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I saw on seesaw the grades are coming out on the 29th

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I heard that there was going to be a picture day tomorrow

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Stretching: Focus on flexibility

You can stretch anytime, anywhere. Just follow these tips to do it safely and effectively.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
You know exercise is important, but what about stretching? Does stretching take a back seat to your exercise routine? Not so fast.

Stretching may help you improve your range of motion and decrease your risk of injury, among other benefits.

Understand why stretching can help and how to stretch correctly.

Benefits of stretching

Studies about the benefits of stretching have had mixed results. Some research shows that stretching doesn't reduce muscle soreness after exercise. Other studies show that lengthening the muscle and holding the stretch immediately before a sprint may slightly worsen performance.

However, research has shown that stretching can help improve flexibility, and, as a result, the range of motion of your joints.

Better flexibility may:

Improve your performance in physical activities

Decrease your risk of injuries

Help your joints move through their full range of motion

Increase muscle blood flow

Enable your muscles to work most effectively

Improve your ability to do daily activities

You may learn to enjoy the ritual of stretching before or after hitting the trail, ballet floor or soccer field.

Stretching essentials

Before you plunge into stretching, make sure you do it safely and effectively. While you can stretch anytime, anywhere, proper technique is key. Stretching incorrectly can actually do more harm than good.

Use these tips to keep stretching safe:

Don't consider stretching a warmup. You may hurt yourself if you stretch cold muscles. Before stretching, warm up with light walking, jogging or biking at low intensity for 5 to 10 minutes. Even better, stretch after your workout when your muscles are warm.

Consider skipping stretching before an intense activity, such as sprinting or track and field activities. Some research suggests that pre-event stretching may actually decrease performance. Research has also shown that stretching immediately before an event weakens hamstring strength.

Strive for symmetry. Everyone's genetics for flexibility are a bit different. Rather than striving for the flexibility of a dancer or gymnast, focus on having equal flexibility side to side (especially if you have a history of a previous injury). Flexibility that is not equal on both sides may be a risk factor for injury.

Focus on major muscle groups. Concentrate your stretches on major muscle groups such as your calves, thighs, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders. Make sure that you stretch both sides.

Also stretch muscles and joints that you routinely use or that you use in your activity.

Don't bounce. Stretch in a smooth movement, without bouncing. Bouncing as you stretch can injure your muscle and actually contribute to muscle tightness.

Hold your stretch. Breathe normally and hold each stretch for about 30 seconds; in problem areas, you may need to hold for around 60 seconds.

Don't aim for pain. Expect to feel tension while you're stretching, not pain. If it hurts, you've pushed too far. Back off to the point where you don't feel any pain, then hold the stretch.

Make stretches sport specific. Some evidence suggests that it's helpful to do stretches involving the muscles used most in your sport or activity. If you play soccer, for instance, stretch your hamstrings as you're more vulnerable to hamstring strains.

Keep up with your stretching. Stretching can be time-consuming. But you can achieve the most benefits by stretching regularly, at least two to three times a week. Even 5 to 10 minutes of stretching at a time can be helpful.

Skipping regular stretching means that you risk losing the potential benefits. For instance, if stretching helped you increase your range of motion, your range of motion may decrease again if you stop stretching.

Bring movement into your stretching. Gentle movements, such as those in tai chi, Pilates or yoga, can help you be more flexible in specific movements. These types of exercises can also help reduce falls in older adults.

Also, try performing a "dynamic warmup." A dynamic warmup involves performing movements similar to those in your specific sport or physical activity at a low level. Then you speed up gradually and add intensity as you warm up.

Some people may also choose to add foam rolling before working out along with a dynamic warmup.

Know when to exercise caution

If you have a chronic condition or an injury, you might need to adjust your stretching techniques. For example, if you already have a strained muscle, stretching it may cause further harm. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about the most appropriate way to stretch if you have any health concerns.

Also remember that stretching doesn't mean you can't get injured. Stretching, for instance, won't prevent an overuse injury.

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Show references

1. Franklin BA, et al. Exercise prescription and guidance for adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 21, 2021.

2. AskMayoExpert. Physical activity (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2020.

3. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2nd ed. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/our-work/physical-activity/current-guidelines. Accessed Oct. 21, 2021.

4. More MC. Physical activity and exercise in older adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 21, 2021.

5. Madden CC, et al. Netter's Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 1, 2021.

6. Riebe D, et al., eds. ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 10th ed. Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2018.

7. Anderson BL, et al. The acute effects of foam rolling and dynamic stretching on athletic performance: A critically appraised topic. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2021; doi:10.1123/jsr.2020-0059.

8. Polero P, et al. Physical activity recommendations during COVID-19: Narrative review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; doi:10.3390/ijerph18010065.

9. Berg, K. Stretching fundamentals. In: Prescriptive Stretching. 2nd ed. Kindle edition. Human Kinetics; 2020.

10. Gordon BT, et al., eds. Flexibility assessments and exercise programming for apparently healthy participants. In: ACSM's Resources for the Exercise Physiologist. 3rd ed. Kindle Edition. Wolters Kluwer; 2022.

11. Behm DG. Does stretching affect performance? In: The Science and Physiology of Flexibility and Stretching. Kindle edition. Routledge; 2019.

See more In-depth

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Stretching is not a warm up! Find out why

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Learn why stretching your muscles is an important part of your exercise routine and how to do it safely.

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Guided Meditation for Positive Energy, Relaxation, Peace 🌤

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Soccer is loads of fun. And there are plenty of benefits of playing soccer when it comes to your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

It's great for your fitness and physique, and it affects your mood, emotions, and mental state, too.

Whether it's increased self-esteem, developed friendships, or improved mood, focus, and empathy, playing soccer can improve your life in many ways.

And that's besides the staggering array of life skills that it develops such as discipline, hard work, communication, leadership, and teamwork.

Let's take a look at the benefits of playing soccer and the impact it can have on your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Physical Benefits of Playing Soccer

1. Increases Your Aerobic Capacity and Endurance

Soccer players aren't only expected to jog, run, and sprint their way around the pitch for ninety minutes.

They're also expected to jostle, jump, and compete for every ball.

That means playing the sport greatly increases your aerobic capacity.

The more you practice and play the game, the greater your endurance will be.

And this has lots of positive knock-on effects when it comes to your overall health and well-being.

While your improved conditioning and stamina should be quite noticeable, there are again lots of hidden benefits to playing such a physically demanding sport.

2. Reduces High Blood Pressure and Improves Cardiovascular Health

3. Builds Muscle and Reduces Body Fat

4. Strengthens Bones

Besides gaining strength and stamina, you also strengthen your bones by playing soccer.

As you run and carry yourself about the pitch, your weight puts pressure on your skeletal frame, strengthening it and increasing your bone density in the process.

This will therefore help you avoid injuries and broken bones, providing of course that you don't throw yourself into any reckless tackles!

5. Improves Coordination, Agility, and Reflexes

Soccer also helps with your coordination, agility, and reflexes.

This is because you have to react quickly to what's going on around you and dribble, tackle, pass, and turn all in a short period.

This puts your body-eye coordination to the test.

Besides improving your body coordination and reaction time, playing soccer also helps you become more agile.

You have to be quick on your toes and be ready to sprint in any direction at a moment's notice.

6. Increases Flexibility and Range of Motion

7. Reduces Your Likelihood of Injury

Now that we've seen some of the physical benefits of playing soccer, let's move on to the oft-overlooked emotional benefits that the beautiful game brings.

Emotional Benefits of Playing Soccer

8. Improves Your Mood

9. Reduces Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

10. Boosts Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem

11. Improves Social Skills

12. Increases Empathy

13. Learn to Control Emotions

14. Gives You Something to Look Forward To

Closely related to both the physical and emotional benefits that soccer brings is the positive impact it can have on your mental well-being.

Let's take a look!

Mental Benefits of Playing Soccer

15. Increases Your Concentration and Focus

16. Develops Your Gross Motor Skills

17. Enhances Your Visual-Spatial Awareness and Information Processing

18. Improves Analysis Skills and Problem Solving Abilities

19. Increases Your Resilience and Mental Strength

20. Fuels Motivation, Desire, and Drive

21. Develops a Sense of Responsibility and Respect

Conclusion

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21 Benefits of Playing Soccer (Physical, Emotional, and Mental)

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Soccer is loads of fun. And there are plenty of benefits of playing soccer when it comes to your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It's great for your fitness and physique, and it affects your mood, emotions, and mental state, too.

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Parents are the first and most important teachers in every child's life. The importance of family starts at birth and stays constant throughout life. As children grow into their teens and early adulthood, families can be a bedrock of support during times of change. Here are a few ways a strong family can support children:

5 Reasons Why Family Is Important

Meet Physical and Emotional Needs

Model Good Values

Provide Protection

Advocate for Children's Needs

Offer Guidance in All Areas of Life

If you are a parent-or are planning to start a family soon-reflecting on how to strengthen family relationships is important. You can make conscious choices to build positive family dynamics and help set your children up for a bright future.

What is a family? A family usually starts with parents and children, but also extends to aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. Sometimes, we can build such close bonds with friends and neighbors that they feel like part of our family. Some families include adopted children, stepparents and stepsiblings, or foster children. There are many different types of families, and each family is unique. Truly, family structure is less important than the feeling of belonging.

Ultimately, family is about creating strong relationships and providing a sense of meaning and belonging. Families should be a source of unconditional love and a resource for all of us to weather life's changes and challenges. In healthy families, children can learn what it means to be a happily married woman or man, along with the the qualities of a good father or mother. Most people would also agree on the importance of family in creating healthy individuals and strong communities.

Families Meet Physical and Emotional Needs

Parents provide necessities-food, clothing, and shelter-for children in their household. But the importance of family doesn't end with physical needs. They should aim to support emotional needs as well.

In truth, humans have multiple layers of needs-and a healthy family can support them all. Families can look to a classical psychological concept called Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to understand this concept more clearly. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs has a pyramid organization, with our most basic, physical needs at the bottom. We all need things like air, food, water, and sleep to survive. On the next level are needs related to feeling secure, such as resources for staying safe and healthy.

The next three levels of Maslow's pyramid all relate to our emotional needs. Families can play a significant role in helping children eventually meet these needs. For example, through daily comments and interactions parents can help their children feel important, loved, and wanted. By giving children important responsibilities and involving them in relevant family decisions, parents help foster self-esteem and a feeling of being capable. A strong family can help members achieve the pinnacle of Maslow's pyramid-self-actualization. A self-actualized person can express his or her deepest talents in meaningful ways and achieve his or her fullest potential.

In short, a strong family should be a source for much more than just basic items needed for life. A family should be a bedrock of encouragement, respect, and love to help every member thrive.

Family Helps Model Good Values

In today's hyper-connected world, it's easy to get over-exposed to unhealthy ideas and images. However, a close family with strong values can help young family members avoid or resist negative influences. Without strong family values , young people can succumb to peer pressure and stumble upon unwanted consequences, including substance abuse and various forms of addiction. It's best to start embodying good values when your kids are young. That way, as your children encounter critical decisions, they are already prepared to make good choices.

In children's earliest years, they look to parents as role models. If you show them positive behavior, such as kindness and caring for those in need, your children are more likely to follow in your footsteps. Remember, much of what you teach your children is taught indirectly through what you say and do every day.

As children grow, they'll start to encounter new social situations at school and in the community. Your communications towards friends, neighbors, and others you interact with each day will show them how to interact with peers. They'll learn how to form healthy friendships and how to navigate difficult situations. Knowing your family's values and staying true to them will help your children embrace them and follow suite as they grow.

Families Provide Protection

Simply put, children are not equipped to manage life on their own. After all, children can't earn income and provide for their own economic security. They need a stable home and strong parents who are committed to their well-being. Children need to feel safe and protected to engage in a healthy way with the world.

When children feel protected, they can enjoy the magic and wonder of childhood. They won't need to waste energy worrying about issues that they can't control and can engage in meaningful play and favorite pastimes. If difficulties do arise, children can trust that their parents will handle those issues as well.

While physical protection is important, don't overlook the importance of family providing emotional protection. You may have concerns about finances, the health of aging family members, or the stability of your employment. These are common concerns for adults, but it's usually best to shield children from unnecessary burdens that they have little or no influence over. By doing so, you give them better odds of being able to shoulder the emotional burdens that are typical for their age - keeping up with homework, making new friends, and so forth.

What if a serious issue arises? While it may be necessary to involve them at some point, it should be done in a way that is age-appropriate, and only after you have discussed the issue with your partner, spouse, or other adults. Make sure such conversations are not able to be overheard by children. Then, when it's time to discuss the concern with them, limit the details to those that are appropriate, while answering their questions honestly. In doing so, you'll help your children feel secure and loved.

When serious difficulties arise, seek support from trusted friends and family to ensure you have enough time for self-care and reflection. Taking care of yourself is key to ensuring that you can be a sensitive and loving parent when your children need you most.

Families Advocate for Children's Needs

At times, children depend on the adults in their lives to speak up for their needs. A child may be struggling at school, for example. Or someone may be bullying a child in the neighborhood. If a child has any health concerns, parents are best equipped to talk with doctors and care professionals. It can be hard for kids to tackle these sorts of complex issues on their own. In those situations, caring parents need to step in to advocate for their children.

To be a good advocate, parents must be aware of what is going on in their children's lives. For example, instead of just looking at grades at report card time, parents can be mindful of how their children are feeling about their teachers and classes. They can become familiar with their children's strengths and weaknesses, as well as their interests.

The degree to which a parent advocates for his/her child, is dependent on the child's age and maturity. For younger children, advocacy efforts may often occur outside the child's presence. While for older children, it is almost always best if the child is present and actively participating in the conversation. In fact, many institutions require such participation in these discussions. Being aware of your child's struggles and appropriately advocating for his/her individual needs is an important expression of family love.

Healthy Families Provide Guidance in All Areas of Life

Families can be a source of support in good times and in bad. When kids are young, parents can provide advice on playground or friendship issues. As children grow, parents can help them navigate school, sports, activities, and a complex web of relationships.

Parental guidance can extend to helping young people choose colleges and careers. For many people, family members are present at major milestones from engagements, to purchasing first homes, to the birth of children. When hardships arise, family can help people traverse difficult passages and build resilience.

It is critical, however, to be mindful and considerate of your child's needs and wants when it comes to offering guidance. In some cases, offering too much support or unwanted guidance can be harmful to family relationships. In general, as children grow and mature, parents should seek to take a mentoring role in their children's lives, offering support in a more Socratic, indirect way, rather than simply telling them what to do or doing it for them.

Building Strong Families

Adults need to take the lead in building strong values. Although parents can face pressures from work and community, prioritizing family is essential. As children grow, they'll have extracurricular activities and friendships that consume much of their time. Never lose sight of the importance of family, even when life gets complicated and busy.

One of the best ways you can do this is to establish family dinners as a priority. The on the benefits of consistent family dinners is clear and convincing. And yet, in today's world it's not easy to have family dinners together when there are so many competing extracurricular activities. One way to help encourage this is to establish some family traditions that involve dinner together. For example, designating Friday as a pizza and movie night or having a Sunday dinner with extended family are both great ways to accomplish this goal.. Some families select a day during the week when family members forgo outside activities and spend the evening at home. During these evenings, families can enjoy dinner, games, crafts, and other enjoyable pastimes.

No matter how busy your family gets, taking time out to talk with each other is important. Start the tradition when kids are young by having one-on-one conversations with each child. Maybe one parent can take a walk with one child after dinner, while the other parent washes dishes with another child. Of course, you'll want to make sure to take turns or there will be an inevitable protest by the dishwashing duo. Finding time for one-on-one bonding can get more complicated in a larger family. But if you remain flexible and dedicated to the idea, you can make sure everyone in the family feels connected and has their voice heard.

Family traditions are also critical to building strong relationships. While seasonal holidays are always a time for a get-together with others, family gatherings can sometimes be hectic and overwhelming. Often, relatives visit each other during the holidays, which can increase stress. Setting aside an afternoon to do something fun and meaningful with your own small family is a wise move. Visit a tree farm or drive around neighborhoods to admire lights and decorations. Simple traditions like those help give your family a sense of identity.

You can have family traditions all year long. Do something fun like having hot chocolate with marshmallows together on a cold January afternoon or making caramel apples in October. You could also seek out service ideas for families and contribute to your community together. These types of activities remind us all of the importance of family and can cultivate good memories that last a lifetime.

One thing that can help you identify and create meaningful family traditions is to involve your children in the process. That could include letting your children plan some family activities. It could also mean taking time as a family to decide which traditions you want to continue and which you want to let go of.

Finding Happiness Through Family

Families can be one of life's true joys. Whether you have a small, close-knit family or come from a large clan, you can turn to your family for strength and support.

A loving family can support every member's physical and emotional needs. With positive guidance from their family, each person can set goals and work towards them. Healthy families also recognize each person as an individual, celebrating each family member's unique differences. Some families find it helpful to supplement what they know about each other and their family dynamics through tools such as the family culture assessment .

From the start, children need dedicated parents who serve as good role models. Children watch and learn from their parents' choices and interactions. Having strong, well-defined values that are shared by both parents can show children how to engage with the world in a healthy way.

Families also provide protection for kids who aren't able to take care of themselves on their own. It's important to remember that emotional safety is just as essential as physical safety. Parents need to stay aware of all areas of their children's lives-from school to activities to friendships-and be ready to appropriately step in any time kids need advocacy or guidance.

In many families, adult children take over the role of caretaker or support person for aging parents. When this happens, children may be providing protection or advocacy for parents who need family support with financial or health needs. The importance of family follows each of us through every chapter of life.

Building a strong home and family requires commitment. Parents must dedicate themselves to being present for children and spending time with them. This can be hard when juggling careers and the many complexities of adulthood. But every minute that parents spend engaging in positive and meaningful activities with children makes a difference in their lives.

The good news is that you don't have to go it alone. By turning to FamilyToday, you can find support and wisdom from others walking the same path that also value the importance of family. Wherever you are in your journey, you can learn, grow, and get ideas about how to make your family stronger and healthier. Having a happy family is one of life's greatest rewards and worth all the hard work and sacrifice.

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Why Your Family Matters - Importance of Family

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Licensed marriage and family therapist Bryan Zitzman explains the importance of family.

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From action-packed shooter games to challenging strategy games, we love a good video game. As technology advances and game developers keep creating fresh content, there seems to be a new game to try every day. Luckily for gamers like us, there are many benefits to playing video games that will encourage you to keep playing - as if you needed another reason.

The positive effects of video games are numerous, from better memory and problem-solving to improved mood and social skills. While those who don't play video games may argue that they make you lazy, harm your brain or ruin your social life, video games actually have many physical, cognitive and social benefits. The next time someone tells you that you play too many video games, you can turn to this list of 10 reasons video games are good for your brain.

1. Memory

Many video games require some serious strategy and concentration. If you have ever built your own civilization in Minecraft or fought for your life in Fortnite, you know how important it is to remember where you found specific resources or where you need to go next. With 3D graphics and immersive audio, video game environments are extremely rich in stimuli. Navigating the virtual world of video games is now very similar to navigating the real world. In fact, exploring video game universes can have a positive impact on memory in your everyday life.

When you must juggle multiple tasks and goals while navigating a virtual space, you are exercising your hippocampus. This is the part of the brain responsible for converting short-term memory to long-term memory, as well as controlling spatial memory. When you keep your hippocampus in shape, you will see improved long-term memory and be better at navigating physical space. If you are prone to getting lost on your way to the store, video games may be able to help improve your memory for directions.

A 2015 study from the University of California, Irvine provided evidence for the cognitive benefits of playing video games when they tested a group of gamers and a group of non-gamers in memory tasks. Those who frequently played complex 3D video games performed better at memory tasks related to the hippocampus than those who did not play video games or those who played only simple 2D games. The study also showed that when non-gamers played a complex 3D game each day for 30 minutes, their memory improved over time.

As a person ages, their memory naturally declines. Regular video game play may be a great way to keep your mind sharp even as you get older, so you will always be able to find your car in the parking lot or remember how to get to your friend's house.

2. Spatial Visualization

On top of improving your spatial memory, playing video games also helps you visualize space better. A 2013 study from the American Psychological Association showed that shooter video games improve how you think about objects in three dimensions. Gamers are better at judging distances between objects or mentally rotating objects to imagine how they might fit into a space.

This enhanced spatial visualization has practical benefits, like knowing whether you will be able to parallel park in a tight spot or organizing your closet, so everything fits. Good spatial visualization is also essential for success in many STEM careers.

3. Perception and Vision

When faced with a complex environment with competing stimuli, your brain creates a perceptual template that helps you determine what is important and what is not. This perceptual template enables you to assess and respond to a situation. According to a 2014 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, playing action video games can improve a person's ability to create perceptual templates. This type of improvement in perception is especially beneficial, as it is not task-specific but can apply to any situation.

High-action video games can also improve your ability to distinguish patterns and different shades of gray. Scientists used to believe your ability to distinguish contrast was not something that could improve, however, research from the University of Rochester showed gamers who played about 5.5 hours of action games each week for nine weeks showed a 43 percent improvement in their contrast sensitivity.

The gamer's brains were able to process visual stimuli more efficiently, and this improvement in perception lasted for months after the experiment ended. This improved perception has valuable real-life benefits, such as being able to keep track of your friends better in a crowd or find something you have dropped in the grass.

4. Decision Making

Fast-paced video games like Need For Speed or Call of Duty require you to stay on your toes and make decisions quickly. These energizing action games can also improve your ability to make game-time decisions in real life. A 2010 study from the University of Rochester showed gamers who love action games could make accurate choices more quickly than non-gamers or those who play slow-paced video games. Their study tested participants in both visual and audio decision-making tasks. While all groups performed at about the same accuracy, the action gamer group completed the tasks up to 25 percent faster.

Faster decision-making is beneficial in everyday life, as you can accomplish more when you make trivial decisions quickly. Instead of wasting time debating what shirt to wear, you can get real work done. Making decisions quickly can also have more serious implications. Just like being faced with an ambush in a shooter game, quick decisions are important when facing a dangerous situation in real life, such as a car that might hit you on the highway.

Video games can also improve decision-making as it relates to long-term planning. When playing strategy games like Civilization or SimCity, you have to plan ahead and make decisions now that will benefit you down the road. These games train your brain to recognize potential outcomes and implications of your choices to make the best choices for your desired result. When a person practices these skills in a virtual world, they will be able to better apply them in the real world.

5. Problem Solving

Strategic and role-playing video games also challenge players to solve complex problems. This virtual problem-solving serves as great practice for real-life hurdles. The American Psychological Association showed in a 2013 study that adolescents who played strategy video games had improved problem-solving abilities and better grades in school. The study showed a correlation between how frequently the participants were playing games and how much improvement they saw - the more strategy games they played, the more their problem-solving skills and school grades improved.

Almost every genre of video game involves problem-solving, whether it's figuring out a puzzle or finding the fastest escape route. These problems can involve both memorization and analysis to solve them, as well as a little creativity. Obstacles in video games are often very open-ended without a lot of instruction, meaning players must experiment with trial and error. When your attempt to solve a problem in a video game fails the first time - or the first 10 times - you are also learning how to be resilient and persistent when facing challenges in real life.

6. Mood

Video games can also be a great way to relax and unwind. A 2013 study by the American Psychological Association showed that short and simple games, like Angry Birds, can improve a person's mood and make them happier. Video games that are complex and deeply immersive can also be therapeutic. When the player is fully absorbed in a digital world, they do not have time to worry about work or bills. Video games can be a perfect way to give your brain a break from the anxiety and stress of everyday life.

7. Social Skills

The social benefits of video games have been widely debated, as some people argue video games lead to poor social skills or isolation. However, while excessive video game play may have negative social impacts, moderate video game play can improve social skills and reduce anxiety. When players are able to take on fictional personas in a virtual world, they are free to experiment with social interactions, which then teaches them what good social behavior is. Those who experience anxiety in social situations may feel more comfortable practicing social interactions in video games, without the real-life consequences. They can then be more confident when interacting with others in the real world.

Video games also provide a thriving social setting for gamers. More than 70 percent of people who play video games play with a friend. Plus, the video game community is massive, and with modern technology, gamers can play with millions of other people worldwide at any time. Participating in virtual worlds with other players encourages communication and cooperation that carries over to real-life interactions.

8. Physical Fitness

While this positive effect of video games is not technically about your brain, it is still a significant benefit to mention. With the emergence of many fitness video games, it is easy to get a workout while playing an exciting video game. Games like WiiFit or Dance Dance Revolution require the player to get up and get active. These video games are good for your health and can be a great way to break a sweat without having to head to the gym.

The most powerful benefit of these exercise-focused video games may be that they can change the way a person thinks about being active. These fitness games make exercising fun and provide an easy way to get in shape.

9. Youthfulness

As your brain ages, your memory, focus and ability to multitask all begin to decline. While young people are often able to juggle several different mental demands at once, older people may find it difficult to stay focused even on a single task. However, there are many ways to keep your brain young, such as by doing puzzles, eating healthy, exercising and even playing video games.

In a study by the University of California, San Francisco, researchers created a simple driving game where players had to identify road signs while driving around obstacles. When required to multi-task, players of all ages performed worse than when only completing one task. However, those between 60 and 80 years old showed a drop in performance of 64 percent, while younger participants between 20 and 30 years old showed only a 26 percent performance drop.

As the older players continued to train with the game, however, they experienced improved multi-tasking abilities, short-term memory and long-term focus. The benefits of playing the video game were so extreme that the older trained players performed better than untrained players in their 20s. Playing video games that require multi-tasking and focus may be a great way to keep your brain young.

10. Curiosity and Learning

On a basic level, when you are playing video games, your brain is working and growing. As you figure out how a game works and complete puzzles to master a level, you are creating new connections in your mind. The more motivated you are to beat the game, the more your brain is working and the more you are learning. Continued learning and stimulating your brain is essential to keeping it healthy as you age.

Many video games are also set in different eras or historical settings, such as Assassin's Creed and Grand Theft Auto. When playing these games, you are not only having fun, but you're also learning about history. When a player enjoys the story or setting of these games, they may be motivated to continue learning more about it on their own.

Improve Your Brain With Video Games From Record Head

From better memory to better navigation, playing the video games you already love is great for your brain. Now, the next time someone tells you to stop playing video games so much, you have an arsenal of evidence to support your love of gaming. You can confidently answer the question "How are video games good for you?" with examples of the many mental, physical and social benefits of video games.

If you are looking for new video games to improve your health or just to enjoy, Record Head is the place for you. As your local hub for new and used video games and gaming systems, we have something for everyone, from vintage classics to the hottest games. If you have old games lying around, bring them to our Milwaukee shop to trade for a new toy to enjoy.

With more than 40 years of experience in the industry, we know a lot about buying, selling and trading video games and electronics. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff would love to chat about your favorite games or even repair your broken console. Visit us today to find great deals on awesome video games and gaming systems, or shop our supply online. Now that you know how good video games are for your brain, its time to start gaming.

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10 Reasons Why Playing Video Games is Good for Your Brain - Record Head

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From action-packed shooter games to challenging strategy games, we love a good video game. As technology advances and game developers keep creating fresh content, there seems to be a new game to try every day. Luckily for gamers like us, there are many benefits to playing video games that will encourage you to keep playing - as if you needed another reason.

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Answer (1 of 9): Back when I first started Roblox, I was about 11 or 12. I thought it was the best thing ever next to Minecraft. I'm 18 and I'll still play it every now and then. What first caught my attention about it was that it reminded me of LEGOs and I LOVED LEGOs a lot, especially at that t...

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healthy eating
We all love convenience food, but one of the simplest ways to improve your health is by preparing more home-cooked meals. Here's how to get started.

The benefits of cooking at home

Whether you live on your own or are a busy parent, finding the time and energy to prepare home-cooked meals can seem like a daunting task. At the end of a hectic day, eating out or ordering in might feel like the quickest, easiest option. But convenience and processed food can take a significant toll on your mood and health.

Convenience food is typically high in chemical additives, hormones, sugar, salt, unhealthy fat, and calories, all of which can adversely affect your brain and outlook. It can leave you feeling tired, bloated, and irritable, and exacerbate symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety.

Restaurants often serve more food than you should eat. Many restaurants serve portions that are two to three times larger than the recommended dietary guidelines. This encourages you to eat more than you would at home, adversely affecting your waistline, blood pressure, and risk of diabetes.

When you prepare your own meals, you have more control over the ingredients. By cooking for yourself, you can ensure that you and your family eat fresh, wholesome meals. This can help you to look and feel healthier, boost your energy, stabilize your weight and mood, and improve your sleep and resilience to stress.

Cooking at home doesn't have to be complicated. The cornerstone of a healthy diet is to eat food that is as close as possible to the way nature made it. That means replacing processed food with real food whenever possible and eating plenty of vegetables and healthy sources of protein. It doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen combining hundreds of different ingredients or slavishly following elaborate recipes. In fact, simple meals are often the tastiest.

Cooking at home can even take less time that eating out. There are plenty of quick, simple, and wholesome meals you can cook at home in less time than it takes to travel to a restaurant or wait for a delivery.

Cooking at home is also a great way to spend time with others -and you don't have to be an accomplished chef. Whatever your abilities or experience as a cook, you can learn to prepare quick and healthy meals that can have real benefits for your mental and physical health.

Benefits of cooking at home

Health benefits

Preparing healthy meals at home can support your immune system and reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

It can give you more energy, improve how you sleep at night, and help you better manage health problems.

In women, cooking healthy food can help reduce symptoms of PMS and menopause, and boost fertility.

If you're on a special diet or trying to lose weight, preparing meals for yourself gives you more control over ingredients and portion sizes, enabling you to better control your weight or cope with food allergies.

By practicing safe food handling while you cook at home, you're less likely to contract a foodborne illness.

Cooking at home can sharpen your mind, fight cognitive decline, and decrease your risk of Alzheimer's.

It can stabilize kids' energy and help them grow into healthy, confident adults.

Emotional and social benefits

The simple process of cooking at home can be empowering and improve your mood and self-esteem.

Taking time out from a busy schedule to cook can also be a great stress reliever.

Preparing even simple meals at home can be creatively fulfilling.

Adopting a diet of healthy, home-cooked meals can increase your resilience to stress, anxiety, and depression and boost your mood and outlook.

Cooking and eating with family is a great way to bond with your loved ones.

Inviting friends to join you can expand your social circle, which can alleviate stress.

Eating wholesome meals can even add joy to your life. When your body feels healthier, you feel happier-inside and out.

Studies have also shown that when you regularly prepare home-cooked meals, you're also more likely to make healthier choices on those occasions when you do eat out. In other words, eating healthy food can become a habit.

With over 25,000 licensed counselors, BetterHelp has a therapist that fits your needs. It's easy, affordable, and convenient.

Online-Therapy.com is a complete toolbox of support, when you need it, on your schedule. It only takes a few minutes to sign up.

Teen Counseling is an online therapy service for teens and young adults. Connect with your counselor by video, phone, or chat.

The pleasures of sharing a home-cooked meal

Food brings people together and cooking at home is a great way to unite your family over the dining table. Everyone loves a home-cooked meal-even moody teenagers or picky eaters. And if you live alone, that doesn't mean you have to cook or eat alone. Sharing meals with others is a great way to expand your social network. Getting appreciative feedback on a meal you've prepared for someone can bring a real boost to your self-esteem, too.

Make mealtimes a social experience. The simple act of talking to a friend or loved over the dinner table can play a big role in relieving stress and boosting mood. Gather the family together and stay up to date with each other's daily lives. If you live alone, invite a friend, coworker, or neighbor over.

Switch off screens. Take a break from the TV, turn off your phone, and avoid other distractions so you have a real chance to connect with the person you're sharing a meal with. By avoiding screens and eating with others, you'll also help to avoid mindless overeating.

Cook with others. Invite your spouse, roommate, or a friend to share shopping and cooking responsibilities-one prepares the entrée, the other dessert, for example. Cooking with others can be a fun way to deepen relationships and splitting the costs can make it cheaper for both of you.

Overcoming obstacles to cooking at home

Despite all the benefits, many of us still think of preparing meals as a chore, either something that we don't have time for, or something that's only suitable for experienced cooks. Maybe you've tried cooking before and didn't like the end results, or maybe your kids just prefer takeout food?

Overcoming obstacles to cooking at home often starts with changing the way you view meal preparation or time spent in the kitchen. Some common reasons why we don't cook at home, and what to do about them, include:

Obstacle 1: "I don't have the time to cook."

Sure, shopping, chopping ingredients, cooking, and then cleaning up afterwards can be time-consuming. But there are plenty of ways to speed things up:

Shop online and have all the ingredients delivered to your door.

Get your family involved. Trade off shopping and cleanup duties with your spouse or a roommate.

Do some of the preparation ahead of time. Chop vegetables over the weekend when you're less pressed, for example, to cut down on your final cooking time.

Use fresh ingredients. Salads and raw food recipes can take just minutes to prepare.

View cooking meals as a pleasant, relaxing experience rather than a chore-it won't seem nearly as time-consuming.

2: "It's cheaper to eat fast food."

At first glance, it may seem that eating at a fast food restaurant is less expensive than making a home-cooked meal. But that's rarely the case. A study from the University of Washington School of Public Health revealed that people who cook at home tend to have healthier overall diets without higher food expenses. Another study found that frequent home cooks spent about $60 per month less on food than those who ate out more often.

3: "I'm too tired to cook at the end of a busy day."

Creating healthy meals doesn't have to involve a huge investment of effort.

Loading a slow cooker with meat and vegetables in the morning allows you come home to a piping hot meal at night, with minimal preparation and little cleanup.

Make meals in bulk and freeze leftovers in single portions to eat when you don't have the time or energy to cook.

By cooking your main protein once a week, such as a roast chicken or slow cooked turkey breasts, you can use the meat to create quick and easy meals during the week, such as soup, salads, sandwiches, burritos, or pasta dishes.

4: "I don't know how to cook"

If you're intimidated by the prospect of preparing a home-cooked meal, it's important to remember that cooking is not an exact science.

It's usually perfectly OK to skip an ingredient or substitute one thing for another.

Look online or buy a basic cookbook for simple recipe ideas.

As with anything, the more you cook, the better you'll become. Even if you're a complete novice in the kitchen, you'll soon master some quick, healthy meals.

5: "Even if I cook a healthy meal at home, I can't get my family to eat it."

Over time, you can wean your family (and yourself) off the taste of takeout and packaged food.

Start small, cooking just once or twice a week to give everyone's taste buds chance to adjust.

Young children love to cook and find it fun to eat what they've helped to make.

The childhood impulse to imitate is strong, so the more your kids see you eating healthy food, the more likely they are to follow suit.

Tips for getting started

Don't think that have to make every meal at home. Cooking at home just a few times a week to begin with can reap rewards. The more you prepare your own meals, the better you'll get at it. Eventually, you may find that eating out or ordering in becomes an occasional treat rather than the norm. Here are some tips to get you started:

Start with fresh, healthy ingredients. Baking sugary treats such as brownies, cakes, and cookies won't help your health or your waistline. Similarly, adding too much sugar or salt can transform a healthy home-cooked meal into an unhealthy one. To ensure your meals are good for you as well as being tasty, start with healthy ingredients and flavor with spices rather than sugar or salt.

Keep it simple. Steam or sauté some veggies, grill some fish or chicken, add some herbs, spices, or a healthy sauce. Simple cooking can be tasty and quick.

Cook enough for leftovers. It's great to have leftovers that can be used for a quick and easy lunch or dinner the next day. When making things like rice or pasta, cook at least double the amount you need and store it in the fridge to use with other meals. Freezing leftovers can also ensure you have a home-cooked meal on hand whenever you don't feel like cooking.

Make substitutions for healthier meals. Grill or bake instead of fry. Replace salt with garlic or onion powder. Cut the sugar called for in most recipes by 1/3 to 1/2. Decrease the meat and increase the vegetables in stews and casseroles. Choose whole-grain versions of pasta and bread, and substitute whole-wheat flour for bleached white flour when you bake.

Stock up on staples. Ingredients such as rice, pasta, olive oil, spices, flour, and stock cubes are staples you'll likely use regularly. Keeping cans of tuna, beans, tomatoes and bags of frozen veggies on hand can be helpful in rustling up quick meals when you're pushed for time.

Give yourself some leeway. It's okay to burn the rice or over-cook the veggies. After a few tries it will get easier, quicker, and tastier!

Authors: Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., and Robert Segal, M.A.

References

Food, Mood, and Brain Health: Implications for the Modern Clinician. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170050/

Nutritional psychiatry: Your brain on food-Harvard Health. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2022, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/nutritional-psychiatry-your-brain-on-food-201511168626

Roberts, S. B., Das, S. K., Suen, V. M. M., Pihlajamäki, J., Kuriyan, R., Steiner-Asiedu, M., Taetzsch, A., Anderson, A. K., Silver, R. E., Barger, K., Krauss, A., Karhunen, L., Zhang, X., Hambly, C., Schwab, U., Triffoni-Melo, A. de T., Fassini, P. G., Taylor, S. F., Economos, C., ... Speakman, J. R. (2018). Measured energy content of frequently purchased restaurant meals: Multi-country cross sectional study. BMJ, k4864. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4864

Tiwari, A., Aggarwal, A., Tang, W., & Drewnowski, A. (2017). Cooking at Home: A Strategy to Comply With U.S. Dietary Guidelines at No Extra Cost. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 52(5), 616-624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.017

Wolfson, J. A., & Bleich, S. N. (2015). Is cooking at home associated with better diet quality or weight-loss intention? Public Health Nutrition, 18(8), 1397-1406. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014001943

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healthy eating Whether you live on your own or are a busy parent, finding the time and energy to prepare home-cooked meals can seem like a daunting task. At the end of a hectic day, eating out or ordering in might feel like the quickest, easiest option.

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Whether you're a long-time player of the sport or someone who has just picked up the "rock", playing Basketball has lasting health, social and mental benefits that can help produce a happy and healthy life. Have a read of just 7 benefits of playing basketball!

1. Burns Calories

The game of basketball revolves around the movement of the players on the court. The motions of running, jumping and rapid lateral cuts all can deliver the player a great deal of exercise where calories can be burnt. Although having calories is not necessarily bad for you, having too much and not burning enough can lead to weight gain and consequently, other health problems.

2. Helps Improve Cardiovascular Health

Playing Basketball is equivalent to an aerobic workout. Running up and down the court during possessions and other movements get the heart pumping and is a vital way to decrease your chances of the risk of heart disease. Along with this, eating well (such as foods with low cholesterol) also lowers the chances.

3. Boosts The Immune System

The immune system is the body's internal defence system and playing basketball strengthens this. Having a strong and healthy immune system protects our bodies from bacteria, viruses and toxins - all of which cause us to get sick.

4. Develops and Improves Bone Strength

Our bones make the frame of our body and protect our internal organs and provide support to our muscles. Playing ball provides minerals to our bones which result in its strengthening. Having healthy bones reduces the risk of breaks and osteoporosis. In addition, playing basketball at a young age can also lead you to become taller, as the motion of jumping stretches the bone and helps promote bone development.

5. Promotes Muscle Development

Jumping, running, passing and shooting stimulates the corresponding muscles and thus help muscles to grow stronger. For example, ball handling and control activates the wrist flexors in your forearms and shooting the ball requires force from the wrist, forearm, triceps and quadriceps. These and many other muscles in the body can be further developed and strengthened, simply by playing the game.

6. Benefits Mental Health

Playing Basketball improves overall confidence as the playing skills you develop in the game can provide you with higher self-esteem on and off the court. Training and playing as part of a team with a coach also aids to boost self-discipline and concentration - both of which are valuable traits to have as an adult.

7. Being Social

Lastly, Basketball is a team sport and so joining a team or a club can give you lasting friendships and connections. No matter how tough the competition is, your team would be your number 1 source of strength.

Basketball Queensland is one big family and has many teams under its association across Queensland. Join a club today and experience playing Basketball with Basketball Queensland.

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7 Reasons Why Playing Basketball Is Good For You | Basketball QLD

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The game of basketball revolves around the movement of the players on the court. The motions of running, jumping and rapid lateral cuts all can deliver the player a great deal of exercise where calories can be burnt.

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Mr. Valdes said

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18 Awesome Drawing Tricks You Should Try | Most Amazing Art Video

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https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/stretching/art-20047931

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Fortnite

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Fortnite season 6 adds animals, crafting, Lara Croft, and Neymar

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The word anime - pronounced " ah-knee-may" - is an abbreviation of the word animation. In Japan, the word is used to refer to all animation. However, outside of Japan, it has become the catch-all term for animation from Japan.

For decades, anime was produced by and for Japan - a local product, with a distinct look-and-feel to not just the artwork but the storytelling, the themes, and the concepts. Over the last forty years, it has become an international phenomenon, attracting millions of fans and being translated into many languages. A whole generation of viewers in the West has grown up with it and are now passing it on to their own children.

Because all things anime tend to be lumped together, it's tempting to think of anime as a genre. It isn't, at least no more than animation itself is a genre, but rather a description of how the material is produced. Anime shows, like books or movies, fall into any number of existing genres: comedy, drama, sci-fi, action-adventure, horror and so on.

What Makes Anime So Special?

Most anime fans can sum this up in two words: "It's different." Anime is as unlike most American cartoons like "Batman" and "Spider-Man" are different from the comics that run in daily papers. These differences show up in many ways including the artwork storytelling, breadth of material and even cultural nuances exhibited by the characters.

Anime art styles range from the flamboyant and outlandish in shows like "Samurai Champloo" and " FLCL" to the simple and direct in shows like "Azumanga Daioh!." That said, even shows with more "basic" artwork can still be visually striking. Anime has this way of making everything look fresh and new.

It doesn't shy away from epic storylines, either, which often run for dozens (sometimes hundreds) of episodes. The best anime, though, no matter what their length, all demand great emotional involvement from the viewer.

The sheer range of anime shows out there means a fan of most any other kind of TV or movie can find an anime series that mirrors its style. For fans of hard science fiction, the show "Planetes" would be perfect for you; romantic comedy fans will love "Fruits Basket" while crimefighting lovers will enjoy "Ghost in the Shell." There are even adaptations of classical literature like "The Count of Monte Cristo."

Not only that, fans of anime also get an intimate look into Japan's history, language and worldview, woven into a great deal of anime on many levels. Some shows are takeoffs on Japanese history like " Sengoku Basara" or raid Japanese mythology for story ideas like "Hakkenden" or "Hell Girl." Even shows that are outwardly non-Japanese in their presentation like "Claymore" and "Monster" have tinges of a Japanese sensibility to them.

What's most striking is how anime's impact is coming full circle. Some recent American cartoon productions, like "Avatar: The Last Airbender," are openly inspired by anime itself, and live-action English-language versions of anime titles are starting to come into production more frequently.

Is Anime Okay for Young Kids?

Because anime's so broad-reaching in its subject matter, it's possible to find anime aimed at just about every age group. Some titles are specifically for younger viewers or are suitable for all ages like the animated series "Pokémon" or Studio Ghibli film "My Neighbor Totoro" while others are aimed at teenage audiences and older like " InuYasha." There are even some animes aimed at older teens like "Death Note" and some for mature audiences only like "Monster" and "Queens Blade."

Japanese cultural attitudes about sexuality and violence require some titles to be placed a category higher than they might normally be. Nudity, for instance, is handled much more casually in Japan; sometimes a show that isn't meant specifically for adults will have material which may seem racy to Western viewers.

Anime distributors are generally quite conscious of these issues and will include either an actual MPAA rating (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17) or a TV Parental Guidelines rating as an indicator of what the intended audience is for the show. Check the show's packaging or program listing to see which rating applies.

Confused about where to start? We recommend checking out the sci-fi, cyberpunk "Cowboy Bebop" or a swords-and-sorcery tale called " Berserk." If you already know a friend who's an anime fan, clue them in on what you like to watch - they should be able to guide you towards what's best and what's new in that category.

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What Is Anime? An Introduction to Japanese Animation

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Learn about Japanese animation, also known in the U.S. as anime, is a style of filmmaking that relies on the rich culture, art, and history of Japan.

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Whether playing video games has negative effects is something that has been debated for 30 years, in much the same way that rock and roll, television, and even the novel faced much the same criticisms in their time.

Purported negative effects such as addiction, increased aggression, and various health consequences such as obesity and repetitive strain injuries tend to get far more media coverage than the positives. I know from my own research examining both sides that my papers on video game addiction receive far more publicity than my research into the social benefits of, for example, playing online role-playing games.

However there is now a wealth of research which shows that video games can be put to educational and therapeutic uses, as well as many studies which reveal how playing video games can improve reaction times and hand-eye co-ordination. For example, research has shown that spatial visualisation ability, such as mentally rotating and manipulating two- and three-dimensional objects, improves with video game playing.

To add to this long line of studies demonstrating the more positive effects of video games is a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Vikranth Bejjanki and colleagues. Their newly published paper demonstrates that the playing of action video games - the sort of fast-paced, 3D shoot-em-up beloved of doomsayers in the media - confirms what other studies have revealed, that players show improved performance in perception, attention, and cognition.

In a series of experiments on small numbers of gamers (10 to 14 people in each study), the researchers reported that gamers with previous experience of playing such action video games were better at perceptual tasks such as pattern discrimination than gamers with less experience.

In another experiment, they trained gamers that had little previous experience of playing action games, giving them 50 hours practice. It was showed that these gamers performed much better on perceptual tasks than they had prior to their training. The paper concludes:

The enhanced learning of the regularity and structure of environments may act as a core mechanism by which action video game play influences performance in perception, attention, and cognition.

In my own papers, I have pointed out many features and qualities that make video games potentially useful. For instance, in an educational context, video games can be fun and stimulating, which means it's easier to maintain a pupil's undivided attention for longer. Because of the excitement, video games may also be a more appealing way of learning than traditional methods for some.

Video games have an appeal that crosses many demographic boundaries, such as age, gender, ethnicity, or educational attainment. They can be used to help set goals and rehearse working towards them, provide feedback, reinforcement, self-esteem, and maintain a record of behavioural change.

Their interactivity can stimulate learning, allowing individuals to experience novelty, curiosity and challenge that stimulates learning. There is the opportunity to develop transferable skills, or practice challenging or extraordinary activities, such as flight simulators, or simulated operations.

Because video games can be so engaging, they can also be used therapeutically. For instance, they can be used as a form of physiotherapy as well as in more innovative contexts. A number of studies have shown that when children play video games following chemotherapy they need fewer painkillers than others.

Video games have great educational potential in addition to their entertainment value. Games specifically designed to address a specific problem or teach a specific skill have been very successful, precisely because they are motivating, engaging, interactive, and provide rewards and reinforcement to improve.

But the transferability of skills outside the game-playing context is an important factor. What's also clear from the scientific literature is that the negative consequences of playing almost always involve people that are excessive video game players. There is little evidence of serious acute adverse effects on health from moderate play.
Dr. Mark Griffiths has received research funding from a wide range of organizations including the Economic and Social Research Council, the British Academy and the Responsibility in Gambling Trust. He has also carried out consultancy for numerous gaming companies in the area of social responsibility and responsible gaming.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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Playing Video Games Is Good For Your Brain - Here's How

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Whether playing video games has negative effects is something that has been debated for 30 years, in much the same way that rock and roll, television, and even the novel faced much the same criticisms in their time.

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Online games can be the chug jug you need to boost your kids' development.

If you have a child over the age of about eight or maybe even as young as five or six years old, you've probably seriously considered whether or not to introduce them to the world of video games.

For most, we delve into the gaming world with certain goals. I personally am happy for my kids to play video games as long as it doesn't affect other aspects of their lives. Ensuring this doesn't happen, however, can at times prove challenging.

Different parents have different fears when it comes to children and video games, but experts have suggested that they're not as bad as we sometimes believe them to be.

An article published in Education Week titled, 'No, Fortnite Isn't Rotting Kids' Brains. It May Even Be Good for Them' argues that children may even be benefiting from playing the popular video game.

The article's authors, Kurt Dean Squire, Professor of Informatics at the University of California, and Matthew Gaydos, a design researcher at the Teaching Systems Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, list a number of positives to the video game you may not have previously considered.

Violence

Violence is a very real fear for many parents of gaming children since it was once believed that kids would reenact the violence they participate in on screen within their everyday lives.
Fortnite is a battle royale game. Image: EpicGames.
Squire and Gaydos refer to a 2008 study that questions the common belief that exposure to violence in video games causes violent acts in reality.

Moving further into the future, another study has been performed over a longer period of time, which provides strong evidence, "against the frequently debated negative effects of playing violent video games in adults and will therefore help to communicate a more realistic scientific perspective on the effects of violent video gaming."

And while that one was performed on adults, here's another study which focused on children, listing a multitude of benefits such as a socially interactive scenario which allows children to interact across cultural and geographical boundaries, a wide range of ages, languages and socio-economic differences.

"A third place"

Now that we've addressed the long-term belief that violent video games are the devil, let's talk about the other benefits mentioned by Squire and Gaydos.

The pair believes the gaming world provides children with a space to play away from parents and teachers, that allows them to learn social skills such as negotiating conflict, becoming independent and exploring "who they want to be".

While it is a good idea to keep a close eye on your children when they are playing online, they can also benefit from being allowed the freedom to learn for themselves.
Kids can learn valuable skills from Fortnite. Image: iStock.
"Bystander training"

Squire and Gaydos also said this is the best opportunity to teach our kids how to respond when they witness something they feel isn't quite right.

They refer to this as "bystander training" which can come into play when kids notice harassment or behaviour that they consider to be hateful or distrustful.

Video games are great ways to teach our children to learn to cope in these situations. And imagine a world where all kids stick up for the bullied ones - I want to live in that world!

Inclusion and community

Finally, Squire and Gaydor spoke about the importance of strong communities and peer relationships. Even those forged in cyberspace can provide children with a sense of belonging and can help them boost a resilience to issues they may face in the future.

We've spoken before about how Fortnite isn't as bad as some suggest, and yes, there are extreme cases of children becoming addictive, and nobody is suggesting that we let our children do whatever they want online.

The bottom line is that we should look beyond the guns and shooting, and recognise the benefits of such games. Arm yourself with knowledge, and even get involved if you can, but don't write off the benefits of the controlled use of games like Fortnite.

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Expert says playing Fortnite could actually be good for your kids

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Online games can be the chug jug you need to boost your kids' development. If you have a child over the age of about eight or maybe even as young as five or six years old, you've probably seriously considered whether or not to introduce them to the world of video games.