Why Gaming Benefits Parents More Than Kids

 

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As parents, it's easy enough to get on our high horse when we see our kids gaming for hours on end. But it's worth asking the question: is gaming actually a worthwhile activity, not for kids, but for us? Let's show you a number of reasons why gaming may very well be the thing that you need in your life, especially if you constantly see your child glued to their console.

It Boosts Our Mood and Self-Esteem  

A lot of parents who game report feeling more creative, smart, and powerful. Gaming can be more than just a hobby but can actually enrich their lives and add value on a day-to-day basis. Whether it's a simple game like Spider Solitaire or engaging in a hefty RPG, it's an excellent tool that could give a lot more than you realise.

Your child is in many ways enriching themselves, despite the overstimulation, and it is important to remember that gaming can boost a greater sense of self because they are cognitively benefiting.

It's a Great Way to Unwind  

As parents, we all need some tool that gives us an escape from the mental strain of parenting. It's something that can be hard to explain to non-parents, but it can be detrimental to our mental health if we let it. If we don't have those opportunities to decompress, for example, if one child doesn't go to sleep until very late and another child wakes up supremely early, we can feel that we've been pulled in so many directions. This is why we need activities in our lives that give a greater sense of decompression.

A lot of people hear about the benefits of meditating and mindfulness, but the big problem with these things is that if you have no experience in learning how to focus on your breath because you're too tired to even concentrate properly, you need something that distracts all of your senses. This is where gaming can be a perfect tool.

You are being absorbed into another world, and it can be an excellent coping tool after exposure to stressful situations. If we have the opportunities to debrief, this could have a greater benefit on our well-being, but we can't always talk about those situations when our children are challenging us, particularly if the person we want to talk to about it is your partner. Therefore, we have to find those escapes and moments to decompress because it's a fantastic coping tool.

Games like Sudoku are excellent examples because they have various challenge levels. It means it's not an insurmountable task, but it also becomes a wonderful way to lose yourself in something and actually give yourself some of the cognitive benefits. Lots of people now go into retro games, particularly those parents who haven't been playing games for decades. This is because it's a wonderful nostalgia trip, and we have to remember that nostalgia is not a bad thing- it's actually very good for our well-being!

It Can Improve Parent-Child Relationships  

Of course, your child plays games, and you may very well have no understanding of what you're meant to do if your child asks you to have a go. But rather than putting up that blockade between you and your child, look at what they're trying to do and spend that quality time with them. Get to grips with a game they are enjoying. Gaming together strengthens bonds between parents and children as it creates opportunities for shared interests.

We could easily feel disconnected from our kids as we all get older. The most important thing we should do is actually double down on those opportunities to build mutual connections and things you can do together. Because when you start to relate to your children's interests, you'll have more to talk about, but it also gives you an "in," particularly when they start to shut themselves off from you. If your child is now at that age where they are not so keen to talk about particular problems, the fact that you are there playing a game with them is an excellent reassurance for them, but it may also mean that they will surprise you and open up.

You can't ask them to pour their heart out if they don't want to, and if you feel that you are losing your child somewhat because you're growing apart, gaming could very well be the thing that keeps you together.

While gaming may not get you back to how you felt before you had a baby, it can be an excellent activity that boosts relationships, well-being, and your skills.