Gaming: Our theme in July and August
Our son is 14, and yes, he does gamble. Not obsessively, not day and night. But with dedication and passion. No shooting games. But Minecraft. It's a kind of digital Lego where you create your own worlds, build houses and defend yourself against enemies.
I'm not a gamer myself. I've never owned a Playstation; apart from a brief Tetris phase, the gaming world is a black hole for me. The advice often heard from experts - «Show interest. Let them explain to you what your child is playing» - costs me some effort.
What makes digital games so attractive to children and young people? Our son puts it like this: «When I play Minecraft, I connect with a world in which almost anything is possible. I can live out my imagination and decide for myself what I want to build next, without any guidelines or restrictions. That's pretty cool.»
Should we parents sit back and relax when our son wants to let off steam digitally? Do we worry too much if our daughter would rather look after virtual chickens than play outside? After all, computer games also strengthen social interaction, promote visual skills and improve coordination.
My colleague Mirjam Oertli explored these questions in her dossier «Gaming», which is well worth reading. She spoke to experts, analysed studies and compiled lots of valuable tips for parents. And she visited three families who regularly play games. The statement from Saskia, mother of two boys, aged 8 and 14, illustrates just how much parents struggle with the topic of gaming: «Sometimes it's practical to let them game. Especially when I'm working from home. Admitting that you get some peace and quiet like this is taboo. I often realise that others are doing the same. Of course that's not good.»
I wish you nerves of steel the next time you go into a «gaming infight» with your child.
Yours sincerely,
Yours, Nik Niethammer
