The Saga Of Homework vs. Gaming

Have you ever wondered why our kids can sit and play a video game for hours and cannot study for longer than 30 minutes straight? Ever wondered why when they’re two exercises into the math assignment, suddenly… they’re hungry, thirsty, sleepy, or want a bathroom break… or all of them at once?!!

I have as well, and it took me a while to observe my kids to learn more about the process. You see it is simple, our kids were born into an interactive and on-demand world. From mobile phones, iPads, YouTube, video games, Netflix, and social media… they are used to getting instant feedback, consequences, and gratification and solving a school exercise on a piece of paper does none of that. The feedback from the piece of paper is delayed by at least 24 hours.

Imagine the video game realm as a candy store of joy. Beat a level, kill the terrorists, slay a monster and it’s like a party with high-fives. Fail a mission, and the virtual world gives you a strong virtual kick in the butt. It’s a rollercoaster of feelings, all while sitting on the desk chair. Now, let’s talk about homework. Solve a math problem on paper, and what do you get? Silence, no applause. It’s like throwing a party and no one showing up.

In the universe of buttons and joysticks, every move counts and triggers an immediate reaction. It’s a parade of emotions in real-time. But when it comes to homework victories, solving a pesky math problem doesn’t even get you a pat on the back. It’s like solving a mystery only to find out there’s another mystery waiting behind door number two.

So, when your kiddos are deep into a digital adventure, it’s not that they hate studying… well they do, but there’s more to that 😂😂; they just long for a world where “A+” comes with a cheering squad. It’s a preference for a world where success and failure come with built-in sound effects.

Welcome to the crazy journey of parenting, where conquering digital foes is a victory parade, but conquering homework is like solving a dilemma in a soundproof room.

In the grand comedy of parenting, I’m afraid that video game controllers have more power than pens, and the quest for instant gratification is the hero’s journey.

Welcome to the saga of homework vs. gaming, where the joystick is mightier than the eraser!

Well folks, this was another Verbal Breakdown, till the next one, keep it safe, keep it real, and keep it simple.

Ralph

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