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Video Games for Good
Many parents have concerns about their children spending too much time on video games. And it is no wonder. As a parent myself, I know that my children will spend hours of their day playing video games if they are given the chance.
A typical video game is designed for maximum engagement. Video game companies consider it a success when a game keeps kids playing. And for free apps, many use lessons learned from the gambling industry to keep you playing and tempt you into spending money within the app.
So, it is no wonder that parents have some concerns about providing their child with a video game for training attention skills. However, Attention Arcade is designed very differently than most video games.
Designed Differently
Just like most tools, there is nothing inherently bad about video games. They can be used as a distraction (bad, if done too long) or to gain skills and knowledge (good). The Attention Arcade falls into the second category. We are successful when we train attention skills, not if we can get your child playing the games all night.
As a matter of fact, we have learned that it is important to make our games more engaging so that children train long enough to get the benefits. A child needs to play 20-30 minutes per day for 3-5 times per week to reap the benefits of training.
And it is a lot like exercise. It is actually tiring for children to play for long periods of time.
Tired Eyes
Typically, we move our eyes 3-4 times per second. This is typically done unconsciously, just like our breathing. When we ask players to be conscious of their eye movements, it takes a lot of focus and self-control for them to do it (two skills we are trying to train).
When children start playing, particularly if they have significant attention challenges, the games can be very tiring. That is why we recommend that they start with just 10 minutes of play per day for the first week. They need to build up to 30 minutes of daily training.
The good news is because it is done in a video game rather than just like exercises, children find it fun. (Typically not as fun as Fortnite or other really popular games, but fun nonetheless.) However, it is unlikely you will ever have to set a timer for your child to be done playing the Attention Arcade. They are ready to call it quits after 30 minutes because their eyes are tired.
A Powerful Tool
When you can find a video game that can help your child build a skill, it can be a powerful tool. It is a lot more fun than other things they can do to build attention skills and compared to medication, they are building skills that will help them for a lifetime.
If your child could benefit from improved attention skills, it is worthwhile for you to seriously consider the Attention Arcade and how it can fit into your child’s routine. It is not easy to fit in training for 20-30 minutes per day for many families, but it is a lot easier with a video game than other types of training.
Your child could start to see improvements in as little as 4 weeks and start to see significant improvements in just 8 weeks.
© BrainLeap Technologies 2022
