© RebeccaPollard


If you're preparing for the holidays you're probably buying a few gifts for the kids on your list. While you're trying to figure out the best toy on the market, don't throw out video games as an option just yet. Sure, there's plenty of angry mom groups yelling about games contributing to violence and laziness. But wait and read some of this research before you assume the worst.

First of all, realize that not all video games are crazy homicidal rampages. Plenty of games (particularly for the Nitendo Wii or DS) exist just to teach. Like computer games before them these games aim towards young children and teach a range of skills from math or emotional intelligence to pet care and even fitness.

Games have also been shown to increase certain mental activities such as spatial awareness. There was also a study done by the University of Rochester in New York that says "action" gamers (you know, the ones playing those violent games) have better visual awareness. They use the example of driving. A gamer will be more likely to spot a child running out into the road to pick up a ball before a non-gamer. This gives the gamer driver more opportunity to react and swerve than the non-gamer. So not only are these gamers more inclined to see and be aware but their reaction time is also faster.

Even studies on mice show that alternate reality games can be used to gather more information about how the brain processes certain signals and uses it for navigation.

So if your kids or extended family are begging for that new shiny game, don't worry, give in! (You might want to get one for you too!) Be smart, check the rating system, get age appropriate games, but don't assume that all video games are bad.

What video game do you secretly want for Christmas?