Video Games That Are Actually Good For You

By Kelly Turner on March 11th, 2010

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Before you tell your kids to shut off their video games, take a second to see what they are actually playing.  Some of your kids’ video games may actually be good for them.

I know.  Please put your eyeballs back in your heads.

Yahoo Games released their list of the top 10 good for you games, and some of them may be in your kid’s console right now.

Mind and body are the integral parts to overall health, and these video games take care of both.

To increase brain power, let your kids play:

Bejeweled

The puzzle solving, jewel swapping game has been shown to lower stress levels and improve mood.

Brain Age

The lightning fast game keeps math and problem solving skills sharp, and help your kids brush up on some of the skills they may have lost over the summer.

Typing Maniac

While your kids may know more about computers than you could ever hope to, proper and accurate typing is a valuable, lifelong skill.  No more brb’s and ttyl’s.**  This Facebook game will teach professional keyboard skills to your child.

Scribblenauts

The Nintendo DS game uses puzzles to push your child’s vocabulary skills, and, well, it’s just so gosh darn.

To increase health and fitness, let your kids play:

Wii Fit Plus

The Wii Fit phenomenon gets your kids up and moving, but the Wii Fit Plus offers more games and customizable programs to track progress.

Food Network:  Cook or Be Cooked

One of the biggest issues cited for the obesity epidemic is that no one cooks anymore. This recipe game teaches kids their way around a kitchen and healthy foods without you worrying about them cutting off a finger.

EA Sports Active

Wii Fit gets the spotlight, but EA Sports Active has a resistance band component that makes their workouts hard to beat.  Incidental exercise is one thing, but EA offers intention exercise to help your child build a habit.

Wii Sports Resort

More calorie blasting Wii games.  ‘Nuff said.

Just Dance

The fast paced Wii dance game gets your kids shaking their stuff to the hottest tunes around.

Video games get a bad rap for producing sloven children, but these games you can feel good about buying for your children.

**Be Right Back and Talk To You Later.  Get hip!