What are the benefits of online games?
Online video games can support children’s learning while helping them develop key life skills. Explore how gaming can positively impact their growth and development.
How can online games benefit children?
While video games are primarily a form of entertainment, with the right support and guidance from parents, they can offer much more. Playing games can spark creativity, strengthen friendships and enhance strategic thinking.
It can also help young players develop perseverance to achieve goals, build resilience and improve communication skills – particularly through online multiplayer games.
Learning and development benefits
Here is a list of ways online games can help children and young people develop their learning skills.
Studies show that certain games can help younger children improve early reading and learning skills, especially with support from parents and teachers. For example, educational games like Times Table Rock Stars, widely used in primary schools, and preschool apps like Endless Alphabet, make learning more engaging.
Additionally, connected toys combine physical play with digital interaction, offering a blended learning experience. Tools like Osmo use tactile pieces and a device’s camera to bring in-play action to life, bridging the gap between hands-on and screen-based activities.
Immersive games that require strategy and problem-solving encourage players to absorb and remember information. Regularly engaging with these types of games can improve both short- and long-term memory, while also helping the brain process information faster.
Video games also captivate players’ imaginations, helping them focus on specific tasks and build perseverance to achieve their goals.
Games that challenge players to find items while battling opponents or navigating complex scenarios demand attention to detail and quick reactions. Research shows these activities can help young players develop strong multi-tasking skills.
Complex online multiplayer games teach players to think strategically and analyse risks and rewards. These games require quick decision-making and adaptability—skills that can easily translate to real-world careers in fields requiring problem-solving, analytical thinking, and strategic planning.
By immersing children in virtual worlds and connecting them with players from around the globe, video games can expose them to different cultures and viewpoints. This can be a fun and interactive way for young players to learn about diversity and broaden their understanding of the world.
Physical and social benefits
Whether children are teaming up with friends in online multiplayer games or enjoying family-friendly apps like Heads Up in the living room, these games can foster stronger relationships through shared experiences. They also help improve social skills by encouraging communication and teamwork.
For children with disabilities, gaming can provide a unique opportunity to build friendships that may be harder to form offline, contributing positively to their overall development and sense of inclusion.
Online multiplayer games encourage young players to take on various roles, such as leading a team or collaborating to achieve a common goal. These shared experiences teach children the value of teamwork while boosting their confidence as they learn and grow together.
Games like Pokémon GO and Just Dance show how gaming can motivate kids to get moving while having fun. With the rise of mobile gaming apps, children can now stay active on the go. Check out our list of active apps designed to keep kids engaged and moving while they play.
A growing number of games and apps are designed to help children manage emotions and foster kindness, compassion, and empathy. Explore our list of wellbeing apps to discover tools that support mindfulness and emotional growth.
Watch: Why do children enjoy gaming?
Kids explain their love of gaming | Internet Matters
Close video
What are children doing while playing online games?
Many children enjoy watching others play video games, with Let’s Play videos—narrated gameplay often mixed with humour—being some of the most popular content on video-sharing platforms. Here’s why:
- To learn new skills
Watching others helps children pick up tips, strategies, and tricks for progressing in games, improving their own gaming skills. - To stay entertained
The combination of gameplay and commentary, often from popular YouTubers, keeps children engaged. They also enjoy getting to know the personalities of the gamers they follow. - To interact with others
Children often share Let’s Play videos with friends and discuss them. Live streams allow them to interact with both the streamer and other viewers, fostering a sense of community.
What to watch out for
- Adult language and inappropriate content
Some Let’s Play videos may include language or content that isn’t family-friendly. It’s a good idea to watch these videos together to gauge their suitability. For live streams, consider using YouTube Kids to find age-appropriate content. Channels like LearningWorks for Kids offer gameplay tips designed for children’s learning. - Passive screen time
While watching others play can offer learning benefits, it’s still passive screen time. Monitor how much time your child spends watching videos, encourage breaks, and set limits with parental controls.
Types of games available
Video games come in various genres, each offering a unique experience. Action games are fast-paced, like Super Mario. Adventure games focus on exploration and puzzles, like The Legend of Zelda. RPGs follow a character’s story, like Final Fantasy. Simulation games mimic real life, such as The Sims. Strategy games require planning, like Civilization.
Sports and racing games let you compete virtually, like FIFA and Mario Kart. Fighting games focus on combat, puzzle games challenge your brain, horror games aim to scare, and music games involve rhythm.
Battle Royale games like Fortnite are multiplayer survival games, while sandbox games like Minecraft let players build freely. MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online) offer large online worlds, like World of Warcraft. Each genre provides a different type of fun and challenge.
Quick tips to support children in games
Want to help children get the best out of their online games? Here are some things you can do:
- Set boundaries: Agree on screen time limits and make sure playing games doesn’t become a barrier to other activities.
- Stay involved: Ask them about the games they play and even join in – it’s a great way to connect and show interest.
- Check the content: Look at age ratings and game content to make sure the games are appropriate for your child.
- Teach balance: Encourage breaks and make time for other activities like sport or hobbies.
- Discuss safety: Chat about privacy, the signs that someone is harmful and what to do if something feels off or goes wrong.
FAQs about video game benefits
Take a look at answers to some key questions parents have about online games to support your child.
Great games are those that both challenge and teach your child something they can use in the real world. But there is also value in the virtual experience. It enables children to prepare for a future where online and offline lives overlap. Like books, many games benefit young players’ lives because of their experience as a whole.
Take a look at family stories on AskAboutGames to get insight into age-appropriate games that will help your child do just that. Family-friendly games allow everyone to get involved and play together.
If your child is interested in esports (competitive gaming) or wants to contribute to creating the video games of the future, starting early and exploring the different job opportunities in the gaming industry is a great way to spark their interest. Beyond traditional roles like developers or streamers, there are many exciting career paths in gaming.
To help them explore what’s out there, check out resources like Indeed’s guide to careers in the gaming industry. This can give them a clearer picture of the diverse roles available and how they can work toward a future in gaming.
Here are some key roles in the gaming industry to consider:
Game Audio Specialist
Game audio specialists might record and edit voiceovers, compose soundtracks, or design sound effects. Some even capture real-world sounds to add authenticity to the game’s audio environment.
Game Performer
Game performers include voiceover artists, actors, and even athletes or stunt professionals who do motion capture work (using special cameras to record movement and create realistic character animations).
Game Producer
Game producers ensure that a game is completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard. The role can be managerial or creative, working closely with game designers and directors to bring a project to life.
Game Writer
A game writer creates scripts, backstories, and supporting documents to help players understand the game world and character motivations. They also work with audio specialists and voice actors to bring the dialogue to life.
Encourage children to play in communal spaces to share the experience in a family friendly way. This help you catch any problems like worrying content or too much screen time. Keeping video games in family rooms turns gaming into a normal part of family life rather than something separate or hidden away.
If children are older and would prefer to play in their bedroom, consider steering them towards keeping the tech in a shared space. In any case, keep the conversation going about their gameplay and make sure you enforce your agreed rules to ensure they stay safe while gaming.
Research shows children typically start gaming between ages 3-4, with boys averaging 4 hours of play a day and girls just over 2. While there’s no set age to begin, it’s important to manage the games they play to support their development.
Physical safety is just as crucial as digital safety. VR gaming, for example, can cause nausea, so it’s key to teach children what to do if they feel unwell. Prolonged gaming can strain eyes, so take breaks every 20-30 minutes and set up gaming stations to reduce physical impact.
For younger children, educational games can teach skills like reading and engineering. Monitor progress to track their learning. Choose family-friendly games, like Stardew Valley or Overcooked 2, to play together and help build essential skills.
For pre-teens, sandbox games like Minecraft or Roblox spark creativity by allowing them to explore and build new worlds.
For teens, immersive multiplayer games like Fortnite or Apex Legends require strategy and planning. Review these games together to ensure they’re age-appropriate, and discuss how to handle any issues that arise. Understanding PEGI ratings can help guide your choices.
