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juliecinci
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| Posted: Sept 24 2005 at 1:18pm | IP Logged
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Thought I'd brag a bit.
My 11 year old son (Liam) plays War Craft (a certain version of it called Footman Frenzy online on the computer) and he just beat this one team that is considered the best in the world. In fact, when he plays games, usually guys team up (sometimes as many as 11 to one!) to play against him. He's just gotten crazy good! His brothers are in complete awe of him and they went on for fifteen minutes trying to get me to see the scale of his achievements. It was so awesome!
And today, my 13 year old son (Jake) is becoming better and better at Halo 2 (X Box) and is in a tournament today. He's been so cute this week, working to get his responsibilities done so that he can devote more time to training (for instance, he is doing a math program this year and he spent Tuesday NIGHT staying up really late to do the rest of the week's work so he could devote the rest of his time to X Box - all his idea).
He's been downloading strategies off the Internet, printing them, studying them, and then using them in trial sessions with his buddy who will be his partner. This friend spent the night last night and I got such a kick out of their discourse - how they worked together, how they determined who would be the boss, what codes they are using to cue each other into where their positions are (so that the opponents at the tournament won't know what they're saying).
It's been a high stakes week for both of my boys who spend a ton of time online gaming. They've gotten so good at it!
What hit me this a.m. is that sometimes I just haven't appreciated how powerful all this gaming is. I've thought that it is somehow not as beneficial or good as sports or music. Yet look at all those skills my boys are learning just from hours online? I am amazed.
Even that "atmostphere" of self-discipline someone mentioned came through what they care about. Today is like "final exam" day around here... for Halo 2.
And the sense of pride they have in becoming really good reminds me of kids who are stars on their soccer teams. I just don't get the same level of insight because I'm not a gamer. But I'm learning to see it.
Just had to share. I'm way proud of them.
Julie
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Julie
Homeschooling five for fourteen years
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Leonie
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| Posted: Sept 24 2005 at 6:47pm | IP Logged
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Julie,
I love your description of self discipline and atmosphere! You must be really proud of your dc.
BTW, I play Tekken and Avalanche with my biys - and I can beat them! 
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Natalia
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| Posted: Sept 24 2005 at 7:26pm | IP Logged
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how does online gaming works? do you have to pay? is there a good link to learn about it? I am just curious.
Natalia
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juliecinci
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| Posted: Sept 24 2005 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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You have to buy the games. Some online communities (like World of War Carft) do have monthly subscription fees for participation. But there are plenty that don't. If you want some recommendations, I can ask my kids and let you know. 
The X Box has X Box live and that requires the purchase of equipment.
Julie
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Julie
Homeschooling five for fourteen years
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Cindy
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| Posted: Sept 28 2005 at 3:57pm | IP Logged
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Congrats to your boys, Julie! Sounds like they are really learning a lot of skills and having fun, too.
Amazing how much they can learn from gaming.. and you are right, it often gets a bum rap.
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Cindy in Texas
It Is About The Journey
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Tina P.
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| Posted: Dec 20 2005 at 7:53am | IP Logged
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Julie:
You said in one post a while ago that your 11 yo learns lots of math from playing on the computer. Can you tell me which games he plays that encourage math?
Also, how do you know whether these games are violent or not or show or say anything you don't want your kids to know? And what about people online getting into your children's business?
Those are the things that make me shy away from letting my children play online games...
God bless,
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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Leonie
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| Posted: Dec 20 2005 at 4:16pm | IP Logged
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Tina,
I hope Julie jumps in - I know she always has lots of ideas. But I wanted to mention a game I play on the Game Cube with my two yoiungest sons - it is called Avalanche and it is a snowboarding game. There is a lot to learn about angles and degrees from this game - "Mum, not a 180 degreee loop but a 360 degree jump!".
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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tracym
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| Posted: Dec 20 2005 at 5:02pm | IP Logged
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MY son(8) is not into online gaming but I also have been amazed at how the games he is into has helped him. He loves Civilization and other strategy games. His dad is also into these games so it is very cool that this is a good thing for them to share. It is something that he feels proud of his accomplishments ina nd he does not like to talk much but this is something he can go on about. Plus his reading is lacking but since there are popups on the game he is interestedin what they say and he has learned alot about different places in the world. Many times this has counted as our history for the day. This Christmas he is getting a few board games that are also similar to the computer games he plays so that should be fun for him.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Crazy good video/computer game kids
