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Are games bad for kids? Studies Say No

Chances are, growing up you were told that playing video games leads to lower school grades and poorer social skills. We’ve all had that moment where our parents blamed “those video games” for a bad test grade.  Maybe they thought you spent too much time at the arcade hitting Balrog and not enough time at the library hitting the books.  

And chances are, you’ve continued that belief with your own children. Who can blame you, it’s what you were taught. 

The problem is, what you were taught was wrong.  

According to a study conducted at Columbia University in 2016, young children who play video games are more likely to have stronger intellectual and social skills than their non-gaming friends. The study found that children between the ages of six and eleven who play video games showed an increase in intellectual function. It also discovered that kids who played video games were nearly two times more likely to have “high overall school competence” than kids who didn’t. Basically, when played in moderation, video games can improve your child’s social skills and school performance. 

Video games are a wonderful social activity that not only helps children open up, but can also improve their self-confidence. Games have something for everyone – maybe your skills lie in a third person action game like Fortnite. Or maybe in the racing/soccer game Rocket League. Players just starting off can quickly pick up and play games like Roblox or Minecraft. 

High Score aims to bring back that arcade feeling but with a modern touch. As both parents and gamers, we know that games are a wonderful way to spend time not only with friends but with family.