I'm not a professional therapist nor a gifted researcher, but I do have an observation on why young boys like video games so much. It's because they get a maximum of adventure and a sense of accomplishment with a minimum of effort. Think about this:
- They can be a sports star even if they stink at sports in real life.
- They can drive a race car 10 years before they are eligible for a driver's licence.
- They can become a super hero.
- They can explore an imaginary world with mythical creatures.
Here's the kicker... they can do things they could never do in real life, and they can do them well. Only about one out of five kids are good at sports. It's about the same for musical instruments, school work, and people skills. All of these skills can be developed, but it takes HARD WORK. Video games don't, they are much easier.
However, these little facts give us as children's ministers a few useful insights into the minds of kids.
- Kids want to succeed.
- Kids want adventure.
- Kids find meaning in accomplishment as much as adults, they just find it in different places.
As children's ministers we can take this fact and tailor our programs to fit. Give them specific and attainable goals with well defined rewards. Give them a clear path to excellence. Give them another chance when they fail. Spark their imaginations. Don't forget to let them know before hand that they don't need to be perfect, they just need to keep trying.
So when you develop your programs make sure they have specific goals for you AND the kids. Make sure they have a clearly laid out path for success. Make sure that kids know about and can understand the developmental path you are taking them on. Plan for some kids to fail and make sure they are able to get back on track quickly. Most of all, make sure they get a tangible reward for their work.
While this requires more planning and more forethought, I think you'll find your kids more engaged and better able to grow spiritually.
