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In This Issue
Some surprising research on gaming to consider and debate
From The Online Mom
With all the awful press that video games get, a surprising twist has recently shown up in the media: video games might just make you smarter. What's the evidence? Well, there's some tantalizing recently-published research on videogaming and intelligence. Let's take a look...
Is it all good news? Absolutely not.
First off, even with solid research backing you up, should you require your kids to spend all their waking hours playing video games? Umm, no.
Obviously, time they're spending playing video games is time they're not spending doing something else. There's a definite correlation between video games and childhood obesity. And there's something else your kids aren't doing when they're playing video games: schoolwork.
According to research in a 2007 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, "compared with non-video game players, adolescents who played video games spent 30 percent less time reading and 34 percent less time doing homework." That might be why a separate 2007 study in CyberPsychology & Behavior found that "the amount of time a student spends playing video games has a negative correlation with students' GPA and SAT scores. As video game usage increases, GPA and SAT scores decrease."
Stronger attention, better multitasking?
However, research does show some positives linked to moderate video game playing.
C. Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier at the University of Rochester have shown that action video game playing increases the capacity of the visual attention system to stay focused, despite distractions. According to the researchers, "at difficulty levels where non-video game players have long depleted their attentional resources, video game players possess sufficient resources to perform the target task..."
Green and Bavelier add that players simultaneously juggle varied tasks, which "pushes the limits of three rather different aspects of visual attention. It leads to detectable positive effects on learning new tasks" and these new skills appear to carry over to other tasks, not just video game playing.
Preliminary work of psychology graduate student Jim Karle at Ontario's McMaster University suggests that some video games may strengthen memory retention and information processing, especially where memory tasks involve rearranging and memorizing new information, rather than simply repeating existing data.
Help for the autistic brain?
Armed with suggestive evidence that the right video games could help "rewire" brains trying to recover from brain injuries, University of Missouri researchers are trying to use a game called Space Race to "retrain" the brains of autistic children.
"Often, children with autism disconnect, and we want to use neurofeedback to teach them how it feels to pay attention and be more alert. We want to teach them to regulate their own brain function," said Guy McCormack, chair of the university's occupational therapy and occupational science department.
Better team players, better leaders?
Other research shows that today's online multiplayer games may help people become better at teamwork. More and more work is organized into teams nowadays, so if this is true, moderate gaming could make your kids more effective and successful in the workplace.
Top business researchers John C. Beck and Mitchell Wade, authors of Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever, say their nationwide survey of 2,500 business professionals shows that those who grew up playing video games actually make better business people.
The authors had this to say about the game-playing professionals in the survey: "They're more serious about achievement; more attached to the company they work for and the people they work with; more flexible, persistent problem-solvers; more willing to take only the risks that make sense."
Bottom line: Today's parents still need to heed the thoughts of Aristotle, 2,400 years ago: "everything in moderation." Including video games.
Visit The Online Mom for more information and advice on technology and our kids.
PTA Resources
Video Game Tipsheet
Video Game Safety Strategies
With summer's warmer weather and sunshine, your family is finding reasons to leave the house that was a cozy retreat all winter. As your family spends more time outside, take some time to remind your kids of ways to stay safer away from home:
- Teach your kids to ask you before leaving home and to stay with a friend whenever they're playing outside or walking anywhere.
- Talk to your children about how to locate help at theme parks, sports stadiums, shopping malls, and other public places. Identify those people who are safe to ask for help, such as law enforcement, security guards, and store clerks with name tags. Make it a point to practice each time you take a trip; quiz your children on the things they should look for.
- Teach your children that if anyone tries to grab them, they should make a scene and make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting. Set up role-play situations at home to practice.
- Take a trip to the neighborhood playground. While there, check to make sure all the equipment is well-maintained, and talk to your children about how to play safely.
For resources on a variety of important safety topics, visit PTA.org's "Child Safety Events: How to Get Involved" page. Learn how to take action on the topics most relevant to your family.
On the latest edition of PTA Radio, be sure to listen to an eye-opening discussion on "sexting," a startling phenomenon popular among adolescents and teens. Also:
- Hear from James Notter, Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools in Florida, as he shares his district's excitement surrounding the upcoming PTA Family Expo.
- Listen to PTA President-Elect Chuck Saylors as he explores male involvement and the PTA MORE Alliance with our director of membership and field operations, Michael Knowles.
Get your cameras ready for the 4th Annual Picture PTA Photo Contest
Picture PTA offers all adults a chance to show off activities and events in their homes, schools, and communities and exercise their creativity. Graduation, end-of-schoolyear events, picnics, and other outdoor fun are just around the corner. Take advantage of these picture-perfect moments to preserve your experiences and try to win gift cards and recognition.
The contest opens May 20 and runs through June 30. Details are available at PTA.org/PicturePTA. Enter for your chance to win a $50 gift card and national acknowledgment online and in PTA publications. 
Help PTA show the world what a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive organization you belong to. You can get in on this exciting new project by submitting an "I am PTA" video or essay. Your entry could be used in a video montage shown at the 2009 national convention or in any of PTA's print or online media. Deadline is June 8.
How to participate: Using the theme "I am PTA," record why you think you represent the vibrant and inclusive organization that is PTA. You may record a short video (20 seconds or less), write a short essay (200 words maximum) or read an audio essay (20 seconds or less).
If you create a video, post it on YouTube and send the URL to parent@pta.org along with your name, PTA affiliation, e-mail address, and phone number. If you write an essay, e-mail it as a Word document to parent@pta.org (and also include contact information). Please put I am PTA in the subject line of your e-mails. You can also record an audio essay by calling (312) 670-6782, ext. 374. Again, please record contact information at the end of the submission.
Deadline for submissions is June 8.
Join National Center for Fathering in push for male involvement
The National Center for Fathering and its WATCH D.O.G.S. program, a founding member of PTA MORE (Men Organized to Raise Engagement), are asking dads to make a commitment to meet the needs of their children by loving, coaching, and being a good role model. In addition, fathers are asked to encourage children they know without fathers and encourage other dads to make similar commitments.
To join the 2009 Father's Day team, go to PTA.org/MORE and sign up using the National Center for Fathering widget.
- Time To Act, a program from The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, has produced a tool for parents that offers step-by-step, expert advice to help them understand drug and alcohol use. The site offers tools to assist parents in confronting a child, setting boundaries, and seeking outside help. The site is located at http://timetoact.drugfree.org/.
- The Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC produces the Emergency Medical Services for Children (ESMC) National Resource Center, a resource for parents or caregivers interested in becoming involved in activities designed to improve the health care children receive in an emergency situation. The resource is at www.childrensnational.org/EMSC/ForFamilies/.
There are many ways that you can help your child succeed! A few small activities each week will pay huge dividends over the course of the year. Here are a few that you can do this week:
- Coordinate and participate in evening and weekend volunteer activities at school. — Coordine y participe en actividades que se llevan a cabo en la escuela durante la tarde y los fines de semana.
- Attend training and orientation on how to be an effective volunteer. — Brinde asistencia a la capacitación y orientación sobre cómo ser un voluntario eficaz.
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