This is one of the most common questions asked by many parents and by people who generally do not play games. Many youngsters nowadays stay glued to their computers and gaming consoles for long durations on a regular basis.

By taking into account various studies conducted and papers published, one can say that playing video games does have certain benefits and will help gamers develop certain skills, but on the other hand excessive gaming is not advisable and can have negative detrimental effects which includes violent and aggressive behavior and reduced socialization. On the brighter side video games improve Manual Dexterity and Hand-Eye Coordination along with an improved visual acuity in children.

Video games can aid in improving the children's learning ability, there are various education based video games specifically developed for this purpose which is known to bring about remarkable improvement in the math and language skills. The video games also encourage the children to think creatively and improve special skills.

The video games also help in distracting not only children but also adults from the pain inflicted due to injuries or other worries and keep them calm. At the same time, the video games come in handy in physiotherapeutic programs as well by encouraging the child to recuperate and recover fast from an injury. It also develops social skills in children. Even with so many benefits, the bottom-line remains the same: Over indulgence is bad and it may cause more harm than good.