"Parenting Tip: 7 Ways to Complement Computer Games and Unleash Your Child's Creative Genius"
Even though we may enjoy playing them ourselves, many parents worry about the impact of computer games on their child's development. We fear that letting our kids play computer games for more than an hour or so per day will turn them into anti-social, obese couch potatoes. It would be better to have our children read or to read child stories to them, we think. Yet, computer games are here to stay, so rather than fighting them, why not use them? This article shows you how you can let your child play computer games yet still foster the development of their creativity.
The issue that many parents have with computer games is that, compared with reading a child story, they don't require the use of a great deal of imagination. Here are seven ways in which you can complement computer games to foster the development of your child's creativity:
#1 Develop character profiles
Some computer games have characters. With the Harry Potter games these characters are already well-known and well-developed. With other games, however, the characters may be more "shallow". This is a perfect opportunity for your child to develop the characters further. They can invent a profile for the character, imagining who their family is, where they come from, where they go/went to school, what hobbies they like to do, how they feel, etc. Your child can then make sketches or drawings of the character and scenes from their life: past, present and future. Finally, your child can create profiles of the other people in the character's life: friends, family, pets, colleagues, droids, etc.
#2 Create Storyboards
If you think about it, a lot of computer games are nothing more than interactive stories. So, your child can create their own stories using the characters from their favorite computer games. Think of this as an extension of the computer game. You could even pretend that you work for the computer game company and are creating a new version of the computer game.
There are several ways you can approach this depending upon you and your child's preferences. You can write a script, create cartoon-like illustrations, create illustrated scenes (i.e. pictures) only, or create pictures with accompanying text.
#3 Write a Diary
It could be interesting for your child to get inside the head of some of the characters. Incidentally, this is also a good way to develop a child's empathy. Have your child write a diary as if they were one of the characters.
#4 Develop a Virtual World
One of my sons has developed his own virtual world. He's created detailed maps, descriptions of all the creatures, plants (more than 100 in all, fully illustrated) and lands in it, and a complete history of this imaginary world. Your child can create a virtual world that is either an extension from an existing computer game or something completely new.
#5 What's Cooking?
If your child likes to cook, why not develop some special recipes of what people eat in the computer game's virtual world? What's their favorite food? What is the national dish? These "recipes" could be from real, edible foods or other non-edible materials (make sure your kid doesn't eat the latter!).
#6 Get Hands On
Some children are kinesthetic learners; they learn by doing. If your child is one of these, they can create 3D models from clay or papier mâché of the characters from a computer game. You can even create life-sized models in your garden/backyard. For example, you can carve a character from an old tree stump or log.
#7 Create Your Own Computer Game
In the area of computer games, what could be more creative than creating your own game? When they create a game, computer game companies go through a process similar to some of the steps described here so you might be able to use the results of your fun work to create an actual computer game.
There are hundreds or thousands of software tools you can use to create your own games. However, unless you're a "techie", it's probably easiest to use one that doesn't require any programming or advanced computer skills.
Software tools such as "The 3D Gamemaker",* for example, allow you to create games simply by pointing and clicking. The 3D Gamemaker has a library of scenes, sounds and 3D objects that you can combine into your own games. Obviously, this is a bit less creative then making a game from scratch, but you can also scan in your own images, record your own personal sound effects and import your own 3D models to make your game more original.
The Multi-Choice Creation System (MuCeS) lets you create Multichoice adventures in which the game player chooses one option out of a number of given options depending on what she thinks will be best for a given situation.
The above are only two examples of the possibilities. The point is that you don't need to be a "rocket scientist" in order to create your own computer games. Imagine how thrilled your kids will be to create their own games. Playing computer games will never be the same again!
Conclusion
Some parents regard computer games as an "unhealthy" influence on their children, but when you combine computer games with some of the "offline" child story creation activities described here, you'll not only unleash your child's creative genius, you'll have a lot of fun doing it.
* Note: I have not (yet) used any of the software described here. The products mentioned are provided purely as examples.
Hey, My name is Joana and i am an internet marketer,article author, and a devoted article submitter.:)
Article from articlesbase.com
Ancient Secrets: Quest for the Golden Key 
Use your keen eye for detail to solve hidden object challenges and unique puzzles as you search for the ancient treasure of the Te...
Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2009 
There's something for everyone with HOYLE Puzzle Games 2009. It's the biggest and best assortment of 21 classic and challenging fa...
PLAY! Volume 2 
The Ultimate Game Collection is here! Get right to the fun in this extraordinary collection of full-version games. It's high quali...
Bookworm 
Words! Words! Words! This classic vocabulary challenge knows how to spell F-U-N. Link letters and build words to feed Lex, the hun...
Ultimate Games for Girls 4 -bundle 
The ultimate collection of premier games for girls -- now featuring 4 great games for girls!...
Computer game may aid decision-making
BELFAST, Northern Ireland, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- A computer game can help those who play it improve their decision-making, researchers in Northern Ireland say.
Read more on UPI
![]() 1x NEW PS POWER CORD AC CABLE CORD LINE FOR LED PC GAME CONSOLE TV VEDIO COMPUTE US $.01
|
![]() Brand New Custom Made Gaming Desktop Computer Never Been Opened US $1,600.00
|
![]() SimPark PC 1996 Computer Game US $1.99
|
![]() 2 x USB 20 controller joystick For PC Computer Game US $9.45
|
![]() Warhammer 40K Space Hulk Computer Game by EA Floppy Disc Unopened US $3.00
|
![]() Saitek P220 digital game computer control handheld with usb US $.99
|
![]() Hoyle Card Games Computer US $5.00
|
![]() Top Chef The Game Computer software US $10.00
|
![]() JUMP START FIRST GRADE KIDS CHILDS LEARNING COMPUTER GAME WITH BONUS US $6.00
|
![]() CD ROM MONOPOLY COMPUTER GAME HASBRO INTERACTIVE FOR WINDOWS US $.99
|
![]() Amazing World of Warcraft Mouse Pad G for Hot Computer Games Popular WOW Image US $.99
|
![]() Backyard Hockey for PC Computer Game Windows Compatible Only US $.99
|
![]() VINTAGE TANDY TRS 80 COLOR COMPUTER 3 128k WITH GAME JOYSTICKS US $50.00
|
![]() DISNEY WINNIE THE POOH TIGGER ANIMATED BOOK MAC WINDOWS KIDS COMPUTER GAME US $7.50
|
![]() nfmp7b11 New PC Computer Game Diablo 3 Logo Mouse Pad US $5.49
|
![]() PC computer game Harpoon II 2 Deluxe Global Conflicts 1 2 3 new sealed CD ROM US $6.99
|
![]() ARTHURS 2ND GRADE KIDS CHILD LEARNING EDUCATIONAL COMPUTER GAME MATH READING US $6.00
|
![]() Computer PC Laptop Desktop Gaming TV MP3 Headphone Headset w Noise Canceling MIC US $12.95
|
![]() 3 D Ultra Pinball 3d PC Computer No instructions Jewel Case Game ONLY US $.99
|
![]() Backyard Soccer MLS Edition PC Computer Game Windows Mac CD Rom US $.99
|
![]() Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Computer Game PC CD ROM software by Atari US $.99
|
![]() Backyard Football PC Computer Game Windows or Mac CD ROM US $.99
|
![]() HALF LIFE COUNTER STRIKE COMPUTER GAME US $.99
|
![]() NASCAR RACING 2002 SEASON COMPUTER GAME US $.99
|
![]() NASCAR RACING 2003 SEASON COMPUTER GAME US $.99
|
![]() 4x4 EVO 2 computer game US $.99
|
![]() 2 X USB GAME PAD JOYSTICK GAMEPAD Dual Vibration SHOCK FOR WINDOWS COMPUTER US $9.03
|
![]() I Spy Fantasy Mini Game Disc 1 PC or MAC Computer Wendys Kids Meal Toy NEW US $.99
|
![]() Ultimate Yahtzee for PC Computer Game on CD ROM by Hasbro Interactive US $.99
|
![]() Simulation Computer Board Game Nam 1965 1975 by Domark 1991 US $5.99
|
![]() LOT 2 Shock USB controller joystick Joypad For PC Computer Game Free Shipping US US $10.45
|
![]() LOT OF 3 GRANDPRIX 3 GEOFF MICRO PROSE FORMULA 1 PC COMPUTER VIDEO GAME SEALED US $9.99
|
![]() Fishing Computer gamenever played US $10.00
|
![]() Hasbro Tonka Garage Computer Game US $.99
|
![]() Hasbro Tonka Search Rescue Computer Game US $.99
|
![]() BARBIE STICKER DESIGNER COMPUTER PC GAME CD ROM MATTEL MEDIA WINDOWS 95 98 US $.99
|
![]() Lot of 3 collectible Star Wars computer video game boxes only US $2.99
|
![]() INTEL i7 960 32GHz GAMING DESKTOP COMPUTER SYSTEM US $829.00
|
![]() Hasbro Tonka Construction 2 computer game US $.99
|
![]() NASCAR RACING 3 COMPUTER GAME USED US $1.99
|




























































































