Comments on: Nintendo At School http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:38:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Storkdok http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-551850 Storkdok Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:40:29 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-551850 @ Beth Thanks for the info! The reason I would like him to try it is so he knows what the other boys are talking about at school, for the common ground to socialize. It would probably help his fine motor and eye-to-hand coordination as well. I was barely able to to the old Ping Pong and Packman games when they came out. I would not know how to teach him to play the games. That's why I asked if it was put into the IEP and how to justify it, because almost anyone else would know more than me about playing it! The best I can do is play I Spy games and solitaire! I had to give a fair amount of support for the I Spy games in order for him to learn how to play it, and he has mastered that. Maybe his 3 year old brother can teach him soon, he has been playing I Spy games for over a year now. I think he will be a gamer, he picks this stuff up by osmosis! @ Beth
Thanks for the info! The reason I would like him to try it is so he knows what the other boys are talking about at school, for the common ground to socialize. It would probably help his fine motor and eye-to-hand coordination as well.

I was barely able to to the old Ping Pong and Packman games when they came out. I would not know how to teach him to play the games. That’s why I asked if it was put into the IEP and how to justify it, because almost anyone else would know more than me about playing it!

The best I can do is play I Spy games and solitaire! I had to give a fair amount of support for the I Spy games in order for him to learn how to play it, and he has mastered that.

Maybe his 3 year old brother can teach him soon, he has been playing I Spy games for over a year now. I think he will be a gamer, he picks this stuff up by osmosis!

]]> By: Owl http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-553609 Owl Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:30:19 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-553609 On the comments above about noticing that gamer children tend to see the world differently and not necessarily in positive ways I wouldn't doubt it, but I'm absolutely sure what the end result is depends entirely on the particular games played. Just kind of like with TV, they can do studies showing specific TV shows damage ability to socialize properly and they've done other studies showing different shows actually seem to help it. I remember an old psychology book I have sitting around mentioned Seasame Street in particular as one show that for younger children seems to have a lot of really positive effects on their ability to socialize as a contributing member of society. Just as a 5 year old little boy watching the play boy channel is going to result in something entirely different than watching sesame street, different video games result in different behavioral trends. All that calls for is greater parental vigilance over what is in the games their children play. On the comments above about noticing that gamer children tend to see the world differently and not necessarily in positive ways I wouldn’t doubt it, but I’m absolutely sure what the end result is depends entirely on the particular games played. Just kind of like with TV, they can do studies showing specific TV shows damage ability to socialize properly and they’ve done other studies showing different shows actually seem to help it. I remember an old psychology book I have sitting around mentioned Seasame Street in particular as one show that for younger children seems to have a lot of really positive effects on their ability to socialize as a contributing member of society. Just as a 5 year old little boy watching the play boy channel is going to result in something entirely different than watching sesame street, different video games result in different behavioral trends. All that calls for is greater parental vigilance over what is in the games their children play.

]]> By: Kassiane http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-561214 Kassiane Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:44:34 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-561214 GTA is only meant for adults. Kids shouldn't be playing games rated M anyway. They also shouldn't be playing Halo or any realistic first person shooter. But a lot of other games, they're good fun. They really are. (yes. I am a geek.) GTA is only meant for adults. Kids shouldn’t be playing games rated M anyway. They also shouldn’t be playing Halo or any realistic first person shooter.

But a lot of other games, they’re good fun. They really are.

(yes. I am a geek.)

]]> By: L http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-559076 L Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:01:20 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-559076 Hi Dr. Chew, While we are on the subject of Nintendo and autism, one of Nintendo’s most influential game designers (Satoshi Tajiri) allegedly has Asperger’s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Tajiri Take care L Hi Dr. Chew,
While we are on the subject of Nintendo and autism, one of Nintendo’s most influential game designers (Satoshi Tajiri) allegedly has Asperger’s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Tajiri
Take care
L

]]> By: Andrea http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-555862 Andrea Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:49:45 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-555862 Same here, xtiluv. The violent games are not allowed until after bedtime and even then, GTF will never be allowed in this house for anyone. I wanted to kick my 24 year old nephew for playing it in hios own apartment. It's not even just Gus that I don't want seeing those types of games. I don't want his sister or myself exposed to them either. I just find them repulsive. We'll stick to family races in Mario Kart. Same here, xtiluv. The violent games are not allowed until after bedtime and even then, GTF will never be allowed in this house for anyone. I wanted to kick my 24 year old nephew for playing it in hios own apartment. It’s not even just Gus that I don’t want seeing those types of games. I don’t want his sister or myself exposed to them either. I just find them repulsive. We’ll stick to family races in Mario Kart.

]]> By: xtiluv http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-555854 xtiluv Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:38:41 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-555854 We do, and will continue to, limit the types of games that Kai plays. His dad loves the violent games, but I have a strict rule that these games are only to be played when Kai is not around, usually after bedtime. This sometimes makes me a bit of a video game widow, but I do not want my son getting mixed messages about "appropriate social skills". I will be policing the games well into his teen years, I can assure you. I definitely don't want him beating up any hookers, taking their money and stealing their cars. ;) We do, and will continue to, limit the types of games that Kai plays. His dad loves the violent games, but I have a strict rule that these games are only to be played when Kai is not around, usually after bedtime. This sometimes makes me a bit of a video game widow, but I do not want my son getting mixed messages about “appropriate social skills”. I will be policing the games well into his teen years, I can assure you. I definitely don’t want him beating up any hookers, taking their money and stealing their cars. ;)

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-557964 Kristina Chew, PhD Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:29:08 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-557964 @CS Wyatt, Don't worry, we don't allow Grand Theft Anything around here. My ADHD husband has zero interest in video games. @Hammie, wish I had been in Dublin, one day! Charlie was into Noggin for a brief while and he still has a repertoire of Disney songs! Learning computer skills and the hand-eye coordination involved in video games is something that's been good to see Charlie learn----I see it all as steps to helping him become more proficient in this, some day. @CS Wyatt, Don’t worry, we don’t allow Grand Theft Anything around here. My ADHD husband has zero interest in video games.

@Hammie, wish I had been in Dublin, one day! Charlie was into Noggin for a brief while and he still has a repertoire of Disney songs!

Learning computer skills and the hand-eye coordination involved in video games is something that’s been good to see Charlie learn—-I see it all as steps to helping him become more proficient in this, some day.

]]> By: C. S. Wyatt http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-554891 C. S. Wyatt Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:05:29 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-554891 I'll be the outlier on this issue: I have serious, serious doubts about some (not all) of the games my students play, especially those with developmental issues. I have noticed more violent outbursts after students diagnosed as "ADHD" play violent games. I have also noticed younger students "learning lessons" from the games -- including how they perceive racial groups, the police, and even what is a "normal" interaction with the opposite sex. On the other hand, puzzle games, board games, and most simulations do seem to have a calming effect and might have a lot of value. I know I use a Nintendo DS to play Brain Age, Chess, Crosswords, and Solitaire. I am very fascinated by chess puzzles -- not exactly Grand Theft Auto. Research on games is mixed, just like research on television. It's really about what parents and teachers encourage. I definitely worry when a student mimics the "Hispanic" characters in GTA or suggests women "want" to be controlled. Guess I wouldn't be a lot of fun as a parent? Dance Dance Revolution seems pretty interesting, though. Too bad there isn't a "Big Band" edition. I’ll be the outlier on this issue: I have serious, serious doubts about some (not all) of the games my students play, especially those with developmental issues.

I have noticed more violent outbursts after students diagnosed as “ADHD” play violent games. I have also noticed younger students “learning lessons” from the games — including how they perceive racial groups, the police, and even what is a “normal” interaction with the opposite sex.

On the other hand, puzzle games, board games, and most simulations do seem to have a calming effect and might have a lot of value. I know I use a Nintendo DS to play Brain Age, Chess, Crosswords, and Solitaire. I am very fascinated by chess puzzles — not exactly Grand Theft Auto.

Research on games is mixed, just like research on television. It’s really about what parents and teachers encourage. I definitely worry when a student mimics the “Hispanic” characters in GTA or suggests women “want” to be controlled.

Guess I wouldn’t be a lot of fun as a parent? Dance Dance Revolution seems pretty interesting, though. Too bad there isn’t a “Big Band” edition.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-555788 Andrea Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:20:37 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-555788 My husband is a big gamer and I agreed to let him introduce Gus to video games. At first I was pretty adamant that the games be educational, but then I realized that he was finally enjoying something and feeling good about it, so I eased up. I still ban anything that's too violent (I'm not keen on Smash Brothers, but it got past me somehow), and now Gus has gone from playing the V-smile to Gamecube and there's one Civilization game that he's learned on the 360. I've actually seen an improvement in hand-eye coordination since he's been playing. My husband is a big gamer and I agreed to let him introduce Gus to video games. At first I was pretty adamant that the games be educational, but then I realized that he was finally enjoying something and feeling good about it, so I eased up. I still ban anything that’s too violent (I’m not keen on Smash Brothers, but it got past me somehow), and now Gus has gone from playing the V-smile to Gamecube and there’s one Civilization game that he’s learned on the 360. I’ve actually seen an improvement in hand-eye coordination since he’s been playing.

]]> By: hammie http://www.blisstree.com/articles/nintendo-at-school/comment-page-1/#comment-557906 hammie Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:29:59 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/nintendo-at-school/#comment-557906 Kristina! Were you in Dublin yourself? I was on the Autism Action Stand; trying to onvert young grads into recognising and referring early. I totally agree about the computer. Bratty loves the Ceebeebies, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) site "The Playground" and Nick jr, PBS, Noggin and Disney. But where oh where did Bear in the Big Blue House go? Great little games and it's disappeared to be replaced by a "first download free" site that wants too much personal information for this Mama. If you read this Disney execs: we bought all the soft toys, hard toys, Videos and multiple DVDs of Bear and Jim Henson, all under the Disney ownership. Can we please have those free online games back? xx Kristina! Were you in Dublin yourself? I was on the Autism Action Stand; trying to onvert young grads into recognising and referring early.

I totally agree about the computer. Bratty loves the Ceebeebies, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) site “The Playground” and Nick jr, PBS, Noggin and Disney. But where oh where did Bear in the Big Blue House go? Great little games and it’s disappeared to be replaced by a “first download free” site that wants too much personal information for this Mama.
If you read this Disney execs: we bought all the soft toys, hard toys, Videos and multiple DVDs of Bear and Jim Henson, all under the Disney ownership. Can we please have those free online games back?
xx

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