(Image credit: James Lawson/iEventMedia)
The pandemic has seen more people play games while stuck indoors, with parents taking on a more positive attitude towards their children gaming.
A third of parents questioned said that they now better appreciate the skills that gaming requires, while a fifth now had a more positive attitude to gaming than when they did pre-lockdown, according to new UK research.
A survey of 1,221 UK adults conducted by gaming retailer and publisher Green Man Gaming in April 2021 found that 80% of parents said that their children played more during lockdown, with 45% saying that their kids used it to stay in touch with friends.
Ian McGregor, chief marketing officer at Green Man Gaming, said: “Seeing their kids gaming and getting a better understanding of what it takes to be a good gamer has been something of an eye opener for parents during the pandemic.
“Seeing their kids gaming and getting a better understanding of what it takes to be a good gamer has been something of an eye opener for parents during the pandemic.”
Ian McGregor, Green Man Gaming
“Good digital literacy is a massively important in many careers nowadays, and gaming is a great way for kids to improve their digital skills. Analytical, tactical and strategic skills are all essential in gaming, as are forward planning and teamwork. Parents have seen during lockdown that gaming isn’t a mindless pastime, it’s something that requires real brainpower – making it a real asset as part of kids’ wider education.
“It makes absolute sense to take elements of gaming and use it in lessons. As well as providing a format that kids will be familiar and engaged with, the possibilities that gaming software offers to make content more compelling are endless. Using gaming in education is a no-brainer and a natural way to improve kids’ engagement and interest in their education.”
Elements of gaming have been used in education, particularly around coding in the curriculum, and in more specialist courses like games design or now even esports.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
