Some Parents Use Video Games to Bond with Their Kids
You want to be the best parent that you can possibly be so that your kids can become successful and happy adults. The things that you do with your kids while they’re young will have a huge impact on them. While it’s certainly important to pass down your values to your kids and teach them skills that they will need to succeed in life, it’s also important to take an interest in the things that they love.
When you spend time doing things with your kids, it’s going to make them happy. Some kids will be interested in sports and will want to play catch out in the yard. Others might take an interest in the arts. Many children and teenagers are very interested in the world of video games.
Video games aren’t anything new, and there’s a good chance that you grew up playing video games in some capacity. Many millennial and generation x parents grew up playing video games on console or PC. Even if you stopped playing games when you were a kid, it can be good to take an interest in them again so that you can bond with your kids.
How Some Parents Use Video Games as a Bonding Tool
Having something in common with your kids will be very nice. It isn’t always easy to relate to your kids since they’re growing up in a very different time. When you were a child the world was in a much different place, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find many things in common that will help you to bond. Video games can be a lot of fun for both you and your kids if you’re able to find the right ones.
There are a large number of different family-oriented video games on the market that appeal to both kids and adults. This is part of the reason why the Nintendo Switch has become so successful. If you can find games that your kids love playing, then you’ll have a great time enjoying them together. Some of the games that you grew up with have modern iterations that will feel very familiar to you.
If you played Super Mario Bros. games when you were younger, then you’ll love having new experiences trying to play through a game such as Super Mario Odyssey with your kid in modern times. Not only will you get to see the advances that video games have made over the last decade, but you’ll also get to see how much joy good video games can bring.
Parents that are able to use games to bond with their kids often let their kids choose the games. You might wind up playing a game where you can work together such as Minecraft. Or maybe your kid would prefer to beat you up while playing a few rounds of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It’ll all be good fun and it should allow you to create many great memories with your kid.
Showing Kids the Games You Grew Up With
It’s possible that your kids might take an interest in the games that you grew up with. Showing your kids the games of yesterday might be a good way to bond, but you shouldn’t try to force it. If your kid doesn’t seem to be interested in retro games, then you might not have a good time playing them together. Many kids do wind up loving seeing what their parents used to play when they were little, though.
You don’t necessarily have to go buy an old Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis to relive the past either. Sega has done a great job of making classic games available on modern video game consoles and PC. You can easily show your children some of the greatest games of the 90s by buying the Sega Genesis collection. If you grew up in a Nintendo household, then many amazing Super Nintendo and NES games are available to play for free as a part of Nintendo’s online subscription service for the Switch.
Using Video Games as a Reward
Video games can be used as a good parenting tool in certain ways. It’s true that you don’t want your kids to play video games all the time. Many parents like to limit screen time so that kids will focus on enjoying other things. That doesn’t mean that video games can’t be used as an incentive, though.
When your kid does a good job at school, you can use video games as a reward. Play through a fun game together and let your kid know how proud you are that they did so well in school. Some parents also use video game purchases as an incentive to do well. You might buy your kid a new game for good grades or you can help them to save up money for a game as a reward for helping with various household chores.
You Might Not Think That All Games Are Appropriate
Of course, you might not think that all video games are appropriate for your kids. There are many video games out there that have mature content that you might not even be comfortable allowing your teenager to play. Famous games such as Grand Theft Auto V and Cyberpunk 2077 certainly aren’t games that many parents would want their kids to play. It’s up to you as the parent to learn about the games that your kids are interested in so that you can see if they’re appropriate or not.
Every parent is going to have different standards depending on religious beliefs and other factors. So long as you’re paying attention to what your kids are interested in, it shouldn’t be a problem. There are many video games out there and there are going to be great options for your kids that you’ll feel comfortable allowing them to play. Parents who take an interest in games and use them to bond with their kids will have a much easier time monitoring what their kids are playing.
Handling Behavioral Problems as a Parent
Handling behavioral problems as a parent won’t always be simple. When kids act up, it can hurt you to no end. Sometimes there will be moments as a parent where you’ll be so frustrated that you’ll want to scream, but you can get help if you need support. Consider reaching out to BetterHelp so that you can get parenting advice.
No matter what’s going on in your life, you’ll be able to get assistance. You might just need someone to talk to about something stressful that has occurred. Whether you’re going through mental health struggles or if you’re interested in family counseling, online therapy will be a convenient and affordable option. Consider reaching out soon if you would like help.
This article has been published in accordance with Socialnomics’ disclosure policy.
