Positive Impact on Children When Parents Play Games with Them, Study?Finds
Posted by Declan Burrowes on August 18, 2011 ? Leave a Comment?
Professor PopCap
Casual game developer PopCap Games is awfully good with these research studies. If this month?s revelations on the gaming habits of Western Europeans weren?t enough, this time, in association with Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Reader in Psychology at Goldsmiths University in London, PopCap has released information from a new study on the benefits of parents playing videogames with their children.
The research, based on 3,250 parents in the UK and Ireland, found 32% played games with their children (all under the age of 16) every day. 80% described the gaming as ?quality time?, whilst one in three claimed the experience brought them closer to their child. That, and one in five parents stated that games had helped their children gain a better understanding of technology. Hell, that?s how Einstein started off.
They Have the Powerrrr!
Okay, granted, the younglings weren?t exactly playing Black Ops or Left 4 Dead with mom and pop. Rather, the research focused on casual games, particularly those played on smartphones. In fact, over a quarter of parents reported that their spawn asked to borrow their smartphones to play the likes of Angry Birds, Bejeweled and Plants vs Zombies on a daily basis.
Three-quarters of parents claimed that their children led healthy lives, with correct amounts of daily exercise and a wholesome diet. Take that, stereotypes! Not only that, but 53% believed that these casual games gave them some sort of mutant superpowers, in that their children?s problem-solving skills appeared enhanced. Well, we all knew that one, right, Professor X?
But hey, don?t just take it from the old folks. Of the Irish children researched, 78% said playing videogames had helped with their understanding of technology; 56% claimed they had the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox, in that their concentration had improved; and 48% of Irish children believed that their problem-solving skills were honed as a result of playing games. Perhaps most importantly, 69% claimed that they felt relaxed after time spent gaming on a computer or smartphone.
Turns out we play games *and* go outside.
Commenting on the study, Dr Chamorro-Premuzic said:
?These findings are important because they highlight the social benefits of playing videogames. Previous research has tended to look only at the individual effects of video games, but in the era of social networking games appear to play a vital role in enhancing social relationships. The fact that both parents and grandparents are using games to connect with their children and grandchildren, and quite successfully, suggests that video games can improve social skills and make a key contribution to both effective parenting and child development.?
Cathy Orr, Senior Director of International PR at PopCap added:
?As technology becomes even more consumer-friendly, we at PopCap are delighted to see videogames playing an increasing role within family leisure time. Videogames are becoming as popular a mainstream lifestyle entertainment as movies or music and finding a place in family life alongside traditional parlour or board games ? or in many cases, providing a new videogame format for family favourite board games. PopCap has conducted a lot of research to prove that casual games are not only extremely fun but can also aid stress relief ? undoubtedly a positive for family members across the board!?
No doubt the casual game giant ? with EA in tow ? will be keeping these statistics very much in the front of their minds as they sally forth hand in hand to dominate the lunchbreak-gaming market.
In the meantime, any sourpuss doubting the warmth, love and happiness induced by gaming with family should reconsider their choice of taste and animal. Not only that, but playing Angry Birds with your kids may well put them on the path to becoming the next Tony/Toni Stark.
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Filed under Culture, Industry, News ? Tagged with Angry Birds, Bejeweled, Casual game, children, effects of videogames, gaming, news, Plants vs. Zombies, PopCap Games
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