Study Says Kids Need More Video Games

Here’s some news that is music to my ears, and I bet you’ll like it too. The Federation of American Scientists has gone on record saying that kids need more, not less, video games.

The report, which was compiled with input from education, science, and game industry experts, actually calls for federal funding of video game research and development. The report argues that games help prepare students for a competitive global market. They “can teach higher-order thinking skills such as strategic thinking, interpretive analysis, problem solving, plan formulation, and execution, and adaptation to rapid change. With many technology companies farming out lower-level work to countries where employees come more cheaply, these are the sort of skills American students will need to possess once they hit the workforce.”

The FAS was formed by a group of atomic scientists who had just finished off the Manhattan Project. Hey, I’m kind of glad they’re on our side! Seriously though, it’s good to see some research done into games that doesn’t involve violence and negative effects, but rather highlights the good things that gaming instills in people, both kids and adults.