Concern about the effects of video games on young and impressionable players is nothing new.
From controversial content to the prospect of addiction, parents, teachers, doctors and psychologists have all voiced apprehension over the rising popularity of gaming amongst the younger generation, and these anxieties have only increased as lockdowns have seen more and more kids turning to their screens for entertainment.
But there are plenty of reasons that gaming may not be such a bad thing for young people after all. In fact, evidence suggests the hobby may even nurture their skills and ambitions. Here are just three ways that gaming can be highly beneficial to children from their early years to their adult life.
1. Gaming can improve a range of skills
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect.
And gaming can provide young players unexpected practice for many necessary skills, such as reading – many games give instructions via text, which players have to read in order to progress. For younger players, this exposure is a fantastic opportunity to improve their reading level.
Video games can also inspire creativity – games like Minecraft and The Sims depend on the players’ imagination, a challenge that many young gamers rise to.
2. It can make kids more employable in the future
As today’s children grow up with access to technology that was merely the stuff of sci-fi for their parents and grandparents, the workforce of the future will be the most tech-literate yet.
And as every aspect of our lives from our homes to the workplace become more dependent upon technology to function, it isn’t just gaming and IT careers that will demand a good deal of computer-savvy skills. Indeed, as we move into the golden age of remote working, employees of the future will need to know their way around an operating system and be able to adapt quickly to new technology at work.
Thankfully, today’s youngsters have a natural affinity for gadgets of all kinds as they grow up with phones, tablets, smart devices and yes, games consoles, in the home.
That said, it is not the only way to nurture a child’s digital prowess – if your young gamer has a promising future in computer science, some additional tuition with an agency like Teachers To Your Home can provide a boost to their learning.
In summary, gaming is a great way to develop technological proficiency that can open up career prospects in the future.
3. It can be an opportunity to socialise
As more video games embrace online play, gaming is becoming an increasingly sociable activity and in lockdown, this has been highly beneficial for players of all ages and genres, as it has provided an opportunity to stay connected with friends.
Gaming can also be a family affair, with many multiplayer games on the market designed to be suitable for the whole family. The Nintendo Switch is widely considered to be the most family-friendly console available, with games like Just Dance, FIFA and the Mario franchise.
These are just three ways in which gaming can be excellent for players of all ages, but especially children and teens.
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