CHILD EXPERT SAYS POKEMON GOOD FOR KIDS

CHILD EXPERT SAYS POKEMON GOOD FOR KIDS

NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- The critics may be giving a poke to Pokemon -- but a child development expert in New York thinks the Japanese game craze is actually good for kids. Joanne Oppenheim says children who are allowed to buy the trendy collectible cards receive a boost in self-esteem because they feel as if they're part of the in-crowd. On the other hand, she says kids who aren't allowed to jump on the Pokemon bandwagon may feel like outcasts from their fellow classmates. Oppenheim also says the Pokemon craze can teach children important life lessons about media hype and advertising -- especially when they realize it's impossible to live up to the game's collecting slogan of "Gotta catch 'em all." Although it's a cynical and expensive lesson for a youngster to learn, Oppenheim claims it's a lot easier to learn about truth in advertising firsthand instead of from a parent's lecture.