| Even though we may enjoy playing them ourselves, | | | | or something completely new. |
| many parents worry about the impact of computer | | | | #5 What's Cooking? |
| games on their child's development. We fear that | | | | If your child likes to cook, why not develop some |
| letting our kids play computer games for more than an | | | | special recipes of what people eat in the computer |
| hour or so per day will turn them into anti-social, obese | | | | game's virtual world? What's their favorite food? What |
| couch potatoes. It would be better to have our children | | | | is the national dish? These "recipes" could be from real, |
| read or to read child stories to them, we think. Yet, | | | | edible foods or other non-edible materials (make sure |
| computer games are here to stay, so rather than | | | | your kid doesn't eat the latter!). |
| fighting them, why not use them? This article shows | | | | #6 Get Hands On |
| you how you can let your child play computer games | | | | Some children are kinesthetic learners; they learn by |
| yet still foster the development of their creativity. | | | | doing. If your child is one of these, they can create 3D |
| The issue that many parents have with computer | | | | models from clay or papier mâché of the |
| games is that, compared with reading a child story, | | | | characters from a computer game. You can even |
| they don't require the use of a great deal of | | | | create life-sized models in your garden/backyard. For |
| imagination. Here are seven ways in which you can | | | | example, you can carve a character from an old tree |
| complement computer games to foster the | | | | stump or log. |
| development of your child's creativity: | | | | #7 Create Your Own Computer Game |
| #1 Develop character profiles | | | | In the area of computer games, what could be more |
| Some computer games have characters. With the | | | | creative than creating your own game? When they |
| Harry Potter games these characters are already | | | | create a game, computer game companies go through |
| well-known and well-developed. With other games, | | | | a process similar to some of the steps described here |
| however, the characters may be more "shallow". This | | | | so you might be able to use the results of your fun |
| is a perfect opportunity for your child to develop the | | | | work to create an actual computer game. |
| characters further. They can invent a profile for the | | | | There are hundreds or thousands of software tools |
| character, imagining who their family is, where they | | | | you can use to create your own games. However, |
| come from, where they go/went to school, what | | | | unless you're a "techie", it's probably easiest to use one |
| hobbies they like to do, how they feel, etc. Your child | | | | that doesn't require any programming or advanced |
| can then make sketches or drawings of the character | | | | computer skills. |
| and scenes from their life: past, present and future. | | | | Software tools such as "The 3D Gamemaker",* for |
| Finally, your child can create profiles of the other | | | | example, allow you to create games simply by pointing |
| people in the character's life: friends, family, pets, | | | | and clicking. The 3D Gamemaker has a library of |
| colleagues, droids, etc. | | | | scenes, sounds and 3D objects that you can combine |
| #2 Create Storyboards | | | | into your own games. Obviously, this is a bit less |
| If you think about it, a lot of computer games are | | | | creative then making a game from scratch, but you |
| nothing more than interactive stories. So, your child can | | | | can also scan in your own images, record your own |
| create their own stories using the characters from | | | | personal sound effects and import your own 3D |
| their favorite computer games. Think of this as an | | | | models to make your game more original. |
| extension of the computer game. You could even | | | | The Multi-Choice Creation System (MuCeS) lets you |
| pretend that you work for the computer game | | | | create Multichoice adventures in which the game |
| company and are creating a new version of the | | | | player chooses one option out of a number of given |
| computer game. | | | | options depending on what she thinks will be best for a |
| There are several ways you can approach this | | | | given situation. |
| depending upon you and your child's preferences. You | | | | The above are only two examples of the possibilities. |
| can write a script, create cartoon-like illustrations, | | | | The point is that you don't need to be a "rocket |
| create illustrated scenes (i.e. pictures) only, or create | | | | scientist" in order to create your own computer |
| pictures with accompanying text. | | | | games. Imagine how thrilled your kids will be to create |
| #3 Write a Diary | | | | their own games. Playing computer games will never |
| It could be interesting for your child to get inside the | | | | be the same again! |
| head of some of the characters. Incidentally, this is also | | | | Conclusion |
| a good way to develop a child's empathy. Have your | | | | Some parents regard computer games as an |
| child write a diary as if they were one of the | | | | "unhealthy" influence on their children, but when you |
| characters. | | | | combine computer games with some of the "offline" |
| #4 Develop a Virtual World | | | | child story creation activities described here, you'll not |
| One of my sons has developed his own virtual world. | | | | only unleash your child's creative genius, you'll have a |
| He's created detailed maps, descriptions of all the | | | | lot of fun doing it. |
| creatures, plants (more than 100 in all, fully illustrated) | | | | * Note: I have not (yet) used any of the software |
| and lands in it, and a complete history of this imaginary | | | | described here. The products mentioned are provided |
| world. Your child can create a virtual world that is | | | | purely as examples. |
| either an extension from an existing computer game | | | | |