Gamer parents

In How Computer Games Help Children Learn, I argue that one of the best ways for parents to help their children make the most out of computer and video games is for parents to play them, and to play them with their children.

A recent survey (previously available at: http://www.techweb.com/wire/ebiz/177104437) shows that:

More than a third of American parents play computer and video games and 80 percent do so with their children….

The study suggests that 66 percent of the parents surveyed believe playing video games with their children creates closer family ties. Thirty-six percent of parents who play video games introduced their children to the technology.

Perhaps most important:

Parents whose children play video games at home spend 9.1 hours a month playing video games with them. The average parent spends 19 hours a month playing video games…. 85 percent said they should take responsibility for monitoring their children’s gaming habits and exposure to inappropriate games for minors.

In other words, many parents play games, and use their experiences to help their children get the most out of their own games.