How can online gaming benefit children?

Although games are a form of entertainment, with parents’ support and guidance video gaming benefits by helping them children develop their creativity, nurture relationships with friends and improve strategic thinking.

It can also help young players build perseverance to achieve goals, build resilience and improve their communications skills, especially in online multiplayer video games.

Here is a list of gaming benefits proven to support young players:

Learning and development benefits

A great source to develop early learning skills for younger children

Studies show that certain games benefit younger children by helping them improve early reading skills with the support of parents and teachers. Games like ‘Times Table Rock Stars‘ that is used in primary schools and pre-school apps like ‘Endless Alphabet‘ can be great tools to help children learn in a more engaging way. Also, with the growth of connected toys, children can experience physical play while playing on devices. Educational toys like Osmo combines tactile play pieces with a device’s camera to bring to the in-play action to life.

Enhances memory, brain’s speed and concentration

Games that are immersive and require strategy and problem-solving skills to win require players to remember and take in a lot of information. Regularly playing these types of games can help improve young players’ short and long-term memory. They may also the brain process information quicker. Furthermore, video games capture players’ imagination, helping them to stay focused on certain tasks, building their perseverance to achieve a goal.

Improved multi-tasking skills

Games that require players to find items while fighting off other opponents call for attention to detail and quick reactions. Studies have shown that this type of gaming benefits young players by helping them develop their multi-tasking skills.

Build skills for future careers

The more complex online multiplayer games help teach players how to be strategic and analytical to assess risk and reward. These games call for young players to react quickly to changes in the game. This type of gaming benefits children because the skills can be transferable to real-world jobs that rely on problem-solving, analytical skills and strategic thinking.

Offer a new way to understand culture and perspectives

As games allow children to immerse themselves in virtual worlds and, at times, connect to people from around the world, it can be a great way for them to learn about different perspectives and cultures.

Physical and social benefits

Group play provides social benefits

Whether children are playing online multiplayer games with friends or using family-friendly apps like ‘Heads Up’ with the family in the living room, these types of games can help nurture relationships through shared moments. They also improve children’s social skills. For children who may have disabilities, it can also be a way for them to make friendships they may struggle to create offline and contribute to overall child development.