasoning skills

Parental involvement is important for educational video games to be effective. Just as important is limiting the amount of time a child spends zoned in on a video game, the TV or browsing the Internet. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids age 2-18 spend no more than two hours per day on electronic entertainment.

The Mikko Que is a revolutionary device to help parents monitor and control their kids' screen time. The Que is compatible with all electronic entertainment devices, and works using personalized TimeKeys burned with a standard USB drive. To learn more about how the Que can help you manage the amount of time your child spends in front of the TV, playing video games or surfing the Web, contact Mikko USA today.

Media Management for Children ... It's time.