5 Benefits of Gaming for Kids

Parents always want the best for their children. So, it can be difficult to decide how much of a role technology should play in a child’s life.

When played in moderation with adequate supervision, video games and apps can have many benefits for the cognitive, physical and social development of children.

Here are five key reasons as to why children should play video games and apps:

Development of Motor Skills

For children aged 5 to 13, playing games can significantly improve reflexes and accuracy. Hand-eye coordination grows better in time too, thanks to navigating with a mouse or touch screen.

Training Attentional Capacity

Video games require the child to focus on a target and observe the screen in order to reach their goal. Subconsciously, children learn the importance of perseverance and how to commit to an activity without being distracted. Moreover, certain games generate significantly higher brain activity than watching TV, or even reading.

Troubleshooting

Computer games present the player with a target, and gives them a responsibility for making decisions in order to achieve it. Mistakes result in consequences, and - depending on the difficulty of the game - the child learns how to perform under pressure. This experience allows them to deal with real-life decisions with heightened confidence.

Stimulation of Creativity

Many games allow the player to use tools to imagine, design and customize different features. The child may be acting as a protagonist in a narrative rather than just an observer. This could spark an early interest in creativity and use of the imagination.

Digital Literacy

For kids today, using technology is just as important as knowing how to read or add up numbers. Teaching a child how to use a computer or tablet from a young age ensures that they will feel comfortable using them throughout life. Why not embrace a child’s natural sense of curiosity?

We couldn’t complete this list without mentioning something perhaps obvious, but vital: education. Many games are purely educational, helping users to improve skills in reading, math, science and more.

The main risks associated with children’s exposure to video games are inappropriate content and lack of physical activity. It goes without saying, therefore, that it is important to monitor the use of video games and only allow your child to play them in moderation. However, this list of advantages is difficult to ignore.

Ultimately, children want to be children. They like to have fun and live in their imaginations...what better way to enrich their fantasy world than through the use of video games?

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by Lilou, Lea and Lee