Is Playing Video Games Healthy for Your Daughter?

The Answer Will Likely Surprise You

Video games are commonly scorned by the media. From being blamed for devastating tragedies like the Columbine Massacre to being pointed out as the cause of less tragic but still negative behavior, the media's usual message is "video games lead to problmes." And although it has lessened some since Nintendo released the Wii, video games still take heat for causing kids to be less active and therefore overweight.

Since video games are typically a media scapegoat, you probably assume there's no good news about girl gaming. However, while you're not going to hear the media singing praises for teenage boys playing Grand Theft Auto anytime soon, that doesn't mean it's bad news when it comes to games for girls. A recent study from BYU's School of Family Life found that playing video games can actually benefit your daughter.

How Can Girl Gaming Benefit Your Daughter?

The study, which looked at just under 300 families, found that girl gamers are less likely to behave badly. While the media has commonly looked at links between violent video games and problems with boys' mental health, the BYU study found video games have a positive impact on girls' mental health.

Another very important finding of the study is gaming increases girls' feelings of connectedness towards their families. In an age where constant text messaging and social networking puts a digital divide between many teens and their family, gaming appears to be one form of technology that can bring families closer to each other.

Games for Girls Give Dads a Way to Connect

Although they love their little girls, many fathers struggle to connect with their teenage daughters. Given how different a teen girl's world is from that of a typical working dad, it's not uncommon for the two to view each other as being from different planets.

Fortunately, video games offer a solution for any dad who wants to connect with his daughter but is struggling to do so. When a father and daughter sit down to game together, tension about topics like boys is eliminated. Instead of struggling to find common ground, gaming serves as a type of ice breaker that allows the two to connect with each other.

Not only does gaming provide an excellent opportunity for bonding, but it also gives dads a chance to provide their daughters with the type of positive feedback that is crucial for developing healthy self-esteem.

If you're looking for a safe and kid-friendly source of games for girls, we recommend GirlsW dot com.

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