Video games and more Video games!!!!

My children were so happy when they got their Ipad Mini's for Christmas.  My twins were especially excited when they added all their Itune cards they got as gifts from their family to their Ipad Mini's.  I know the first game my son Michael bought was The Clash Of Clans.  The download was free, however all the accessories for the game is where he used much of his Itune money.  Here is a little clip of the game:

The first game Amanda was so excited to download was Sims. In this game or world I should say you create your own people & family.  Amanda like to play the Sims Freeplay which apparently is different from the game Sims. Once you create your own family and name your family you interact with each member of your family.  A family pet or pets can also be created and named.  Each family you create because you can create more than one family you can interact with.  The game also lets you create a home for your family.  The game also allows you to create a town and climate where your family will live.  The download is free but in order to create certain life points and other accessories you must purchase this with your Itunes money.  I guess offering these games initially is free and to actually use all the tools and accessories involved is where they get you to spend all your money.  Here is a clip about the game Sims:

Both these games use such detailed graphics, it looks so realistic.......  These games are also so very technical.  I sometimes wonder after watching the kids play these games if they are actually learning anything from them.  I remember when they were little and they watched Sesame Street and were engaged in staring at Elmo if this was good for their development. At least with Sesame Street they were listening to fun songs,sounds of letters,and new letter each day.

Getting back to the game, "Sims", are they learning ANYTHING FROM THIS GAME.  If you think about it.  The children have to create a family.  In order to care for this family they have to have the members of the family have a job to earn points. When you earn points by working and only then can you use these points to build a house.  With earning points only then can you can add children to your family and pets.  Also, the babies that are bought with points in order for these babies to get bigger you have to interact with the babies.  The babies have to be fed, changed and taken care of.  In order for you to move around and up in the game all the members of the family you created have to have a purpose.  The children need to go to school to earn points.  The other family members need to choice jobs/careers in order to earn points. The more points you earn the better your house and accessories within your house get.

In conclusion, I am worried a little bit less today when watching my children on their Ipads.  Today I learned that playing the game Sims is actually teaching my children responsibilities.  Earning a living in order to purchase accessories for the family is completely a realistic game of what life is about.