Video Games for 5 Year Olds: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
How Do You Choose Video Games for a 5 Year Old?
As a parent or caregiver, introducing your 5-year-old to video games may be difficult to navigate. While you may want to entertain your child and offer them an enjoyable activity, you also want to ensure the games they are introduced and engaged with are appropriate, educational, and contribute to your child's development. Moreover, you want to ensure they are used with thoughtfulness and intention, as well as part of a balanced lifestyle.
This guide will help you make informed decisions about video games for your child.
Age-Appropriate Content
The first and most important factor is whether the game is suitable for your child's age and development. Video games have ratings to help you determine which ones are appropriate. Look for games that are rated "E for Everyone" or specifically designed for young children, which means the content is age-appropriate. Avoid games with violent themes, inappropriate language, or mature content.
Educational Value
Many video games offer learning opportunities. Consider games that promote problem-solving, critical thinking, or creativity. These types of games can help build cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, and social abilities. Popular educational games, such as Super Mario teach children basic concepts including pattern recognition, timing, and teamwork in an engaging, fun way.
Simple Controls
Video games for 5-year-olds should have simple, intuitive controls that are easy for small hands to manage. Games with too many complex mechanics or complicated menus can lead to frustration for young children. Choose games that offer a user-friendly experience, helping your child build confidence as they play.
Positive Messages
Pay attention to the overall message of the game. Look for games that encourage positive values like teamwork, kindness, and perseverance. Games with uplifting or supportive themes will have a more lasting, positive impact on your child. Get curious about what uplifting messages could be behind the various video games out there, such as compassion or appreciating each others’ differences.
Are Video Games Good for 5 Year Olds?
While video games are often viewed with skepticism, they can also offer benefits when utilized in a thoughtful manner.
Cognitive Skills
Video games may enhance memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Many games require players to think strategically, solve puzzles, and remember patterns, all of which may improve cognitive abilities. Findings of a 2022 study published in JAMA suggest that video gaming may be linked with enhanced cognitive performance, including response inhibition and working memory.
Hand-Eye Coordination
As children interact with video games, they may develop better hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Games that require movement and reaction help improve a child’s ability to perform physical tasks and navigate their environment.
Creativity
Video games may foster creativity and imaginative play. Games like Super Mario or Minecraft provide children with the opportunity to explore new worlds, build structures, and create their own adventures, which can enhance their creativity.
Supporting Child’s Unique Needs
An emerging body of research suggests that video games may be supportive to youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This 2022 review published in The Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders examined the potential of video games as an intervention for children with (ASD).
Analysis of 24 studies found that video game-based interventions were effective in reducing ASD symptoms, though with small effect sizes. These results suggest that tailored video games may hold promise for improving ASD treatment, provided in the right setting and context, while more research is needed. It is also important to be mindful that children with ASD may prioritize screen time to limit or avoid social challenges, underscoring the need for tailored approaches based on each child.
So, is it okay for 5-year-olds to play video games? The answer is perhaps, when done with intention and in part of a balanced lifestyle. It’s important to recognize that while video games may offer a number of positive benefits, they should be appropriately monitored and are not at all a substitute for clinical support. It is important to be mindful of the concerns related to mental health and emotional dysregulation.
Are Video Games Bad for 5 Year Olds?
While video games can be beneficial, there are also potential downsides that parents should be aware of:
Sedentary Lifestyle
Prolonged screen time can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, which can negatively affect your child’s physical health. Too much sitting can lead to weight gain and other health issues like poor posture.
Impact on Brain Development
Excessive screen time, especially violent or fast-paced games, can overstimulate a child's developing brain. Studies have shown that high exposure to violent content can desensitize children to aggression and violence.
Addiction to Screen Time
Video games are designed to be engaging, and for some children, this can lead to unhealthy levels of gaming. Video game addiction, where children prioritize gaming over other activities, can affect academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being. A recent study published in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience examined how excessive gaming shows similar neurobiological correlates or brain based factors to other addictions, including altered activation in reward regions, reduced impulse control, and impaired decision-making.
This underscores the effects of excessive gaming on the brain, while also highlighting the importance of utilizing video games for a positive reward in conjunction with a balanced lifestyle and approach to overall well-being.
What Are the Best Video Games for 5 Year Olds?
Here’s a list of some of vi;deo games that combine fun and educational value that may be supportive for 5-year-olds
- Super Mario Odyssey
This beloved platformer takes your child on a vibrant, imaginative adventure, promoting problem-solving and coordination. The game's easy-to-use controls and joyful visuals make it engaging and positive for young children. - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
This charming game allows children to create and customize their own island, teaching creativity, organization, and planning. It also encourages social interaction as children visit their friends' islands. A number of parents also report this game helped their child improve their reading and spelling skills, while also teaching them about animals, insects and fossils. - PBS Kids Games
This collection of educational games offers a wide variety of topics, from science, nature, animals and math to art and literacy. With characters your child knows and loves, it’s a great way to combine learning and fun with games like Doctor Daniel and Duck Dash. - Minecraft
Although it’s popular with kids of all ages, Minecraft offers opportunities for young players to explore their creativity. In creative mode, children can build and design anything they imagine, developing spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. - Lego Video Games
The Lego series of video games, such as Lego City Undercover, offers an excellent balance of adventure, humor, and problem-solving. Children can work through puzzles and challenges while enjoying fun narratives. Lego Smart Dash also provides enriched educational experiences. - Endless Alphabet
This app is a fantastic way for young children to learn new words and enhance their vocabulary. The game involves adorable characters and animations, helping children associate words with their meanings in an engaging way.
Parenting Tips on Creating a Safe and Fun Gaming Environment
To ensure your child’s gaming experience remains positive, here are some key tips:
- Limit Screen Time: Too much screen time can be harmful to young children. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that children aged 2 to 5 should have no more than one hour of screen time per day. Establish limits and encourage breaks between gaming sessions. Ensure these established screen times are regularly enforced the best you can.
- Create Safe Boundaries: Choose games that have no in-app purchases or advertisements, and ensure the games are free of inappropriate content. Set up parental controls on devices to block inappropriate material
- Encourage Other Activities: While video games can be educational and fun, it’s significant to encourage other activities such as reading, outdoor and imaginary play, and arts and crafts to promote well-rounded development. Play with others, nourishment and rest are foundational, and should be encouraged as a priority to video games.
- Supervise Gameplay: Sit with your child while they play, especially if they are new to gaming. This allows you to monitor what they’re doing and ensure they’re engaging with appropriate content. Be mindful and curious of what emotions may come up for them during their play, these observations can be used for discussion with your child. If you’re unsure about the video game, do your own research before letting your child engage in the game; as you know your child best.
While video games can offer educational benefits, it's important to manage how much time your child spends in front of a screen. Limit screen time to a maximum of one hour per day for 5-year-olds, and ensure that the games they play are appropriate for their developmental stage. As emphasized, encourage balance by encouraging a variety of activities, including physical play outside and with others, nutrition, rest, reading, and creative projects.
Want Help with Your 5-Year-Old and Video Games?
If you're unsure about how to manage screen time or choose the right games for your child, Handspring Health is here to help. Our licensed therapists can offer personalized advice and strategies to help you create a healthy balance of video games and other activities. Schedule a free consultation with one of our experts today to learn more about how we can support your child’s development. Click here to schedule your consultation with a therapist that will be an incredible source for this complex topic, as well as can address any issues stemming from excessive video game use.
