How We’re Balancing Gaming and Life with Valhallan

At the recent grand opening of my son’s new esports team location, Valhallan Broomfield, I talked to so many parents who were asking me if it’s too much screen time and how we manage gaming in our family. I had to explain to them how we do things in our family. And while it may not be the perfect way, I think there is something in it for everyone. Here’s my perspective.

Some kids just aren’t physically capable or interested in doing physical sports. Shouldn’t they be able to learn the same valuable principles as other children? Teamwork, communication, being a gracious winner, handling losing, things not going as you planned, problem solving, and more? These kids can learn the same valuable lessons through esports.

Speaking of physical, do you know how mentally fatiguing and physically intense some games are, especially in a competitive environment? The constant analysis of the situation, scanning your screen, reflexes for any situation, and trying to stay relaxed and breathe?  

Just like traditional sports, esports require discipline, quick decision-making, problem solving, and strategic thinking, all of which can be applied in real life. These are skills that our son has been able to apply to his schoolwork and other real-world situations.

Many of the best esports athletes are fit because of the positive impact of exercise on the brain, giving them an upper hand in the mind/body connection. Not only that, but esports are the fastest growing sport in high schools and are officially an Olympic sanctioned sport. Yet so many college scholarships for esports go to waste because there is not enough understanding of the potential.

Gaming, just like any new technology or product, is a tool. I bet many people feared tech when it first came into the business world, and now we use it in most of our lives, business, and recreation.  

In our house, we control the amount of video games our son plays, since he’s on a team. He gets time on the weekends and the only weekday time is for the team at their Valhallan location. Homework must be done before, and chores must be done after. Grades must be good just like any school partnered sports. And he does soccer and robotics. We teach balance.

Special shoutout to Valhallan for teaching kids valuable life lessons in a cutting edge, modern way, and in a SAFE space. Private servers, weekly “healthy habits” around gaming, and connection with other kids by getting them to game together in person.  

Times change, but kids stay the same. They learn through play.  

Lastly, my husband and I participate in every multiplayer game our son plays if possible. We learn from each other. It gives us a bonding topic (which is hard for preteen boys) and he opens up more while we game. Don’t fight it, learn it.

Brittney Housley’s son is a member at Valhallan in Broomfield, CO. Find a Valhallan near you at https://arenas.valhallan.com/

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