Are your kids hooked on digital games?

Try turning the "problem" into a "career opportunity"

Many parents are puzzled about how to deal with kids that appear addicted to digital games. An "Advanced Learning Technologies Summit" held earlier this month in Cary provided examples of how a passion for gaming might be turned into a promising career opportunity.

The speakers and attendees expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities that new digital tools provide for collaboration, though questions about costs and "how best to get started" are constantly debated. While most parents are aware that new technologies are producing significant changes in all areas of life, they may not be aware of the opportunities that serious digital games and virtual worlds provide for improved learning, collaboration, and problem-solving.

A group of students from Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh were present at the summit and enthusiastically discussed how their love for digital games inspired them to take challenging courses on related topics such as graphic design and computer programming. While a career as a "game designer" seems to be their preference, the students are keenly aware that the vital technical skills they have acquired make them excellent candidates for a wide variety of jobs in our increasingly digital world.

Conversations with some of the attendees, many with teenagers at home, revealed tensions and concerns about kids spending an excessive number of hours playing digital games. Although no one was heard claiming any magical solutions to addiction, there was a recognition that the young person's enthusiasm for digital games might best be channeled into an opportunity, using gaming passion to motivate them to study and learn challenging, but vital, technical skills.