5 Health Benefits of Playing Games According to Science

 

1. Playing games can enhance your memory.

 

Video games are more than just fun to play. They can also have a positive effect on memory. But not in the way you might think! A 2015 study conducted at the University of California determined that playing games could actually boost how the brain forms memory.
 
 
How does it work?

As we age, it gets harder for us to remember things. However, people who played video games for half an hour a day – specifically games set in 3D worlds – saw an increase in their ability to remember things. Games that explore 3D environments require attention to detail and are great exercise for your brain. Just playing can make your memory better!

2. Video games can actually improve your eyesight.

 

“You’re going to hurt your eyes staring at that screen all day!” If you play games or look at your phone every day, you’ve probably heard these words. But it turns out this isn’t all true! A 2009 study conducted by a group of researchers determined games can actually help your eyesight instead of hurting it.

 
 
How does it work?

Study leader Daphne Bavelier determined that playing action games boosts an ability called Contrast Sensitivity Function. In other words, it’s the brain’s ability to tell the difference between changes in color. This is the same ability that helps people be able to drive at night. Action games change colors quickly, improving your brain’s ability to process color. In fact, according to Bavelier, playing action games after eye surgery or getting corrective lenses can actually help your eyes heal faster!

3. Playing games can boost your coordination.

 

Remember the family board game Operation? Or Flight Simulator? Games that require you to use delicate movements can be a big boost to your coordination! In a 2010 study, researchers from the Centre for Vision Research in Canada determined that, in addition to games helping hand-eye coordination, they could also help your brain tackle tougher tasks!

 
How does it work?

The more experience you have playing a game, the faster your brain works. As you learn how to play a game, you can perform tasks in the game faster. This muscle memory makes it easier to take knowledge and skills you’ve learned in a game and use them in other areas, too. According to researchers who took part in the study, this “reorganization” of the brain is especially promising for Alzheimer’s patients.

4. Video games can help you make better decisions.

 

Some games can actually improve your decision and problem-solving skills! A 2013 study determined that strategy games could improve cognitive flexibility. In other words, players who enjoy strategy and resource management games can multi-task and make better, quicker decisions.

 
 
How does it work?

Strategy games come in many forms. Time management, tower defense, and resource management games are all rely on strategic thinking. Resource management games are especially important, because they make you think about decisions similar to how you would every day at work. Mastering these challenges helps players improve their decision-making skills in real life, giving you the tools to make better decisions even faster!

 5. Playing games can reduce stress and help with depression.

 

Did you know games can play a valuable role in reducing stress and also help with depression? A 2011 study at ECU’s Biofeedback Clinic proved just that.

 
 
How does it work?

After playing casual games for just 20 minutes, patients showed the positive effects of play. Their hearts would race with excitement, and relax with calming music. Scientists call this increased heart-rate variability, and it’s directly tied to reducing stress. It can also help make a heart more resilient! Researched also noticed an increase in brain activity that improved players’ moods across the board.

When asked about the results, Dr. Carmen Russoniello, director of ECU’s Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic, had this to say:

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8 Health Benefits of Playing Video Games

 

The debate has been going on for a long time whether video games are good or bad for us and most people assume that they are bad for both your mental and physical health. Most people deem video games as unsophisticated and time-wasting, you just sit on your couch and stare at the screen. That's what most people think about video games but in reality, video games are known to be very beneficial. Believe it or not, scientific research shows that video games are actually good for you.

Video games have various positive effects on both your mental and physical health. Gaming can help those suffering from various addictions or cravings to decrease their intensity of desires. A person learns various things by playing video games and applying those things in real life. Contrary to popular belief, video games can actually promote and improve health & social activity through various avenues.

Here are some of the Health Benefits of Playing Video Games:

Better Problem-Solving Skills: Playing games can teach you to solve different kinds of problems. When a person starts playing video games, then he encounters different types of problems during the game and to progress further in the game, he has to get a way around those problems and solve them. This can help develop the problem-solving skills of a particular individual, and those people who play strategy-based games show an improvement in their problem-solving skills.

Improves Brain Function: Various recent studies have suggested that playing video games can help improve the function of your brain. Playing video games is known to increase the gray matter of your brain or in simple terms, the size of your brain. This can have profound effects on a person's brain function as playing video games can have impacts on different regions of the brain that are responsible for memory, spatial orientation, information organizations, and fine motor skills. Playing games can exercise your brain and improve your brain function.

Improves Eyesight: Video games are also known to improve your vision as long as you are not sitting in front of the screen for 5-10 hours and sitting two feet away. A study has shown that playing video games can make a person more responsive to different shades of colors.

Good for Mind: Video Games also have a benefit on your mental health and they can boost your mood and help relieve anxiety & stress. According to various studies, the relation between video games & stress has been found and that's why video games have been used for various therapies for over a decade.

Helps you to be Persistent: Video games can also help you to be more persistent. You either win or you keep on trying, games help you to be persistent and it can also help you to be more confident, persistent towards your goals, and learning from your mistakes.

Involve Physical Activity: Nowadays, most video gaming consoles come with technology to get gamers off of their chairs and couch & onto their feet. An example is VR gaming that not only takes gaming to the next level but also involves physical activity to keep the gamers fit. Game developers are now starting to develop such games that are played across physical space, building the game around real-world location and events, to make sure that the gamers are also physically active.

Better Social Skills: Most people think of a video gamer as a stereotypical shy person who is introvert and afraid to develop social relationships, but that is only shown in movies, in reality that is not the case. People who play video games are likely to have good social skills and build better relationships with people around them due to the teamwork, social, and collaborative components of certain video games.

Better Decision-Making: People who play video games are also known to be better at decision-making. This come from the fact that most video games involve the buildup of certain reflexes and making quick & best decision in various situation to get out of them and a person playing such video games will also develop better decision-making skills in real life because the video games are teaching who to take the sensory data in and translate into correct decisions for the given situation.

These are some of many benefits of playing video games and how video games can have beneficial effects on your health. It is a common myth that video games are bad for your health. If you don't exceed the limits and don't overplay the video games than they are definitely good for your health, however, if you keep on playing video games for long hours then they will definitely have a negative impact on your mind and health because excess of anything, be it video games or anything else is not good.

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6 surprising benefits of video games for kids

Here are six surprising benefits of playing video games.

1. Reading



Studies show that kids who play video games may get a small boost to their reading skills. This is true even for kids who struggle with reading, and even when playing action games.



Researchers think that this may happen because kids need to figure out text instructions to play. There’s also a fun factor. Kids who are reluctant to open a traditional book may rush to read a website or internet forum to get the latest on their favorite game.



That doesn’t mean video games should replace books, though.

2. Visual-spatial skills

Many games — like Minecraft — are set in 3D virtual worlds that kids have to navigate. And there’s no GPS or smartphone map app to lead the way.



The result is that kids who play these games have the chance to practice their visual-spatial skills . This can lead to a better understanding of distance and space.


3. Problem-solving



At the heart of every video game is a challenge. Some games can be mindless, like Space Invaders. But many others — from puzzles and mysteries, to managing virtual cities or empires — offer kids the chance to take on a problem and work to find a solution.



Some researchers say kids who play these video games improve in three areas: planning, organization, and flexible thinking. But don’t get too excited about this. It’s not clear that these gaming problem-solving skills carry over into daily life. And there’s no evidence that so-called “train the brain” games can improve real-world skills.


4. Social connections



Some kids have trouble fitting in and making friends in real life. Video games can be a refuge for them to find people to connect with positively. In our busy lives, games offer virtual playdates with real-life friends.


Video games also give kids something to talk about at school. These days, games are a mainstream topic of conversation for kids, just like sports and music. An interest in gaming can help kids who have trouble coming up with topics to discuss.



On the flip side, kids who struggle socially in real life may also have trouble online. Learn how this can play out in multiplayer online video games .


5. Imaginative play and creativity



When kids are young, there’s a lot of space for imaginative play, from LEGOs to dolls to make-believe. But for tweens and teens, society sometimes frowns on that play. Video games give kids a chance to continue imaginative play.



There’s also some evidence that games encourage creative thinking. In one study, 12-year-old gamers were asked to draw, tell stories, ask questions, and make predictions. All the kids showed high levels of creativity and curiosity.


6. Video gaming careers



The 16-year-old winner of the first Fortnite World Cup won $3 million. The other 99 solo finalists won anywhere from $50,000 to $1.8 million each.



Just as with professional sports, the chances of becoming a professional video gamer are very small. However, the video gaming industry is growing by leaps and bounds, much faster than traditional sports and entertainment.



There are lots of careers in this growing industry — careers like coding, marketing, or running events.

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What is the story behind Prince of Persia?

During the events of the original Prince of Persia, the Sultan's vizier Jaffar attempts to seize control of the kingdom, and the Prince is imprisoned in the palace dungeons. He frees himself, defeats the Vizier and saves the Princess. ... The Prince pursues Rugnor, who has captured the Princess, and eventually kills him.

Games — Prince of Persia is a video game franchise created by Jordan Mechner. It is built around a series of action-adventure games focused on various ...

The Prince of Persia series goes all the way back in 1989, and has had a further ten releases since. The series is best recognized today for its action-adventure gameplay; however, back in the late 80s and early 90s, it was known for inspiring the cinematic platforming genre.

Prince of Persia, 3D

• Available Platforms - Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast

• Initial Release Date - September 17, 1999

• Main Story Completion Time - 15.5 Hours

• Best Feature - The first 3D Prince of Persia game and had surprisingly good graphics and animations for its time.

When gaming began to transition from 2D to 3D, it marked a significant moment in the industry's history. This era provided a plethora of incredible games from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to Super Mario 64.

As the title suggests, Prince of Persia 3D was the franchise first attempt at taking the 2D side-scrolling series into the new world of 3D gaming. Unfortunately, as far as franchises making the transition from 2D to 3D goes, Prince of Persia 3D is closer to the Bubsy 3D end of the spectrum than the Super Mario 64 one.

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Outdoor Family Games To Try This Summer

 

Lawn Memory Game

Play a backyard-sized version of memory with these DIY Lawn Memory Cards. This is a fun and an educational backyard family game. Via Studio DIY

Balloon Darts

Balloon Darts are made even cooler with an artsy twist. To make it more exciting, add paint to it! Via Carnival Savers

Sidewalk Checkers

Use sidewalk chalk to create a Giant Checkers Board. This is so much fun! Who doesn’t like a good game of checkers? Via Kids Activities Blog

Outdoor Twister

Outdoor Twister is sure to incite giggles, get the DIY details at Tip Junkie. It’s a fun way to get twisted up and one of my favorite family lawn games.

Frisbee Tik Tak Toe

This simple Frisbee Tic Tac Toe by A Turtle’s Life for Me looks like a blast! Get to moving and see who will win!

Yard Dominos

Giant Dominos  by One Dog Woof on SYTYC  are a great way to practice math skills AND enjoy to great outdoors.

Outdoor Kerplunk

This easy to make Giant Kerplunk from Design Dazzle promises hours of fun. Who doesn’t love Kerplunk?!

Pick Up Sticks

What’s more fun than pick up sticks? Giant Pick-Up Sticks  from I Heart Nap Time!

Giant Jenga

I can’t to make my family a Giant Jenga set like this one from A Beautiful Mess. This has been a popular fun family outdoor game in my home.

Washers

No room for horseshoes? Try playing Washers by ECAB instead! I’ve never played Washers, but I think I’d like to try this.

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Outdoor Games Today’s Kids Probably Don’t Know How to Play

 

1. HOPSCOTCH

Though there's an abundance of colored sidewalk chalk available for sale still today, kids rarely use it to draw a hopscotch grid. Back in the day, we usually had a choice of traditional white or maybe yellow chalk (often palmed from the blackboard ledge when the teacher wasn’t looking) with which to draw the playing field. Part of the fun of the game was the search for the “perfect” throwing stone (at least one flat side was preferred to avoid unnecessary bounce). Hopscotch wasn’t always strictly a kids’ game; Roman soldiers used to play the game in full armor as a military exercise.

2. KICK THE CAN

This game is sort of a hybrid of hide-and-seek and tag, but instead of actually touching the players, “It” must spot them and jump over the can (or bucket or other handy receptacle) while calling them out: “Over the can on Sandy—behind the big evergreen in Kosnik’s front yard!” If properly identified, that person was “out”. However, while It's back was turned, all the hidden players conspired to quietly run over to the can and kick it before being noticed. Much like flashlight tag, kick the can required players to run and hide all over the immediate neighborhood without regard for private property, which may very well have led to the “Hey you kids, get off of my lawn!” trope

3. JUMP ROPE

The advantage to jump rope was that it could either be a solitary activity or played with an unlimited number of people. All that was necessary was a length of rope (or something rope-like; in a pinch, even an electric extension cord would suffice). There were an abundance of skill games that every kid knew, all of which had their own “chant”. For example, “High, low, jolly, pepper” required the jumper to first skip over the rope at a level several inches above the ground, then skip in a crouched position when the rope was lowered, then spin in place while jumping, and lastly trying to keep up while the rope was twirled in double-time. Tripping up meant losing your turn, and it was time for the next player to see how many choruses of the song he or she could get through before stumbling.

4. CHINESE JUMP ROPE

Chinese jump rope did originate in China, and there is jumping involved, but the “rope” is a misnomer. The equipment involved was either an official industrial-strength elastic band sold in drug and toy stores every summer in the 1960s as a “Chinese jump rope” or an extra-long circle of thick rubber bands tied together. The two “ends” held the stretched band in place around their ankles, and the jumper was required to perform a series of prescribed maneuvers inside and outside the band before progressing to the next level.

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fun outdoor games kids will love playing

 

Sometimes all you need is a fun outdoor game for kids to play to release built-up energy and have a blast. Plus, the health benefits of playing outside can’t be beat. Players get to run around and yell, and nannies and parents love outdoor games because they stave off boredom and help create tired kids for bedtime. Set outdoor games up for parties or just for a good time with family and friends in the yard.

For toddlers and preschool kids

These fun outdoor games are well-suited for the younger set as they are a bit less complicated and not terribly competitive.

1. Kickin’ croquet

Create a croquet course with pool noodles (or hula-hoops), then have the kids kick bouncy balls through the wickets. First, cut up different colored pool noodles, making sure they are long enough to create an arch to kick the balls through. Design your own croquet course with the arches and use garden stakes to secure them to the ground. To play, have the kids kick their balls through the course. Tally up points for the number of wickets passed or for the kid who gets through the course first. You could also call out colors and simply have them kick it through the ones that match what you’ve called out.

Let toddlers practice motor skills while learning shapes and colors. Draw different shapes on the sidewalk or driveway in a range of colors in a grid pattern. Tell your little one to go from one end to the other by stepping on the color or shape you call out to them. Assign points for every correct color or shape that’s stepped on. This is a turn-taking game that gives everyone a chance to play and toddlers will have a blast while also learning their shapes and colors.

3. Ice block treasure hunt

For a truly cool idea, freeze little toys and colored ice cubes into a huge block of ice. Start with a large container (it can be any shape) and fill it with about an inch of water. Add four or five small toys and place it in the freezer until it is solid. Once this layer is solid, add more water and more toys and freeze again. Repeat this process until your container is full. Create your block ahead of time as it may take a day or two to get the whole container completed. When your kids are ready to play, remove the block of ice from the container and give them some tools to work with to try to get the toys out of the ice. Tools like spray bottles, paintbrushes, spoons, small screwdrivers and some salt will all be helpful as they try to excavate their treasures. This is best for preschoolers, but toddlers will be able to play with some help from an adult.

4. Monster bean bag toss

Use cardboard to create monsters for this toss game — and they can even double as fun photo backdrops! You can create your monsters by drawing them onto large pieces of cardboard and propping them up on a wall or, depending on your level of craftiness, by framing them and propping them up in the back with a long piece of wood. Kids take turns throwing three bean bags to see who can get the most inside the monster’s mouth.

5. Pool noodle ring toss

You’ll need four pool noodles for this game. Cut one pool noodle in half to create your two goal sticks. Decide on what distance you need between the two goals (smaller for younger kids, larger for older kids) and use garden stakes to secure the noodles to the ground. Next take one of your leftover noodles, create a circle with it and duct tape the ends together. Do the same with the remaining pool noodles. To play, kids will take turns tossing the circular noodles onto the goal sticks. Keep score and whoever gets the most points after five turns, wins.

Outdoor games for elementary school-aged kids

These games are a little more involved and also incorporate more competitive aspects of game playing — perfect for kids ages 6 and up.

6. Backyard mud run

For kids who like to run and clamber, a DIY obstacle run is perfect. Create an obstacle course with things like tires or hula hoops, hay bales or boxes, string and anything else you have around. Have each kid race and time them with a stopwatch. Add a mud pit (or a kiddie pool of dirt and water) if you can. Prizes can be awarded for the one with the best time, whoever gets muddiest or whoever runs the race in the most entertaining way. Party favors can be plastic bugs or other items the kids dig out of a tub of mud. Get more details on this idea at Under the Sycamore.

7. Water cup races

This is like the popular carnival game, but you can play it in your own backyard. Set up one string for each player by taping or tying one end to a tree or deck and the opposite end to another solid surface. Create holes in plastic cups with a hole puncher and hang one cup on each string with the open end facing the players. Each player uses a squirt gun to spray water into the cup, trying to be the first one to push it to the end. Play in pairs or one string cup for each player.  

8. Nature scavenger hunt

In this game, the goal is for kids to complete the hunt by finding each item on their list. Create your own list of items for the hunt or download copies of the scavenger hunt list from The Taylor House. Give them paper bags for collecting their items and have them compete in teams or as individuals to see who can be the first one to round up things in nature, like leaves, round things, seeds, litter and treasure. The great thing about a nature scavenger hunt is that you can change it up with the seasons so the kids can play this one over and over again.

9. Dunk bucket

This simplified version of an old-fashioned dunking booth is perfect for hot days. Make your own with a target attached to a dunk bucket, so when someone hits the mark, whoever is in the chair below gets soaked. Any number of people can play this wet and wild game. The Happy Housewife has instructions for creating your dunking booth.

10. Pingpong toss

Fill plastic cups halfway with water and place in five rows. Label each cup with a score, making sure that the cups closest to the kids are worth one point and that the cups the farthest away are worth the highest amount of points. Set out a basket of ping pong balls and have the kids take turns tossing their balls into the cups. Each player gets 30 seconds to toss as many ping pong balls as they can. The player with the highest score at the end, wins.

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