WhyYou Should Pick up That Controller
Why Parents Should Play Video Games
Video games are present in an increasing number of American households more than ever before. The Entertainment Software Association found that in 2018, 70 percent of parents reported that games were a positive activity in their children’s lives, and 67 percent even play alongside their child at least once a week. Some of you may already be regularly gaming with your kids, but for the rest of you, here are some things to keep in mind. WHY GAMING TOGETHER MATTERS Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and UC Berkeley have shown that video games can have many positive effects on a child, from encouraging critical thinking and social skills to imparting the value of perseverance. Beyond these life skills, video games can also be a way for you to better connect with your child. As game designer and New York Times bestselling author Jane McGonigal, Ph.D., writes, “Games make it easy to build stronger social bonds with our friends and family. Studies show that we like and trust someone better after we play a game with them — even if they beat us.” FIND THE RIGHT GAME Finding the right game to play with your child can be a challenge. Regardless of what platform your child plays on, there’s a nearly inexhaustible list of games to choose from, and some are more child-friendly than others. At the very least,
research the Entertainment Software Rating Board’s (ESRB) rating of a game to make sure its content is age-appropriate.
When choosing a game, it’s a good idea to keep your child’s interests in mind. Do they enjoy creating things? Games like “Minecraft,” “Super Mario Maker,” and “Scribblenauts Remix” can act as a great sandbox for you and your child’s imaginations to run wild. Does your child love to solve puzzles? “Snail Bob 2,” “Snipperclips,” and “Portal 2” will have you and your child thinking outside the box for hours. Want to engage in a little friendly competition? “Mario Kart,” “FIFA,” and “Bam Fu” are all excellent choices. GOING BEYOND SCREEN TIME Whether you pick up a controller yourself or just watch your children play games, the most supportive thing you can do as a parent is reinforce the skills they are learning. Understanding that the same creativity and determination that gets them to the end of a level can be applied in the real world is be a powerful thing for a child’s development.
Maria's Corner
Happy Anniversary, Adam!
It’s February, which means that Adam, the boys, and I are finally starting to wind down after all the amazing holiday festivities. As I talked about in the January edition, the boys loved getting to play with all their Hanukkah gifts, and while we didn’t have any huge New Year’s plans, we still enjoyed getting to ring in 2019 together. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I know that millions of people are rushing out to the stores to buy the best teddy bears, flowers, and chocolates they can find, but truthfully, I don’t typically celebrate Valentine’s Day. Not because I don’t believe in love and not because I don’t see the importance of praising one’s relationship. I think the primary reason why I don’t really celebrate it is because Adam and I commemorate the anniversary of our marriage on Jan. 29, just a couple weeks beforehand. This year, we celebrated 13 years of marriage. Thinking back on our time together, I can’t help but reflect on the first day I met Adam. Of course, he covered our first encounter in his article, but
I remember the day he walked into our ceramics class. It may not exactly have been love at first sight. In fact, Adam likes to joke that he is only
charming one hour at a time. Be that as it may, I do remember wanting to get to know him better, so I asked him to come to my friend’s house for a get-together. Now, 13 years of marriage and four beautiful boys later, I’m so glad that the brave sophomore version of me asked him to hang out. We’ve definitely had some amazing times together both as a couple and a family, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. As we continue into 2019, I’m excited to see what this year brings for all of us.
-Maria Libman
4 • www.AdamLibman.com • Pay Less Taxes by Implementing Tax Reduction Strategies
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Annual report