The effect of gaming on children has been a point of contention for decades.
In 1993, U.S. Congress held an infamous hearing on the game Mortal Kombat and made all kinds of nonsensical claims about video games, spoiling the holiday season for families and teaching young children to inflict violence on others.
Fortunately, the witch hunt against games never really gained much traction — games got age ratings in 1994, but gaming is still a huge part of childhood development around the world. While global statistics are limited, we do know that there are now 2.95 billion gamers worldwide and that over 90% of children play games in the UK and the USA.
But what effect does gaming have on children? And why should we encourage healthy participation in gaming?
Skills and Development
Anyone who has played a competitive multiplayer video game knows just how much time it takes to “get good” and start winning. From hand-eye coordination to communication and coordination, gaming requires a serious investment of effort on the part of all players.
Taking the time to develop gaming skills teaches children two important lessons: first, that their efforts will be rewarded in the long run, and second, that they can develop real-world skills through games and play.
Dr. Jane McGonigal, a game designer and the Director of Game Research at the Institute for the Future, describes the value of “getting good” in her research on games and childhood development. Her research shows that “there is a transferable benefit [of gaming], which is you get better at learning new things at dealing with systems that are frustrating and having to adapt.” Children, who are constantly engaging with new ideas and interfaces, can use their experience gaming to build a kind of mental fortitude that helps them develop self-efficacy and a love of learning.
But gaming does more than teach children how to learn — it also gives them real-life transferable skills. For example, many children play games with their friends like Rocket League or Fortnite. These games require players to communicate clearly and effectively with teammates to win. It may seem like a stretch at first but academics like Matt Barr, a lecturer in information studies at the University of Glasgow, argue that “video games can have a positive effect on communication ability, adaptability, and resourcefulness” in the real world, too. This means that, despite the stereotype, young gamers are primed to become expert communicators in social and professional settings.
Sociability and Happiness
Many parents might be worried about their child’s relationship with gaming — particularly when kids choose virtual arenas over play and exploration in the real world. But, before banning consoles in the household, parents should know that gaming, in moderation, is a great way to socialize and can enrich a child’s life.
It’s no accident that gaming improves children’s sociability, either. Most game designers grew up in an era of gaming skepticism and intentionally design their games to include a social benefit. This kind of design, where designers account for their player’s real-life health and wellbeing, is termed “gaming for good”. Games like Zoo-U and If require players to work cooperatively, and reward players who can form stronger social bonds based on mutual trust.
Gaming can also deliver stories that rival classic novels and films in their ability to teach children about the world. Indie games like Journey and Arise: A Simple Story incorporates players in emotional and evocative ways with mechanics that engross children and teaches them through stories. In a sense, video games today expose children to the same lessons about kindness, humility, and love that oral fables and nursery rhymes have taught for thousands of years.
The Drawbacks
Gaming has plenty of positive effects on children and their development, but video games do come with a host of drawbacks, too.
First off, it’s worth mentioning that excessive screen time can harm childhood development. In particular, spending too much time gaming can cause children to lose out on sleep due to the “energizing and stimulating effects of blue lights” that are emitted by screens of all types. Additionally, gaming should not be seen as a replacement for physical activity — while video games do develop skills, children need to spend plenty of time playing games like soccer to maintain their physical health and develop into healthy adults.
Gaming can also cause overuse injuries in young players. Regularly battling it out with friends every night is a sure-fire way to cause hand injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis later in life. Usually, these conditions are minor and can be diagnosed and resolved with a telehealth consultation.
Fortunately, the drawbacks to gaming can be mitigated by reducing playtime and only gaming in moderation. For most children, this means they shouldn’t spend more than 20 hours per week gaming and should have a balanced day full of physical activity and mental stimulation that doesn’t involve gaming.
Conclusion
Children’s love for gaming isn’t going to disappear anytime soon. Instead, parents and teachers need to learn to embrace the powerful potential of gaming and should try to get involved in children’s new favorite hobby. It may seem bizarre, but kids today growing up in the digital age can use gaming to improve their sociability, develop meaningful skills, and learn lifelong lessons.
