Video games have long been a topic of debate, especially when it comes to the impact they have on children. Critics often point out the potential negatives like addiction or overexposure to violence, which are all valid points, but what they fail to bring to light are the numerous advantages that video games have on children. While it’s still important to follow age guidelines and check out games before giving them to your kids, there are a lot of benefits that they could bring too, so let’s take a look at why video games can be great for kids.

Enhances cognitive skills

One of the main benefits of video games for kids is that it helps enhance their cognitive skills. This is because when they are gaming, their brain is stimulated and it allows them to develop critical cognitive skills. For example, games like minesweeper require forward thinking and strategy, and adventure games can help enhance problem solving skills. What’s great about it is that children don’t even realise they are giving their brain a good workout when it comes to gaming. All of the different challenges presented to them within their games means they need to think on their feet, which helps shape a quicker mind.

Educational benefits

Did you know that lots of games actually have an educational aspect too? Lots of different games teach subjects like maths, science and history in some way, and some even allow children to learn another language. Again, this is a fun way of encouraging children to learn, and they may be learning without even realising what they’re doing. Games can be a powerful way of learning, especially for children that might struggle with traditional learning methods. Not only that, but educational games can be tailored to the players’ difficulty levels, meaning they get a truly personalised experience.

Improves hand eye coordination

We begin learning hand eye coordination from a very young age, and video games can help contribute to the development of hand eye coordination. Video games that need better timing and control like action or sports games are perfect examples of this. Not only is it important to refine these skills for everyday life, but the world is becoming more digitally reliant and kids need to adapt to the technology and digital interfaces. Enhanced coordination plays out well in other areas of life too like in sports, writing and any other activities that need that extra control.

Helps with communication

Video games are amazing when it comes to social interaction. They allow kids to collaborate and chat to each other as they’re playing the game. This can be great for children that are shy or have trouble in large groups of people because it’s a comfortable space for them to develop those social skills. Not only that, but these online communities help encourage teamwork, adding yet another valuable life skill onto the list.

Gives them emotional resilience

If you’ve ever played a video game before, you’ll know that they often come with challenges and failures. This helps teach kids the resilience they need in real life. It also helps teach them that when they try hard they can achieve, you just have to be persistent. If children can learn to deal with failure in a game can help children learn how to handle any setbacks in real life.

Sparks creativity and imagination

There are lots of video games which require the player to have a creative mindset like Minecraft or the Sims 4. Playing video games can help spark their imagination and begin a love for arts and crafts. Playing games like these can also help kids express themselves in ways that they might not be able to verbally.

Serves as a stress relief

Kids get stressed too, and gaming can be a great way of relieving stress. If your children are under pressure academically, they may leave school feeling frustrated and in need of an outlet. Gaming can be a great way to relax and unwind without needing to think about anything else.

Improved attention and concentration

This may seem a little backhanded, as gaming can be notoriously known for making children “not listen” to their parents when asked to do something. But this is actually a good thing. Certain games need you to put your attention in for long periods of time, and this can help improve their ability to focus on other tasks, which is a really great skill to have in the classroom. So, the next time your child doesn’t listen when they’re playing video games, think of it as a skill being learned rather than ignorance.

Helps promote physical activity

Gaming is often criticised for encouraging children to lead a sedentary lifestyle, but it can be the opposite! There are lots of games and consoles that require you to become active during gameplay, like Wii Sports or Wii Fitness. Games can be a great way to get your kid moving especially if they’re not a fan of exercise in general. The great part about games like Wii Sports is that it measures your progress and encourages you to keep going, so this could be a really valuable way of making sure your child gets the activity they need.

Gives them an understanding of technology

Being comfortable with using technology is so important in today’s world. Video games help children become familiar with electronic devices, which will help them as they age. Not only does it help them become tech-savvy at an earlier age, but it can also help give them the confidence to use different tools and platforms as they grow.

Provides cultural awareness

Finally, video games can be great when it comes to making children aware about different cultures around the world. This encourages them to learn about the history of these cultures, and helps them be more open minded when it comes to meeting new people and adhering to their cultures and beliefs.

As you can see, video games aren’t all bad!

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