Scientists from Denison University have finished a study on the short-term effects of video game availability on the academic performance of young boys. Participants included families with boys ages 6 to 9 and did not already own a video game system – half of which were given video game systems at the start of the study while the other half were promised their own systems after four months’ time. Guess what happened?
They boys who received a video game system and three age-appropriate games saw significantly less progress in reading and writing scores, as well as an increase in teacher-reported learning problems. The parents logged that their kids’ time playing video games came at the expense of study and homework time. Notably, the study revealed no differences in parent-reported behavioral problems.
It doesn’t seem like any study was done regarding the types of games played and their correlation to the results, as this was a focus on playing time affecting the academic growth of developing boys. It’s no secret that games can be a distraction, though, so parents should be adamant in limiting playing time and encouraging games that have at least some positive effect on kids – be it physical activity, cognitive puzzles, or even just good morals.
