Video gaming can benefit students: study

VIDEO gaming has undeniably become one of the most popular activities among adolescents worldwide. The ubiquity of high-technology smartphones and tablets allows for video games to be easily accessible and no longer confined to just arcades and home consoles. In the US for example, research has shown that about 83 per cent of children and adolescents spend a substantial amount of time playing video games regularly.

Video gaming frequency is even higher in Singapore. A study of 3,000 youths by National Institute of Education in 2010 found that Singaporean adolescents spend on average 20 hours per week on gaming. This is in stark contrast with an average of 13 hours per week among American youth.

Due to its widespread availability and popularity, it is unsurprising that video gaming has become a major source of concern for parents and educators. Many fear that playing video games might have adverse consequences on the development of children's cognitive abilities.