Online video game streaming – seems alien to you? But, for your children, it is one of the most preferred activities for their spare time. Let’s be honest, it can indeed spill over their time for other activities, but when monitored closely, it can be done in a timely fashion, which can indeed be of greater benefit than you thought it could be. Yes, that’s right – video game streaming can actually be advantageous for your children! But, if you want to monitor their stream time for video games, it’s best to get involved with them to know what you are dealing with, and then accordingly, you can take the necessary actions. And for that to happen, you need to understand what Livestream video games are exactly and how does online streaming works. It’s not as simple as getting hold of a game and playing it for endless hours on the computer screen. It was just the first stage of gaming, and now it has advanced to higher levels of engagement. Let’s find out more.
What is online video game streaming, and how does it work?
Online video game streaming is pretty simple to understand. You plug in through one of the online gaming platforms like, say, YouTube Gaming, Facebook (yes, it’s not just about building your social network anymore), Twitch, etc., and you join in a live game or watch others play. It’s in its basic form, streaming, and it also promotes higher levels of engagement between gamers and gaming enthusiasts. So, suppose your child likes a game which they have found in YouTube Gaming, then they create an account of their own, and join the game which they can play along with others, who are also taking part in it, in real-time. And it’s not just a pastime; it’s a great avenue for generating revenue as well by expert gamers. There are many professional gamers out there, who make a login, conduct tutorials, play like a pro at various games, and they have sponsors too, who help them make money out of it. Yes, in terms of generating capital, gamers are quite ‘ahead in the game’, than most. If you want to be more involved with your children’s activities, then it’s best to get this basic cleared first.
The Benefits of Online Gaming
Here’s some good news, parents – online video streaming can actually have more benefits than you could have possibly imagined. Yes, that’s right! While it is true that it is a sedentary activity that does promote a sedentary lifestyle, which comes with its own set of problems, if monitored closely and carefully, by infusing enough outdoor activity time in your kids’ schedule, your child can actually reap the benefits of online gaming.
In general, it is important to remember that depending on the time of the game, the benefits will vary. But here are some of the most common ones that you can expect:
Increased Learning Ability
When a child is playing a game, especially a live one, they are virtually continuously on their toes. They have to act fast and act effectively, which is why they need to adapt to the game’s changing scenarios as and when they come along. So, the amount of time they get to process some information is generally lesser compared to other forms of learning, and hence they push their limits to think harder and learn faster. This reward-based mechanism of learning actually helps them to learn faster.
Sharp Focus and Concentration
While you might find it difficult to get your child to concentrate when meditating, but with video games, especially live ones, you will not have to worry about the concentration factor at all there. The child is charged and motivated to reach a certain level, and they will be concentrating hard on the various elements of the game in order to ace it. Thus, this, in general, helps boost their concentration and makes their focus laser sharp.
The Virtual Base for Teamwork
Online gaming forums are a great way to develop a sense of teamwork from a very early age. Gamers need to interact with each other and take part in the various types of activities together, coordinate, and get the task at hand, done. Hence, these types of games improve their communication skills. It also develops a sense of working together to achieve a common goal – an important trait that they stand to benefit from later in their professional and personal lives.
Keeps the Mind Active
The mind is just like the body. You stay healthy when you work out and keep fit. Similarly, the more you use your mind, the more active your mind is, the more productive it will be. It will stay active for a long period of time, and senses of intellect will eventually get sharpened.
Early Stages of Sharing
Gamers form a community over time, where they do talk mostly about the game at hand, but sometimes safe spaces too, develop where they can talk about themselves. It is important to talk about stuff, and hence this just might become a good outlet for your child if monitored closely.
Thus, as we can see, the benefits of online gaming are indeed too many to ignore. However, there are a few words of caution that, as parents, one needs to remember. Cyber bullying is a reality, and that can affect your child, even on these gaming platforms. Trolls are everywhere. So, the best way to go about it would be to opt for secure gaming platforms, like you can Download GameSee App and other such gaming stations and keep a close check on your child’s profile. Just to be on the safe side and also, like everything else in life, balance is the key. Choose the games carefully, after sitting down with your child and talking about what they like and put forth your suggestions too. Hit a middle ground, get a few games, and get gaming!