VIDEO GAMES IN CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S FREE TIME

Abstract

The free time of children and young people is subject to developmentally positive influences in society and the risks they may encounter. One of the ways of spending free time, which represents the time after the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading incredibly quickly, is video games. Despite the concerns, it's important to note that video games also offer potential benefits such as cognitive development and social interaction. The rapid development of the video game industry, as well as social circumstances and the increased occurrence of internalized behavioural disorders associated with playing video games, have led scientists around the world to question the effects of video games. The paper analyzes contemporary theoretical paradigms of free time, types and ways of spending free time through the virtual world of video games, their effects and the role of family and school in the issue above. Examples of positive ways of using video games in the family and school environment are given as a starting point for setting the correct framework for positive patterns of video game-playing behaviour. The above is placed to pedagogical science, and contemporary empirical results, but also critically reviews the above topic for the area of ​​the Republic of Croatia.

Keywords: virtual free time, prevention, virtual addiction, culture of childhood and adolescence