According to a study, children who play video games have better memory and more developed attention.
On Switch, mobile or Playstation, kids love video games. However, they may have a bad reputation with parents. Many consider that they can make young people violent and make them spend too much time in front of screens. Some teenagers can even develop an addiction to these virtual universes.
However, playing mindfully can also be positive at any age. Indeed, these hobbies can, once morest a background of play and adventure, improve the brain capacity of young players. In any case, this is the observation made by researchers at the University of Vermont.
As part of one of their studies, they found the amazing properties of video games on children’s memory and attention. Their findings were published in the specialized journal Pediatrics in October 2022.
More concentration, visual attention but also ease of memorization
For this study, the researchers used more than 2,000 children (girls and boys) aged 9 or 10. In order to determine the impact of the video game sessions, the researchers divided the children into 2 groups. The first was made up of children who did not play these games. While the second includes children playing an average of 21 hours per week.
Then they invited the children to participate in MRI scans. These were intended to test and visualize certain faculties of the children. However, it appears that the brain performance of young players was better than that of non-players.
Play 3 hours a day further stimulate children’s memory, but also the sense of observation and visual attention.
Benefits that do not apply to all types of video games
Even though video games can be good for children, researchers urge vigilance. In effect, there are a multitude of video games. It can be action games, shooting games, puzzle games…
To keep them good for children, care must be taken to respect the PEGI, the game classification system. Thus, avoid exposing your children to titles reserved for those over 12, 16 or 18 if they are not old enough.
Another important point highlighted by the researchers is the support and opportunities for young players. Be sure to always monitor children’s play time to avoid addiction. Finally, avoid online games before the age of 11.
