The Surprising Benefits of Childhood Gaming
Can playing video games as a child lead to greater success in adulthood? As the debate around the benefits of video gaming continues, a recent survey of 1,001 Americans sheds light on how childhood gaming habits might influence adult achievement.
In this article, we'll explore whether childhood gamers are more likely to thrive professionally, earn higher salaries, and receive promotions. We'll also analyze data from popular video game subreddits to uncover which gaming communities have the highest levels of intellectual engagement and positivity. Through these insights, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the long-term impacts of video gaming.
Key Takeaways
- People who played FIFA growing up earn the most as adults ($70,711).
- Among consoles, PlayStation players have the highest annual salaries as adults ($62,276), earning 12% more than PC users.
- People who played video games as children are 71% more likely to have received a promotion recently.
- People who played video games as children earn an average of $5,451 more than those who didn't.
Does Playing Video Games as a Child Lead to More Success Down the Line?
This first part of our study explores whether childhood video game habits correlate with greater success in adulthood, examining factors like earnings and career advancement.c
We found that 89% of respondents had played video games as children, with 96% believing these experiences positively impacted their lives. Nintendo consoles were the most common, with 70% of participants using them during childhood. The most common video games respondents played as children were:
- Mario Kart (51%)
- Tetris (41%)
- The Legend of Zelda (40%)
- Grand Theft Auto (39%)
- Super Smash Bros. (38%)
Our survey also suggested significant financial benefits associated with childhood gaming. People who played video games as children earned an average of $5,451 more annually than those who didn't.
Among gaming consoles, PlayStation players had the highest salaries as adults, averaging $62,276 – 12% more than PC users. As for the games, those who played FIFA while growing up earned the most as adults, with an average salary of $70,711. Interestingly, people who played Mortal Kombat as kids earned 11% more than Grand Theft Auto players.
Career advancement also appeared to be influenced by childhood gaming. Participants who played video games as children were 71% more likely to have received a promotion recently than those who didn't. This suggests that the skills developed through gaming, such as problem-solving and strategic thinking, may translate into professional success.
Parents Encourage Video Gaming for Kids
Let's explore parents' perspectives on video games and why they let their children play them.
We found that most parents (95%) had let their children play video games. Many parents had recognized specific advantages: 53% believed that video games improved their children's problem-solving skills, while 48% felt that gaming stimulated creativity.
Our study revealed a positive correlation between gaming and academic performance: 48% of children allowed to play video games had earned excellent grades (A's or equivalent), and 38% had maintained good grades (B's or equivalent).
These insights highlight a consensus among parents that video games can contribute positively to their children's development, both in cognitive skills and academic achievement.
Exploring Online Gaming Communities
Next, we'll look at the characteristics of online gaming communities on Reddit – spaces where socialization and learning can happen. We analyzed the top 1,000 posts and comments from 34 popular video game and console subreddits to determine the most intelligent and positive ones.
Among subreddits dedicated to specific games, we found that the League of Legends community had the highest level of intelligence, indicated by the number of unique words people used in their posts and comments. The Hearthstone subreddit came second for intelligence, and Super Smash Bros. was third.Â
As for consoles, the Nintendo Switch community also stood out as the most positive online, showing a generally uplifting and supportive atmosphere. As for the most positive communities for specific games, Assassin's Creed, The Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing subreddits topped the list. The Call of Duty: Warzone subreddit community was the most negative.
The Impact of Childhood Gaming
From higher salaries to improved problem-solving skills, playing video games as a child appears to be linked with positive outcomes. Our survey showed that childhood gamers often enjoy better financial success, with PlayStation and FIFA players leading the way in earnings. Video game habits also seem to foster skills that translate into career advancement, evidenced by the higher promotion rates among those who played games as children.
Parents also recognize the benefits and allow their children to engage in gaming because of its potential to enhance cognitive abilities and creativity. Our analysis of online gaming communities also revealed a range of intellectual engagement and positivity, with League of Legends and Nintendo Switch communities standing out. The influence of video gaming clearly extends beyond entertainment, playing a significant role in shaping individuals' cognitive, academic, and professional trajectories.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,001 Americans to explore the impact of playing video games as a child. Of the respondents, 40% were parents. We also scraped the top 1,000 posts and comments from 34 popular video game and console subreddits to explore which were the most positive (using sentiment analysis) and which used the most unique words.
About Prodigy Education
Prodigy Education is a global leader in game-based learning. Our mission is to help every student in the world love learning, motivating millions worldwide via fun, secure, and accessible curriculum-aligned gameplay experiences. At Prodigy Education, we believe maximizing student motivation helps develop a lifetime love of learning. Prodigy's approach to fun, game-based learning means kids no longer have to choose between homework and playtime. Visit www.prodigygame.com to learn more.
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