Socializing through play. It is the oldest universal method of integration ever, dating back to the first human beings who walked the planet, when fire was still nothing more than an abstract idea, comparable to the divine voice outside Plato’s cave.
The Game, understood as the first and irreplaceable social medium, thus becomes a tool for sharing and a bearer of benefits: the evolution of Video Games, over the decades, has accompanied the pre-existing “analog” play activities, thus taking on meaning, a reservoir to draw from full of possibilities.
Some more or less recent studies (in fact, as far back as the time of Ultima and even with the release of the first Super Mario Bros, specialists and educators had already begun to talk about it) have shown how effective and wide-ranging the benefits brought by the conscious use of video games are.
Just as any electronic device given into the hands of our boys and children should not be demonized in itself but rather moderated, consoles and personal computers too can rise to something more, and better, than simple tools for entertaining children at the table. But not only that: the combination of the family environment and the aid of video games gives shape to an atmosphere devoted to sharing, as well as a sphere of personal growth for children who can finally play freely, together with their parents, brothers and sisters.
The thought, when speaking of awareness and video game management within family dynamics, can only turn to Nintendo, which with its hybrid Switch first and the new second version recently on the market, has concentrated the spirit that has always been the driving force behind its video game lineup. Remember the Wii, right?
Wii or we, us in English, a simple and powerful concept, capable of encapsulating everything needed to bring entire families together in front of a screen to mess around, all together. The noticeable improvement in children's cognitive abilities has been proven, just as the spectrum of all existing aspects of socialization is broadened with astonishing results.
No exclusions, we’re talking about titles of every kind, from shooters to sports simulators, from platformers that improve hand-eye coordination to co-op games that, as the name suggests, help enhance teamwork: a plethora of continuous stimuli that provide precisely those benefits we mentioned at the beginning.
But is all that glitters really gold? In an age of digital natives, where from the earliest age one finds oneself handling cell phones, typing on virtual keyboards, and scrolling through screens that fire off images, lights, and sounds without any (unfortunately, very often) preventive oversight from adults, how much can Video Games, seen as a conscious tool, still really make a difference?
So much. In fact, an enormous amount.
Beyond the emotions it is capable of evoking through narrative adventures, also designed for very young audiences and not just older players, playing video games within the family unit above all ensures healthy and mindful interactions. If thirty or forty years ago the only allies of parents and teachers were printed books and, to a limited extent, television, today things have drastically changed: in every home there are tablets, smart TVs, and mobile phones that now take the place of computers.
Our children are overstimulated, literally bombarded by every technological device and so yes, the video game used in a balanced way within the family restores the educational and playful experience that we definitely need nowadays. Experiences so positive that people have also started talking about video game therapy, in the context of preserving mental health.
Involving one another, parents and children, but without forgetting the value of books and the subtle pleasure, when turning the pages yellowed by time, of realizing that it does not matter whether we hold a joypad or a book, because both are incredible portals that give access to worlds that will make us feel better.
