This isn’t nationwide, but next month Hokkaido Prefecture is rolling out “No Video Game Day”. There won’t be just one of these days, but two — and two every month.
NHK reports that among students nationwide, test scores are down in Hokkaido. It sounds like the PTA and the Hokkaido Board of Education are pinning the blame on video games. Which would incorrectly make the assumption that children in other parts of Japan are not playing lots of video games?
The Hokkaido Board of Education, along with the PTA, is spearheading “No Game Day”, which starts on the first and third Sunday this February. Children are encouraged to hang out with their family and friends — by not playing video games, that is.
Picture: Rakuten
Comments
9 responses to “‘No Video Game Day’ Starting In Northern Japan”
My Dad tried to do something similar when I was in my teens. Every Sunday, no video games. What did it accomplish? It taught me to take really long toilet breaks and learn where all the best hiding spots were when playing hide and seek with the kids. Hello gameboy.
Wow that is harsh! On a sunday! I only let my guys play 30mins on school days but the weekend I give them 2 hits of a fair bit longer. Cos it’s the damn weekend! We all play smash bros together, so much fun!
Ahhh videogames, you are the universal scapegoat. Don’t bother trying to fix the issue at all by looking at teaching methods or literally anything productive.
No video game days? I have those too! I call them weekdays 🙁
Either that, or kids in Hokkaido are thicker and need to spend less time gaming and more time catching up to the brighter kids.
Either way, even if the intentions aren’t great, it’s not a bad idea. Setting aside some time to do something different to the routine is a great way to try new things or get a fresh perspective.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea either. Taking a bit of a break keeps everything fresh and it gets people doing other things with their time.
I actually think it’s a great idea.
Next comes no TV day, no internet day, no looking out the window day – hell, we’ll just have a day for everything that’s not studying.
I’d be on board with that.
…Just as long as they don’t try to make a ‘no alone time’ day and impose that on teens.
It’d be easier to build a dyson sphere.
How about a playing outside day? I think that’s a good idea.