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What do kids want the most for Christmas? The answer is a no-brainer: games consoles and cell phones. Some brand-savvy kids may specifically point out Nintendo. Of course, parents are reluctant to give such highly addictive devices to their children, but if they cave in, they had better brace themselves for a battle, experts warn. The Chosun Ilbo examines some of the popular myths about video games.
¡ß Video games stimulate brain activity
¡°Despite the widely publicized educational and intellectual merits of Nintendo games, which were the twin forces behind Nintendo¡¯s success, games are ultimately addictive,¡± said Eo Gi-jun, a researcher at the Korea Computer Life Institute. ¡°Even though it is said that Nintendo helps stimulate brain activity, less than 10 percent of software is designed for that purpose,¡± points out Gwon Jang-hee of the Game Media Education Center. Things are if anything even worse with computer games. Most PC games are sensational and violent, stimulating areas in children¡¯s brains that rather hinder study. ¡°Studying is a process of consistently managing to read stimulus-free texts, and children already addicted to video games can barely concentrate for 10 minutes in class.¡±
¡ß Children will eventually get bored
Far from it. ¡°Unlike in the past, when games did indeed bore children after a while, the latest multi-player games are designed so that children hardly ever get bored,¡± said Eo. Of course, depending on children¡¯s situation, a glut of games can sometimes prove effective, but expert advice is nevertheless needed. ¡°We stop eating when we are full, but there is no such restraint when it comes to fun,¡± said Gwon. ¡°Instead of letting children play games all they want, it is important to help them manage their own game content and time as well as developing the self-discipline to turn off the computer,¡± she advises.
¡ß Games make children shorter
Yes. Once children get addicted to games, they lose their appetite and frequently skip meals and exercise, which hinders the smooth distribution of growth hormones. A housewife named Lee complains that her first-grader son can¡¯t get a good night¡¯s sleep because he looks for Mario, a Nintendo character, even in his sleep. According to a paper by a research team headed by Prof. Lee Jin-yong of Kyunghee University¡¯s Oriental Medicine Pediatrics, insomnia is the most common symptom of excessive Internet games, followed by dizziness, neck pain and digestive problems. Games can also cause tics and chest pain.
¡ß Games can motivate children to study
There are a handful of parents who see benefits in game consoles. For instance, one mother succeeded in motivating her children to get 100 percent on an English exam after buying only an English-language program for the child¡¯s game console. The child negotiated with the parent to buy all Nintentdo games once he gets a 100 percent on his exam. ¡°Like this, games can, when used with discretion, be a win-win strategy for both parents and children,¡± said Eo. Games can also alleviate stress. And they provide opportunities for potential game developers who show exceptional talent. ¡°Games can prove useful as long as parents carefully monitor and lead their children in the right direction.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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