One of the things that makes today’s kids different from previous generations is they no longer live carefree lives. Kids today experience a lot of stress. Stress can come from different aspects of their lives such as their family, friends and school. For instance, kids may face stress and anxiety cause by a conflict at their home. It may be parents’ troubles or lack of time and care from parents who are busy working. Friends, as much as kids likes hanging out with them, can also cause stress. It can be peer pressure or misunderstandings that get out of hand. School is also a usual source of stress.

From meeting academic expectations to school bullies – there are a lot of things that can cause anxiety in a child. Even kids who do not face major challenges still experience stress from their daily activities. Like adults who get stressed from work, kids also need to unwind and escape.

Traditionally, kids escape by reading books, watching movies or television. But now, online virtual worlds are becoming popular as an escape medium for kids. Moreover, playing on a virtual world is much more interactive than simply reading or watching something on TV. With books, TV and movies, kids merely absorb the world that these media provide. On a virtual world, kids take part in creating their virtual reality. To enter a virtual world, kids start by creating their avatar and giving it a name. These steps may seem simple but they make the kids feel empowered and in control – something that kids do not usually feel in their real life since they have parents that make decisions for them.

As an escape platform, virtual worlds are engrossing because they allow kids to do things that they cannot do in real life. In these games; kids can maintain a house, have jobs, earn and spend their own money. They do not also feel restricted in a virtual world; they can be whoever they want to be and express themselves as they will. It allows them the freedom that they do not normally experience in real life.

Most of the virtual worlds for kids also have social components that allow the kids to interact with fellow players. This also allow the kids to escape their real social environment and form a new one. Shy kids can be more outgoing and friendly. Kids who are outcasts can find friends that share common interests and feel that they belong. Moreover; in these virtual worlds, kids can have friends coming from different countries and backgrounds – something that will be improbable offline.

As an escape; virtual worlds are most useful in the medical field. Virtual worlds are used to ease the anxiety of kids that are going through therapy. For instance, kids who are burn victims play a virtual world game during wound cleaning and dressing. Doctors find that the children can tolerate pain better while being distracted by the virtual world. Kids also view approaching cleaning sessions with less anxiety since the games make them cope with it better.

Virtual worlds make it possible for kids to experience the things that they only dream about in real life. They immerse themselves in these online worlds and temporarily escape their troubles in real life. Just like adults, kids also need to de-stress from the daily grind and these online virtual worlds allow them to escape into a richer and more intricate experience than other media platforms.

Allow your kids to escape to an Australian adventure on eKidnaworld, a free online virtual world for kids.