Are Games for Girls, Too?

Internet gaming seems to be something that boys do. These boys hang out in groups and occasionally there might be a girl in the crowd who blends in with the boys or is the tag-along girlfriend. While this may seem commonplace, it is not the way internet gaming has developed over the last few years.

Girls Games
Girls do play games on the internet. They might not spend their waking moments in arcades or playing with complex character cards, but they should not be excluded from the internet gaming phenomenon. While some enjoy racing or fight style games that boys enjoy, many girls visit websites developed especially for them.

Online dress-up games, like paper dolls, are one of the most popular styles of girl games on the internet. These virtual paper dolls allow girls to try on different outfits or play with dolls that have already been created. And how, you may ask, do girls play with these dolls? Unlike traditional games with controls and score keeping, playing these dress-up games requires imagination and ingenuity.

Powerful Play
Using imagination and creativity during play is powerful. Experts have been encouraging parents to limit television and electronics for years in favor of more creative play. Fortunately, you don’t have to ditch the computer to accommodate these guidelines. A daughter playing with online paper dolls is not only exercising her creative muscle in choosing outfits and hairstyles, but she might be learning crucial skills for the future.

Many business owners and even schools are realizing that collaboration is key to success. Students and employees must come together with ideas and work to create the best product. Group work has been popular for years, and transitioning this work to the internet is the next logical step.

Online Collaboration
Online sites such as TheDollPalace.com are ideal for dabbling in online collaboration. Girls create dolls and then share stories, ideas, and comments on their creations and those of others. Sometimes these communities offer contests and opportunities for prizes for their hard, creative work.

One of the most common ways to share ideas and compete in dress up game contests is to create a doll and then compose a story about the new creation. The stories give girls a chance to share ideas and to practice writing – an important skill in school and life. The better a girl is able to communicate, even about something as simple as a virtual paper doll’s hair color, the better off she will be.

Just for the Fun of It
Of course, it’s easy for a parent to see the long-term advantages of online girl games, but it is also easy to overlook the most basic of facts. Dress up games are fun. There is a reason girls enjoy them so much. If they knew how beneficial talking about their creations and learning to disagree politely in public would be, it might just take some of the enjoyment out of the activity. Let your kid be a kid, and you can sit back and think about what a great parent you are for letting her.