Fantasy Sports and Video Games

Should children play sports video games and participate in fantasy sports?

My mother-in-law was a fun mom when her kids were growing up. Back in the day when sleepovers were not as taboo as they are today, her sons and their friends played Tecmo Bowl all night. They each picked teams, played the season opener and ended when someone’s team went to the Super Bowl. They had just as much fun cheering during the video games as they did for the games on television. These are fond memories in the Hunter household.

Now, my son J is the same age as his father was and the two of them play Madden NFL on the Kindle. Playing sports video games has been a fun form of bonding. Especially because I don’t though a perfect spiral. Another advantage of video sports games is that they teach kids how to read plays and how they should look executed. 

Fantasy sports are now popular among teens as well as adults. I think sports video games seem to me to be a gate way to Fantasy Sports. I think fantasy sports have their place, but I worry about having my son playing these games on the internet. I’m not worried about child predators and they are out there, but I’m worried they will lead to unknown consequences.

A few years ago the NFL wanted kids to play Fantasy Football to learn math. My first thought was great! When I heard that commercial I was all for it. Math is often thought of  has hard and why not have fun with it. When the kids ask “when are we ever going to use this stuff” the answer would be right now. Statistics are in everything and knowing how to read statics keeps you from falling for every scheme out there. But if fantasy football is based off reality and imagination, how would that effect math being a something provable? Would kids think of math as a form of fiction? Or is this a sneaky way of advertising to children? 

Other parents are worried about fantasy sports games actually setting kids up for gambling problems. Gambling can become an addiction and I’m always talking to my son about alcohol and drugs, but it never entered my mind to talk about addictions to predicting out comes.  

Recently the NFL has stopped advertising Fantasy leagues to kids under 13.   I can see why a kid would love to play Fantasy sports. You get to live a dream of being a coach, and choosing what players you would like on your team. At the end of every game you get immediate results of how your imaginary team did. Instant feedback-great. Player highlights-great. Bragging rights-maybe not so great.

Fantasy sports and video games are another way of bringing sports home and another way to enjoy the game, but let's be old enough to participate in the games fully.