Kids Can Become Smarter From Playing Video Games Than From Watching TV, and Here’s Why

Video gaming has traditionally been linked to behavioral and mental health problems. But a recent study proved that this could be a misconception. According to its findings, playing video games for a few hours per day may lead to better cognitive skills. And to shed more light on this interesting discovery, we’ve summarized the relevant points shared by the experts.

This study divided child participants into 2 categories: gamers and non-gamers.

The researchers assessed the brain activity of over 2,000 kids, ages 9-10 (including both males and females). The gamer group consisted of children who played for at least 3 hours per day, and the other group was made up of kids who never played at all. The research team also pointed out that the majority of the players were into action and adventure games instead of the logic and puzzle types.

The gamers performed better in the cognitive tests conducted by the researchers.

All the subjects were given tasks related to memory and impulse control. The results showed that gamers were faster and more accurate in answering compared to non-players.

The experts also used functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze signals in key regions of the brain. And those who played video games registered higher brain activity in the sections that are associated with attention and memory. “That was very nice to see because it’s a way to explain why they performed better,” according to the lead study author, Bader Charaani, Ph.D.

“Maybe video gaming isn’t worse than watching TV.”

Chaarani shared this opinion in light of the study’s findings and added that maybe parents should consider these electronic games over television. According to an older study, watching TV is a passive activity, whereas playing video games can motivate children to be more active and even perform a bit of exercise.

Additionally, one benefit of playing video games is mental stimulation, as players usually need to strategize, analyze, and solve problems quickly. Other advantages include the feeling of accomplishment since there are goals and objectives to be reached, and the benefit of social interaction, which comes from communicating and forming ties with one’s teammates.

Despite these findings, experts still want to remind parents about the harmful effects of excessive screen time.

The researchers emphasize that the results do not mean that children should spend unlimited time in front of computers or other gadgets. Too much screen time could lead to obesity, irregular sleeping patterns, poor academic performance, and a tendency for violence.

“We must continue to investigate these children as they transition into adolescence and young adulthood,” Chaarani adds. The researchers also want to study if other factors, like a child’s family, environment, and personal habits, influence their behavioral development.

Here are some of the symptoms of a video gaming problem, along with tips on how to avoid it.

Signs of a “gaming disorder” include:

• Spending a lot of time thinking about playing
• Not being able to quit or reduce gaming time
• Lying to other people about the actual time spent in front of the screen
• When video gaming gets in the way of one’s life, like in relationships, at work, or at school

To avoid these potential problems, experts suggest doing the following:

• Setting limits for playtime
• Keeping screens — including phones and gadgets — out of the room at night so they won’t disrupt sleeping time
• Engaging in other healthy activities, like exercise or running, which are also good for balancing out multiple hours of sitting
• Making sure that your child plays games that are appropriate for their age