Consumer Reports: Parents can foster better communication with kids through video games

CUBA HAS DENIED ANY EVENT.

>>> AND SEE A CHILD AND A HEAD

INSIDE OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

>>> 5 ON YOUR SIDE MONICA

LALIBERTE HAS A DIFFERENT

PERSPECTIVE FROM MOMS AND DADS.

>> EXPERTS SAY INSTEAD OF

FIGHTING ABOUT THE VIDEOGAMES,

IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR PARENTS TO

ACTUALLY GET IN AND PLAY.

>> IT'S GAME TIME AND SOME

SERIOUS COMPETITION ISN'T

TERRIBLE.

AT 7, BRYNN DAVIS WANTS TO

PLAY.

>> SHE CAN PLAY WITH ME AND WE

COULD HAVE FUN.

>> RATHER THAN PULLING THE PLUG

ON YOUR KID'S INTEREST IN

GAMING.

>> PLAY LIKE YOU WOULD A BOARD

GAME.

>> AND PEOPLE GET HUNG UP ON

WHETHER A GAME IS EDUCATIONAL.

GAMES CAN PLAY LESSONS AND SOME

OF THE GAMES ARE PROBLEM

SOLVING AND MAKING DECISIONS.

>> THERE'S PROOF, ARIZONA STATE

CENTER FOR GAMES AND IMPACT

SAYS WELL CRAFTED GAMES FOSTER

CRITICAL SKILLS TO NAVIGATE

THIS INTERCONNECTING AND

RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD.

SHE SAYS HER GAME IS

INTERACTIVE AND ALLOW THEM TO

PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS

REMOTELY.

>> YOU'RE REACHING OUT AND

FORMING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH

THOSE GAMES AS WELL.

>> WITH A NEW BABY SHE DOESN'T

GET TO PLAY ALONG MUCH, BUT SHE

KEEPS A CLOSE EYE AND ASKS

QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.

>> IT SPARKS THE CONVERSATION

AND LEADS INTO COMMUNICATION

WITH YOUR KIDS.

>> I LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS, WHY

DOES THE CHARACTER GO THERE,

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PICK UP

THESE POWER UPS.

KIDS LOVE TO EXPLAIN, THEY LOVE

TO TEACH AND THEY LOVE TO FEEL

LIKE YOU RESPECT THEM AS AN

INTELLIGENT PERSON.

>> OKAY AND EVEN IF YOU'RE

PLAYING WITH YOUR KIDS, YOU

STILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE

AMOUNT OF SCREEN TEAM NOT JUST

FOR THEM, BUT YOU TOO AND MAKE

SURE THE CONTENT IS AGE

APPROPRIATE, OF COURSE.

THOSE GAMES CAN BE FUN, THOSE

GAMES.

>> YEAH, GREAT ADVICE.