Videogaming Most Popular Activity Among Kids

njkid1 writes "Research from the NPD Group shows that kids are increasingly playing games earlier in life. Playing games, whether on a PC, console, phone or music player, was the highest ranked activity for kids in a survey conducted by the organization. From the article: 'NPD said it used an online survey sent to a 'nationally representative' sample of mothers with children ages 2 to 14 in their households. The survey revealed that an overwhelming majority (93 percent) of kids play games on a computer, cell phone, video game console or portable or digital music player. This was way ahead of the second highest activity reported, listening to music, which garnered 52 percent.'"

Re:Game Music

[Kardall]

I was thinking more along the lines of Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears... oh wait they're in a video game...

At least with Guitar Hero there's a little bit of an insert of rock music into a mainstream to impress young minds with. Nothing like nose-bleeding rock and roll to battle the onslaught of Snoop Dogg and Eminem. Lets vote NO for brainwashing!

News at 11

[Xiver]

So... 93% of children with mothers that complete online surveys video play games. I would guess that mothers that complete online surveys might be more skewed to have children that play video games than mothers who don't have computers. What do you guys think?

kids play games

[bunions]

and when they can't hang out and play ball in the street or go to the playground without a goddamned armed escort, it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to tell you that video games would pick up the slack.

Re:The fact that kids play videogames is not news

[HappySqurriel]

What amazed me is that 48% of kids apparently don't listen to music.

I think there's something wrong with the study, or else 48% of mothers don't know what their kid is up to, but they bought them a PS3 so they must be playing videogames.

What you have to remember is this study is for children between the ages of 2 and 14 ...

If you have access to children (either being an Uncle/Aunt or parent) you'll notice that a lot of younger children (up to 9 or 10) do not actively listen to music; they may listen to it in the car but they are unlikely to sit quietly/play and listen to music at the same time. In the Tween/Teen years many children's interest in music explodes.

Re:Game Music

[bunions]

I'd be happy to settle for someone beating Jay-Z.

cooties

[Original Replica]

Now give me a study of ages 14-18, and see how the most popular activities change when the kiddies discover the appeal of the opposite (or same) gender.

Re:In related news:

[HappySqurriel]

I think that is an interesting point ... One question would be what is the nature of the relationship

Child Obesity -> (causes) videogame playing

One way this could work is that overweight children tend to have difficulty performing physical activity and thus choose to play videogames; many overweight children's lack of physical fitness will prevent them from being good at a sport (as compared to their peers) and would make them choose activities where their weight would not limit them.

videogame playing -> (causes) Child Obesity

Hypothetically speaking, playing videogames could be directly linked to snacking more and being less active which would lead children to becoming overweight.

Over protective parents -> (cause) Child Obesity/Videogame Playing

This is my personal belief ... If you notice at any school the second the day ends there is a line-up of cars of parents who are afraid to let their children play at the park or walk home. When home children are far more likely to choose an inactive activity (playing videogames) and to snack which leads to child obesity.

Re:In related news:

[Alcibaides]

Indeed. I figure I'm one of the members of the first video gaming generation. I played a LOT of games when I was a kid. But we still tooled around outside something fierce. I just don't see kids doing that these days (or, for that matter, engaging in non-planned activities). Maybe I'm just getting old.