Many parents are concerned about the increasing use of video games and mobile phones by teenagers.
If you spend time talking on the phone with friends and playing online games, when they go to study? But recent studies show that neither of these two activities is damaging to the academic performance of children.
Researchers from the University of Michigan, United States, conducted a study that lasted three years among children 12 years of age.
They found that cell phone use had no effect on academic performance.
Nor does the play PC games harmed their ability to study, but on the contrary, as it had a positive effect on visual spatial skills and social relationships.
Have a good visual spatial ability, is often considered important for the performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
For the study researchers surveyed 20 schools in Michigan.
Measured how often children used cell phones and how much time playing video games per day, both online and offline games.
We also measured visual spatial skills of children and performance on tests of math and reading.
They found that girls were using the phone more than men and they played video games much more than themselves.
The researchers conclude that it is unrealistic to expect children to stop playing video games, but we have to adapt and benefit.
They say they love to game developers focus on developing the visual space, and put aside issues of violence.
It would be interesting, they say, is to attract girls to video games so that they also develop more visual spatial ability.
This skill is essential, i.
e.
to a surgeon.