Does your kid play video games? What are your thoughts on that? I have mixed feelings about video games. Research backs me up on my struggle with feeling like it's a good thing, and a bad thing.

The news is: today's video gamer could be tomorrow's top surgeon.

At the American Psychological Association, researchers presented a series of studies that may suggest playing video games can be a powerful learning tool. Games could possibly increase a young student's problem solving skills, or improve suturing skills of surgeons.

In a Fordham University study that took place last year, it was documented that 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th grade students played video games very differently. The younger students were more focused on problem solving, while the older students just wanted to play the game. This information was gathered by asking students to think out loud while playing a game they had never seen before.

This study didn't tell me much, other than the fact that older, adept video gaming students are not learning as much from the games as we'd like them to after they've been playing for a few years.

What does this have to do with surgeons?

There have been studies done by several psychologists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston that compared surgeons who play video games to those that do not.

Surgeons who played video games had an advantage over surgeons that never play video games, even when differences in age and years of medical training and number of surgeries were compared. This advantage was most notable for laparoscopic procedures where surgeons are using tiny surgical tools and video cameras to carry out the procedures.

Studies show that laparoscopic surgeons that played video games were faster in surgery; 27% faster, and made 37% fewer mistakes than surgeons who do not play. It seems like surgeons could benefit from a little more recreation!

The outcome? After several advanced studies, surgeons who play complex video games seem to have better hand dexterity and suturing skills than those that do not.

Does this research help you come up with a few new questions you can ask your surgeon?

A plug for forums and chat rooms comes from research at the University of Wisconsin where chat room posts about "World of Warcraft" were reviewed. World of Warcraft is the world's biggest multi-player online game, where players have to hunt and battle together to reach higher levels in the game. Games like this seem to improve scientific thinking skills, along with problem solving. Players in the forums share knowledge and reasoning in order to evaluate game procedures as a group.

Now for the bad news; the news about video games we already know.

Research shows that video gaming students that play violent games tend to be more hostile and think of violence as a normal tendency. We also know that students who play games for entertainment do poorer in school and are at a greater risk for obesity. Obesity in children is common in video gamers who are unsupervised and are inactive because of long hours spent inside.

Research also has noted that children who grow up playing video games for many hours a day, have a tendency to become adults who live in a fantasy world; a gaming world. These gaming adults may have difficulty holding down a job, holding together relationships, or coping in today's society.

In conclusion, games should be carefully chosen and the time spent on them should be limited. Your child could become a gifted surgeon or a great jet fighter pilot. Or, your child could become inactive with a tendency for obesity and hostility, with low social and communication skills. Everything in moderation...right now, we are in charge of their time and activities!

Becky is a Health and Wellness coach using Attraction Marketing principles to build Internet Network Marketing businesses of any type. For more information on Health and Wellness or Attraction Marketing coaching for your business, contact Becky at www.beckyjoubert.com. You can also sign up for free Attraction Marketing training with Becky as your guide at www.marketstealth.com.