Sure, it would be great if they picked up a book as well, but don't feel too bad if your kids opt for the controls instead. James Paul Gee, an education professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, argues that games today provide mental training, teaching children how to strategize, solve problems, and "micromanage an array of elements while balancing short- and long-term goals." If your child is spending so much time in front of a screen that schoolwork and real-world friendships suffer, you've got a problem. But letting him play for an hour while you unwind from a stressful day could be a good thing for both of you.