Few years ago, a Filipino consider his/her childhood complete if he experienced playingtrumpo (top), playing sipa (the Philippines' national sport), playing taya-tayaan (a game of tag)or playing other physical games. Filipino children really loves hide and seek which we call tagu-taguan. I also experienced playing these games which made me consider my childhoodcomplete. Today, the children here in the Philippines consider computer games more fun thanthe physical games which I used to play. If a person asked a kid if which of these he/she prefers,the kid will likely answer computer games. I admit that these games are really addicting whichmade me think if these things have good effect on a person.Computer games can be dangerous to children. It can be a threat to their physical healthbecause these computer games can lead to obesity, seizures, muscular, postural or evenskeletal disorders. These things happen due to overindulgence and addiction to a certain game.Another disadvantage of computer gaming to a child is seen in playing violent games. Violentgames can cause physiological arousal, increased aggressiveness behavior of a child anddecreases a child's pro social helping. (Gentile, D.)Even though video games are harmful, there are also things which computer games canprovide which can be beneficiary to children. Computer games can develop better following of instruction; improve problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, fine motor, spatial, planning,resource management and management skills. It can also teach multitasking, quick-thinking,accuracy and strategy to children. (raisesmartkid.com) Actually, the positive and negative effects of video games depend on how long a childplays his/her console. Computer games are fun and relieve tension but too much indulgencecan lead to addiction which can trigger a computer games' negative effects. So, the parents arereally the ones responsible for letting their children play games and regulating the time theyplay (Kartha D.).All in all, the parents are the ones which will dictate on how they will raise their child.Their decisions will tell if these games will lead to negative or positive effect on children; orthey can decide if they will let their children play physical games instead.
REFERENCESGentile D. www.pedsforparents.com obtained December 27, 2012Kartha D. www.buzzle.com obtained December 27, 2012raisesmartkid.com obtained December 27,2012