Can Video Games have Educational Benefits?

                 Video games may not be the best use of one’s time, especially if it takes up a substantial amount of time, but they are proving to be fairly beneficial for teenagers. The effects on the social aspect is not the focus of this discovery, for it is the academic aspect that has been improved from video games.
                 Just like you would expect, it is playing them in moderation that causes them to be so useful in the classroom. Over-playing can lead to addiction and failure in school, while playing less than every other day just doesn't have the proven benefits shown from playing at a controlled rate. Gamers received higher scores in subjects like math and science compared to other students. The difference grew when compared to students who spend their free time on social media. Many students are pressured to stop playing by their parents who are worried their children will fail if they continue to play video games. Phrases like “you're brain will turn to mush” are thrown around.
               At Choate, there is not much time allotted for free time that you can use for this activity. It is even less accessible to the boarding population. Their only chance is at the Student Activity Center. However, they do have the freedom of doing what they want without parental influence. Day students may have the free time, but their parents might not allow them to play any video games throughout the school year. Personally, if I had any sort of assessment I had to prepare for, I would steer away from any games, but there are some nights when I have far less homework and no assessments the next day. My parent’s rules are that I can't play during the week at all, which i semi-support.
                It is good to have some discipline, but there should be time for videogames in a person’s life, especially if it can be both fun and educational.