VIDEO GAMES FOR GROWING MINDS They’re Not Just for Entertainment
VIDEO GAMES SPARK CREATIVITY. It’s essential that children have a creative outlet to focus on as they grow up. While some kids get this from writing stories or drawing, others can showcase their creativity and grow their skills by playing video games. Take “Minecraft” for example. “Minecraft” gives kids an opportunity to create their own world. They can build castles, create roller coasters, and do just about anything they put their mind to, thus enhancing their creative skills. Some games require kids to play on teams. Consequently, they can make new friends and bond over similar interests. Additionally, when kids play together, they have a chance to practice their leadership skills and lead their team to victory. Sports games and massively multiplayer online role- playing games (MMORPG) like “World of Warcraft” are great for teaching these skills. Be cautious if your kid is playing online with others, though. There’s no telling whom they’re playing with, so make sure they’re an appropriate age before introducing online multiplayer games. KIDS CAN IMPROVE RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
Video games often get a bad rap. Many view them as time- wasters with nothing beneficial to offer, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Many benefits can be gained from playing video games, especially for children. Although positives exist, pay attention to what you buy or rent for kids, as benefits vary depending on the type and age appropriateness of the games. Also, limit the time your kids spend playing video games, as too much screen time can be detrimental to their behavior and attention span. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests allotting 30–60 minutes daily on school days and two hours or less on non- school days. If they stay within this range, you’ll quickly notice your children gaining some of the following benefits from playing video games. THEY LEARN HOW TO PROBLEM-SOLVE. Most video games feature puzzles and situations that require critical thinking to overcome. Players must often try different approaches to solve a puzzle before moving on to the next part of their game. They’re learning how to make their own decisions to accomplish goals. “The Legend of Zelda” games excel in this area.
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Every blended family sets out to become like the Brady Bunch, but most turn out to be a little more complicated. Children and new spouses don’t always get along, and step-siblings sometimes have strained relationships. Some children are already adults when their parent remarries, creating a distant relationship with the new spouse even when it’s pleasant. These complex family dynamics pose unique and urgent challenges for an estate plan. Few people look forward to writing a will, but everyone needs an estate plan. Without one, your estate can lose significant value in legal fees, take years to wind through the courts, and harm your surviving family members’ relationships with one another. But estate planning takes on extra urgency for blended families. It also requires careful thought, as common wisdom might not apply.
Here’s one common scenario: A husband and wife with two children each from previous relationships. They love one another very much and treat all children as though they were their own. The husband dies without an estate plan and his wife inherits everything. That’s okay because she still cares for all the children equally, but then she also passes away with an estate plan. Now her children and not her stepchildren inherit everything — effectively cutting off the father’s children from their inheritance because they did nothing. The above example is frightening enough when it comes to money, but it becomes even more fraught when taking assets with emotional ties, like family homes, into account. While many believe, with good reason, that everything will work out. The price of doing nothing is high. An experienced estate attorney can help blended families protect all their members and separate assets appropriately.
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