• In today's world, many children play video games on a regular basis. The habit of playing video games at home can have positive and negative effects on a child in an academic environment. When parents limit the amount of video play, there may be fewer detriments to playing them. Additionally, the time of day and the type of video game may influence how video games affect children in an academic environment.
  
  

Technology/Fine Motor

• Children who play video games may be more technologically competent. In many schools, computers and technology are used as teaching tools. Some video games also promote fine motor skills, which assist children in writing, cutting and other activities that draw on the dexterity and manipulation of the fingers. Psychologist Dr. Drew Messer performed studies between 2001 and 2007 involving adults and children and concluded that video gaming can enhance cooperation and fine motor skills.
  
  

Attentiveness and Thinking

• Video games require focus. Many require players to think logically to solve problems. Players must actively follow directions to successfully complete problems presented in a game. Similarly, students in school must pay attention and follow directions.
  
  

Academic Performance

• Some studies indicate that playing video games has a negative effect on a child's academic performance. When children play video games, they are typically not reinforcing school activities or doing homework. However, a survey of 4,500 middle school children conducted by Dr. Iman Sharif indicates that the frequency and times children play video games determine any negative effects. When compared with their academic progress, Dr. Sharif concluded that video game play during the week was harmful to a child's academic progress, but playing during the weekend did not adversely affect a student's performance.
  
  

Hostility

• A study by Gentile, Lynch, Linder and Walsh tested whether violent video games were more likely to lead to aggression in school. Psychologists Linder, Gentile and Walsh and pain management physician Lynch researched student aggression and video games by asking eighth and ninth graders to rate the violence in the video games they watched and answer questions about their academic success and aggression. Their conclusions, published in 2004, found that the more aggressive the games were and the longer students were exposed to them, the more likely students were to be hostile in school. The research examined the frequency that students argued with teachers and whether they had been involved in fights. Males were more likely to be exposed to violent games for longer periods of time and more likely to be aggressive.
  
  

Social Implications

• Socialization is a large part of the academic environment. In modern classrooms, students interact and often learn in cooperative groups or engage in partner learning. Excessive video game play can discourage socialization since games are played independently.