| There's been much debate about the effect that video | | | | was 94 years old. And, yes, when the first Ataris |
| games and online games have in the development of | | | | came out, my mother bought one and we spent |
| our children and even in the socialization of adults. | | | | countless hours playing Pong and Donkey Kong. |
| Reams have been written about the ways in which | | | | There's no question in my mind that the addictive |
| video games isolate youngsters and encourage a | | | | games we played united our family and taught us |
| sedentary lifestyle. Some argue that, when adults play | | | | important life lessons. The first lesson, of course, was |
| video games and online games to the exclusion of | | | | don't cheat - and never play with cheaters. That has |
| other activities, they effectively distance themselves | | | | served me well in business. The second lesson was |
| from others and put up emotional barriers. | | | | good sportsmanship: always play to win, but be |
| While moderation and self-control may be important | | | | gracious when you lose. That, too, has been an |
| considerations when playing video games and online | | | | important life lesson. Even though I try my best, |
| games, I believe a case can be made that some | | | | sometimes I don't come out on top. The third lesson |
| addictive games promote family values. | | | | was about the importance of thinking ahead and |
| Some people grow up in "game" families, and others | | | | strategizing to reach your goals. The fourth lesson |
| do not. I'm from a family of avid gamers - and this was | | | | was about partnerships and teamwork. I had to learn |
| long before the advent of video games and online | | | | to be a team player, and sometimes a former |
| games. Some of my first memories are of going with | | | | adversary would become an ally at a moment's notice. |
| my parents to their friends' houses and sitting quietly | | | | Most of all, though, our family's addictive game playing |
| while they played bridge all evening. My father worked | | | | gave us an opportunity to be together, to have fun, |
| in construction, and so was out of work during the | | | | and to laugh. We're all highly competitive, but at the end |
| winter. I fondly recall coming home from school and | | | | of the day, we're all friends. |
| finding my mother, father, and my father's best friend | | | | My son has inherited my love of games and puzzles. |
| sitting around the table playing cutthroat pinochle. As I | | | | To be honest, I couldn't wait until he got old enough to |
| grew older, I spent many weekends up at a mountain | | | | start playing kid's games. Like many parents, I played |
| cabin, playing hearts with eight or ten other people until | | | | Chutes and Ladders until my eyes crossed! He plays |
| the wee hours of the morning. | | | | his video games - but we play a lot of them together. |
| In our family, we didn't only play card games. We | | | | We also do jigsaw puzzles together and enjoy |
| played every kind of game imaginable - board games, | | | | working in puzzle books and magazines. He even |
| travel games, Mah Jong, outdoor games - you name it. | | | | creates puzzle books for his classmates using the |
| I was the reigning backgammon champion in my | | | | class' spelling words. |
| college dorm. We also were voracious puzzle solvers. I | | | | So, while people turn up their noses at addictive |
| preferred cryptograms and anacrostics, while my | | | | games, I say that they can teach important life lessons |
| grandmother solved crossword puzzles in pen until she | | | | and instill great family values. Play on! |