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Are there any benefits of playing video games? While there are a number of concerns about the negative effects of video game play, there is some evidence that playing these games can have benefits as well. As with other types of media, it is important to think about the content of games as well as the experience of playing them.
Do video games improve thinking skills? There is evidence that users can learn thinking skills when they play video gamesl. These skills, however, are often closely linked to the specific game being tested and not to video games in general. For example, one study showed that playing Tetris improved children’s score on a test of how well they could rotate objects in their minds. There is also some research showing that video games teach players different ways to manage their attention. This is because they often have to pay attention to many things on the screen while they play. These studies do not tell us whether video games teach these skills or if people who are good at these skills are drawn to these kinds of games. The experimental studies that would help clarify this relationship have not been able to reach a conclusion. More studies need to be done before we know for sure whether video games can have positive effects on young people’s thinking skills.
What about educational video games? There are a lot of educational video games available for younger children. Most of these games are made for home computers but there are some made for video game systems too. The majority of these games have not been scientifically tested to see whether children learn the skills the games claim to teach. Therefore, parents should use their best judgment to find games that match the needs of their children and present material in a fun and non-violent way. There has been some research done that shows educational games can be successful. In one study a class of kindergartners received educational games and played them at school and at home while another class did not. The class with the games improved more on spelling and reading tasks than the class without games (see this study). In another study performed in Chile, educational videogames were put into some first and second grade classrooms. Children who had the games in their classroom showed more progress in math, reading comprehension, and spelling than the children who did not use games in their classrooms (see this study). In both of these studies, the games in the classroom were paired with classroom teaching methods and presented in a school environment. It is unclear if these results generalize to casual at-home play of educational computer games. Regardless, there are many reasons to believe that children will learn from educational games that provide content appropriate for their ages in a fun and interactive way.
So what does this all mean? Together these studies show that there can be benefits to playing video games. However, there is considerably more evidence that playing violent video games contributes to aggression. Parents who want to provide a positive experience with video games should be very careful to choose non-violent games that provide educational content in a fun and challenging way.
Next: How can I help my family use video games safely?
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