COMMONLY ASKED PARENT QUESTIONS

HOW GAMING AND SCHOOL CAN GO HAND AND HAND

Some people have asked how eSports are being used in middle schools and high schools, not just around our country, but specifically here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you have a child that is in middle school or high school or a private school, you may find that they also have an eSports Program.

Why does this matter? It matters because if we think about eSports, like traditional sports, they are still learning values that they need in their entire life. They’re learning how to compete. They’re learning how to use strategy. They’re learning how to work within a team. They’re learning how to deal with victory and with defeat.

These games that many of the kids play, and probably your kids as well, are complicated. It takes a lot of activity in their brains to know what to do. Sometimes as parents, we think they’re wasting time and it will not provide anything. However, there are skill sets that maybe we don’t understand, but they can be used in real life. That is the reason why in our city, Fort Collins, many of the schools are introducing official eSports Programs.

There are universities around the country, many of which are offering scholarships for kids just like yours, to play video games at their university. Why would they do that? The reason is that they know the skill sets that they have acquired and how they have to be exceptional in some of these things. As a result, they can then help the kids utilize some of those skills and things like marketing, technology, or in computer coding, and in mechanics, and it goes on and on and on and on. Here are just a few of the many benefits of eSports…

10 BENEFITS OF ESPORTS:

1. Improved hand-eye coordination and reaction time
2. Enhanced problem-solving and strategic thinking skills
3. Improved communication and teamwork abilities
4. Increased socialization and the opportunity to make new friends
5. Increased confidence and self-esteem
6. Enhanced leadership and decision-making skills
7. Improved time management and organization
8. The opportunity to learn about and engage with technology and computers
9. The potential to excel academically and professionally
10. The potential to receive College scholarships

WHAT THEY WILL LEARN:

Joining an eSports league can offer children and young people a number of learning opportunities, depending on the specific league and its focus. Some potential skills and areas of knowledge that kids may develop through participation in an eSports league include:

1. Basic computer and internet skills
2. Game mechanics and strategies
3. Teamwork and communication
4. Time management and organization
5. Leadership and coaching
6. Sportsmanship and fair play
7. Basic coding and programming skills
8. Event planning and management
9. Marketing and branding
10. Basic business skills, such as budgeting and financial management

As a parent, I’m sure you’ve thought video games (eGaming/eSports) were a waste of time for your child or there wasn’t anything educational about them. We’re here to tell you they’re valuable, they can be helpful, and if done correctly, they can provide long-term success for your child’s future!