I’m not naive. But I am fearless or crazy enough to argue that technology, and yes, I’ll say it, even video-gaming, can be good for kids. It’s time to hear the other side; a positive take on tween tech.

Here’s the thing: kids are obsessed with technology, some more than others, and it isn’t going anywhere. So isn’t it time we make our peace with it, and actually use it for the powerful tool it can be?

I ferry my three children to soccer, swim, golf, lacrosse, guitar, and violin. I do it all. But I admit when it comes to downtime, I struggle with forcing my three children off-screen, outside, and into the world. Maybe I struggle even more with not succumbing to the ease of leaving them to it on tough days. But here are the six reasons why, as long as the content is age-appropriate and supervised by myself, I don’t feel guilty about letting them use new technology.

1. Brain gains

Believe it or not, scientists like Daphne Bavelier of the University of Rochester on her Brain and Learning Page have proved that video games can be beneficial for the brain. They can enhance eyesight and the ability to switch from task to task. In moderation, video game play can teach children to think strategically, foster independence, build confidence, encourage moral social behavior and promote problem solving (Video Games: An Hour A Day is Key to Success in Life, the Huffington Post and The Many Benefits for Kids of Playing Video Games, Psychology Today).

2. Social benefits

As long as social media and video-gaming are supervised by parents, and kids only friend people they know to be peers, technology can help to forge friendships and keep up long-distance relationships. For instance, kids can Skype with distant relatives. In The Secret to Long-Distance Friendships Could be Online Gaming on Kotaku.com, Brian Crecente discusses how gaming helped him to socialize as a frequently relocated child. With Instagram, girls (who use it almost exclusively) can easily communicate with friends. And, of course, cell phones allow us to reach our children and for them to reach us anytime, anyplace. This is a good thing.

3. Educational advantages

There are many educational applications of technology for kids. Sites like Essential Skills Advantage and sesamestreet.com give interactive and attractive ways to practice reading, writing and math. For older kids, Minecraft and other constructive games can teach how to utilize resources responsibly, give them access to other countries and historical periods, and even learn coding.

4. Creative outlets

According to The Many Benefits for Kids of Playing Video Games (Psychology Today), there is no evidence to say that computer-play reduces attention spans. In contrast, Leapsters and iPad apps encourage building, drawing, and playing imaginatively in virtual worlds. Computers can offer fairy tales for our children to dream in.

5. A reward tool

Technology can be a powerful bartering chip. Kids that love to play on the computer have a big incentive to earn tech-time. Tweens have good reason to keep their phone privileges.

6. A comfort zone

For a certain type of child, technology can provide a place to shine. One of my kids knows he must live in the real world, but he is happiest on the computer. He likes the space to think and explore; to compete with himself rather than others. Technology gives him a place to be king of his world, to create and defeat, and to travel distances and into history. For that, I am grateful.

The bottom line

In every age, the older generation worries about what the young are exposed to. At one time it was novels. For our generation it was TV. But, with a little savvy, we can all enjoy the powerful benefits that our new world can offer.

Amie Butchko is a freelance writer out of Warwick, NY, where she lives with her husband and three children. Her specialties include web writing and marketing, parenting, religion, and literature. Her interests are cooking, fashion, beauty.  She maintains a lifelong passion for words and her joy and purpose remains always, family. You can see her works at http://amiebutchko.hubpages.com/.