As I explained in the previous post, some of the things that make video games so appealing are that they’re visual, require the player to be actively engaged, and provide frequent reinforcement.
Here are some ways you might harness these principles when helping your child with less pleasant, but more important, activities like homework:
1. Make a nightly “homework list” that allows your child to see exactly what they need to do.
2. Allow your child to use a pencil or highlighter to mark in their books as they read or study so these traditionally passive activities become more active. Even if you have to pay for books it’s worth it if it helps your child with learning.
3. Make lots of small goals and reward your child for reaching them. For example, say “If you can do three math problems in the next 60 seconds I’ll help you with any two problems you choose.” And remember, crossing things off a list can be incredibly reinforcing.
It’s far better for your child to see you as an ally in the homework process than as someone who just nags and fusses at them. And they will if you’re able to use some of the principles that make video games so appealing to help with more challenging tasks.
Parents are often frustrated when their children spend hours playing video games. But instead of wishing this technology would just go away (too late for that) why not look at what makes videos so appealing and use it to your child’s advantage.
First, video games require active engagement. Sure, the participant is just moving their thumbs or fingers but even these small movements “connect” them to the task.
Second, video games are primarily visual. Throughout most of human existence we’ve learned more by seeing things than by listening to explanations.
Finally, video games provide frequent reinforcement. Even though your child may be playing for hours they’re constantly aware of their progress and are usually able to move to a new level every few minutes.
On my next blog post I will suggest ways to adapt these principles to something as boring as homework.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is currently the most common type of mental health counseling. One of its goals is to make people more aware of their thoughts and then help them examine their thinking for accuracy and effectiveness. In short, are the thoughts true and helpful?
While CBT training was developed for clinical psychologists beginning in the 1960’s the principles behind it are certainly not new. In fact, William James (1842-1910), one of the fathers of modern psychology, said “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.” And centuries before that another William (Shakespeare) wrote “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
Unfortunately, we seldom slow down enough to examine our thinking. People tend to accept their thoughts, opinions, and judgments as “the gospel truth” and then cling to them “through thick and thin.”
But remember, at one point we all believed in Santa Claus but most of us decided to change this point of view. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy Christmas, it just means we’re able to think about it a little differently.
