What Gaming Can Teach Us: The Impacts on a Developing Mind

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Gaming is a common part of life for many children and adolescents today. Whether it’s building in Minecraft, teaming up in Fortnite, or solving puzzles in educational apps, games have become more than just play. They can serve as rich learning environments, build confidence, and offer meaningful connections.

Emerging research encourages us to shift the narrative. When used in moderation and with guidance, games can positively influence cognitive development, emotional resilience, and social skills. At the same time, it’s important to remain aware of the potential challenges gaming can present for developing minds.

The Benefits of Gaming

1. Cognitive Growth

According to Renaud and Wagoner’s Literature Review of Gaming in Education (2011), well-designed games promote problem-solving, memory, attention control, and critical thinking. Many games also teach children to navigate challenges, manage resources, and learn from mistakes, which builds important executive functioning skills.

2. Emotional Development

Games often require repeated attempts to succeed. This naturally builds perseverance and helps players become more tolerant of failure. Strategy games, in particular, foster emotional regulation by teaching children to pause and think before reacting.

3. Social Connection

Multiplayer games generate opportunities for teamwork, leadership, and communication. For children who are socially anxious or neurodivergent, gaming can provide a structured and less intimidating social environment to build confidence and friendships.

4. Creativity and Literacy

Narrative-based and open-world games can spark creativity, encourage reading, and promote imaginative thinking. Games that allow for storytelling, world-building, or character creation foster a child’s ability to think creatively and engage deeply.

Potential Drawbacks to Consider

While the benefits are increasingly well-documented, it's just as important to stay mindful of gaming's potential pitfalls, particularly when gaming use becomes unbalanced.

1. Sleep Disruption

Exposure to screens before bed can suppress melatonin and delay sleep onset. Ongoing poor sleep affects mood regulation, attention span, and memory, particularly in children and adolescents whose brains are still developing.

2. Emotional Dysregulation

Highly stimulating or fast-paced games can lead to overarousal of the nervous system, resulting in emotional outbursts, irritability, or difficulty calming down, especially after prolonged gaming sessions.

3. Reduced Offline Engagement

If gaming becomes the dominant form of recreation, children may begin to withdraw from offline social opportunities, physical activity, and creative pursuits. This can limit exposure to a broad range of developmental experiences.

4. Risk of Problematic Use

Gaming releases dopamine, which can create a reward loop. Some young people are more vulnerable to excessive or compulsive gaming, especially those with underlying challenges like anxiety, ADHD, or low mood.

5. Exposure to Inappropriate Content

Not all games are created equally. Violent or age-inappropriate content may affect emotional development and worldview, particularly if children lack the context to process what they are seeing.

Tips for Healthy Gaming at Home

A balanced approach to gaming is not just possible, it’s beneficial. Here are a few ways to support positive experiences:

• Co-Play When Possible: Gaming alongside your child gives you insight into the content and offers chances to discuss values, frustration, and strategy.

• Set Clear Boundaries: Structure gaming time around routines, ensuring plenty of time for outdoor play, rest, schoolwork, and other interests.

• Stay Curious: Ask about the games your child enjoys. What do they love about it? What’s challenging? These conversations can help build emotional insight and connection.

• Model Digital Balance: Children learn as much from what we do as what we say. Demonstrate balance in your own tech use to reinforce healthy habits.

Final Thoughts

The impacts of gaming on a developing mind are nuanced. While overuse and inappropriate content can cause difficulties, the right games, used with guidance and balance, can nurture creativity, problem-solving, social connection, and emotional growth.

At Hope Prevails, we support parents and young people navigating the digital world with care and insight. If you’re concerned about your child’s relationship with gaming, or would like help creating healthy screen time routines, therapy can provide a supportive space for understanding and action.

Reach out today

References

• Renaud, C., & Wagoner, B. (2011). A Literature Review of Gaming in Education. PDF Link

• Sandford, R., Ulicsak, M., Facer, K., & Rudd, T. (2006). Teaching with games: Using commercial off-the-shelf computer games in formal education. British Journal of Educational Technology