Scientists from the College of Education at the University of Houston and the University of Illinois have disproven the negative impact of video games on the cognitive abilities of young children. The Journal of Media Psychology indicates that researchers studied the cases of 160 young children, 70% of whom came from low-income families. All the children spent an average of 2.5 hours playing video games, with some spending up to 4.5 hours daily.
Researchers assessed the cognitive levels of all participating children using the CogAT test, which includes analysis of verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal abilities. Previous similar studies relied on teacher grades or self-assessment for learning success indicators. It became evident to researchers that the duration and choice of video games did not affect the CogAT test indicators. This suggests that video games do not impact cognitive abilities, unlike previous test results.
Researchers assert that some types of games that claim to improve cognitive skills did not have the promised effect, despite the claims made by production companies. Although earlier studies have shown that older children can benefit from video games in developing intellectual abilities, experts believe parents should not worry excessively about cognitive impairments in children who enjoy video games until fifth grade. However, at the same time, it is important to regulate the number of hours children spend on this hobby.
