18 April 2011

Outdoor games and computer/videogames for children

People of my age know very well as to the immense benefits which children can derive by playing outdoor games.

Today, most of our towns and cities do not have adequate space for outdoor activities at all. Children seem to be addicted to TV (watching counter educative programmes) or to computer and video games. Very often, parents seem to encourage such trends. 

I am not saying that virtual games are useless.  What I do mean is that such games are cognitively benefitial in lesson concept development (particularly in subjects such as high school physics as I have myself seen) only if they are used with well defined educational aims and objectives. This fact is endorsed by research studies.

From the health point of view, outdoor games are certainly far more superior, for obvious reasons. I think that our schools should encourage outdoor games which all children can play.  

What do you think? 

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About Me

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Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
I am a retired K-12 Education Management Professional. I have worked at different levels in K-12 school systems, textbook publishing, elearning and Education NGOs. I have held memberships in The Association for Science Education (UK), American Association of Physics Teachers and The Malaysian Institute of Physics. I hold a 1st class B Sc Degree in Physics followed by B Ed [English and Physical Science] and M A [Childcare and Education] degrees. My published works include 59 articles in teacher development magazines in India and the US and a book entitled `Creative Classrooms and Child Friendly Schools' (listed in Amazon). This book is almost an anecdotal account of my professional experience in six countries (including Cambodia where I worked as Technical Adviser to the Ministry of Education, Youth And Sports). I served as mentor in the Certificate of Teaching Mastery Program offered by Teachers Without Borders.