An article on the Daily Mail suggests that playing video games are making our kids dumber. I got worried, since I just bought my kid a copy of "Spore" for Windows, I was telling myself, "What have I done?".

I started to look for confirmation, and to my surprise, found more articles saying the opposite. Playing video games can actually make my kid smart. This article makes a good case that playing video games actually make kids smart.

I also stumbled on a website that shows a balanced view on the good and bad effects of video games on kids' noggin. The article also cites the specific skills being developed by specific kinds of games. Action games, for instance, develop eye-hand coordination, quick thinking and strategy and anticipation. Strategy games develop multitasking skills and efficient use of resources.

That made me feel better. I realized that playing video games can actually make my kid smart if it is done in moderation. I do not feel guilty anymore. I'm just wondering what real-world skill a game like "Spore" would teach him. Playing god, perhaps?