February 19-22, 2026
Why Video Games Deserve a Place in Your Child’s Learning Journey
July 4, 2025
If you’ve ever worried that your child is spending too much time playing video games, you’re not alone. Many parents view gaming as a waste of time—something to be limited, not embraced.
But what if we told you that video games can be one of the most powerful learning tools your child has access to?
From problem-solving and literacy to emotional resilience and community building, video games teach real skills that matter in the real world. And at GameSchoolCon, we believe it’s time to shift the narrative—from fear and guilt to curiosity and connection.
Read more to explore what the research says about video games, why they matter, and how they fit into a healthy, balanced approach to learning through play.
All Games Are Educational—Even and Especially Video Games
The truth is, all games are educational. Whether your child is rolling dice in a board game or navigating an open-world RPG on a screen, they’re learning—often more deeply than we realize.
According to the American Psychological Association:
“Certain types of video games can improve cognitive functions such as spatial navigation, reasoning, memory, and perception.”
—
APA, 2013 [source]
That means games like Minecraft, Portal 2, and Legend of Zelda aren’t just fun—they’re training your child’s brain to think critically, adapt, and solve complex problems.
What Kids Learn From Playing Video Games
Let’s break down the real, research-backed benefits of video games:
1. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
Many games present challenges that require logic, creativity, and experimentation. Puzzle games like The Witness or open-world titles like Minecraft ask players to analyze their surroundings, strategize, and iterate, just like real-world engineers or scientists.
Action video games have been shown to improve the speed and accuracy of visual processing and decision-making. According to a study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science:
“Video game play leads to faster reaction times and more efficient attentional allocation without sacrificing accuracy.”
— Green & Bavelier, 2010 [source]
This kind of enhanced processing speed can benefit academic performance, sports, and real-life decision-making.
2. Collaboration and Teamwork
Multiplayer games like Overwatch, Fortnite, or Among Us require real-time communication, strategy, and cooperation. Even if your child is playing online, they’re practicing social negotiation and teamwork.
Many kids who struggle socially in person thrive in gaming spaces, where they can connect around shared goals and feel seen.
3. Memory, Attention, and Focus
Studies show that gamers outperform non-gamers in tasks involving sustained attention, visual-spatial processing, and working memory.
“Playing video games can change how our brains perform, and even their structure.”
—
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2017 [source]
4. Resilience and Growth Mindset
Video games reward persistence. Kids fail, try again, and eventually succeed—all in a low-stakes, self-directed environment. This natural feedback loop builds resilience and grit.
In fact, many therapists use video games as tools to help kids with anxiety, executive functioning challenges, or emotional regulation.
“But It’s Not Real Learning…”
Many parents say: “Sure, they’re learning something, but it’s not academic.”
Let’s challenge that idea.
When a child spends 30 minutes reading quest dialogue in Zelda or strategizing resource management in Terraria, that’s real literacy, real math, and real critical thinking—even if it doesn’t look like a worksheet.
In fact, in one study, students who played Portal 2 outperformed those who used a formal brain-training program on problem-solving and persistence tasks [source].
How GameSchoolCon Embraces Video Games
At GameSchoolCon, we recognize that video games are part of the play-based learning ecosystem. Just like board games, RPGs, and creative arts, video games help kids:
- Connect with peers
- Feel competent and confident
- Explore interests and identities
- Practice valuable life and academic skills
Some of the ways we celebrate video games at GameSchoolCon:
- Panels and workshops on gaming and neurodiversity, screen time, and digital literacy
- Exhibitors and creators building educational and story-driven games
- Family discussions on boundaries, media literacy, and collaborative gaming
Visit our
Schedule page to see sessions focused on digital play and learning.
How to Support Healthy Gaming at Home
You don’t have to hand over the Xbox and walk away. Supporting your child’s gaming life doesn’t mean abandoning limits—it means approaching gaming with curiosity, not fear.
Here are some tips:
- Play with your child.
Let them teach you how to play—it builds connection and trust.
- Ask questions. “What’s your goal in this game?” “What are you learning?” “What was the hardest part today?”
- Co-create boundaries. Decide together on screen limits, game types, and online etiquette.
- Talk about feelings. Use games as a bridge to talk about frustration, teamwork, or handling challenges.
FAQ: Video Games and Learning
Are all video games educational?
Yes—but in different ways. Games range from story-driven and academic (like Kerbal Space Program or Civilization VI) to emotionally rich (Celeste, Spiritfarer) or fast-paced and reflex-based (Rocket League, Mario Kart). Every game teaches something—skills, emotions, patterns, strategies.
My child is obsessed with one game. Is that bad?
First, think about the words we use—terms like “obsessed” or “addicted” are powerful labels to put on a child. Intense interest is extremely common in kids and teens, especially when they’ve found something that challenges and excites them.
Instead of focusing on how much time they spend on one game, try asking what they love about it. Is it the story? The creativity? The sense of mastery? You might be surprised how deep and meaningful the experience is for them. What looks like “too much” from the outside is often a sign of engagement, curiosity, and motivation.
Rather than fight the interest, try to connect through it—ask questions, play with them, and use it as a window into what lights them up.
Should I limit screen time?
It depends on your family’s needs. What matters most is balance—making time for movement, social play, creativity, and rest. At GameSchoolCon, we explore screen time in a judgment-free way that respects both child autonomy and parental support.
Do violent video games make kids aggressive?
This is one of the most common fears about video games, but research tells a more nuanced story. Most studies show no direct, causal link between video game violence and real-world aggression in children. Context matters: the child’s temperament, environment, and how the game is used all play a role.
Many kids can distinguish clearly between fantasy and reality—and use games as a way to process stress or explore complex emotions. Instead of focusing only on content ratings, focus on how your child interacts with the game and how it affects their mood and behavior.
At GameSchoolCon, we encourage open conversations about media, emotional regulation, and healthy boundaries.
How can I tell if a video game is a good fit for my child?
Look for games that match your child’s interests, maturity level, and learning style. Some kids love fast-paced action, while others thrive in quiet, creative environments. Consider whether the game:
- Encourages creativity or exploration
- Builds skills like problem-solving, reading, or collaboration
- Leaves your child feeling good (not frustrated or overstimulated)
Sites like Common Sense Media are great for reviews, but your best resource is your child. Ask them to show you their favorite game—and why they love it.
What if my child gets frustrated or emotional while playing video games?
Frustration is actually a natural and valuable part of learning—in games and in life. Video games often challenge kids to try, fail, adjust, and try again, which can build resilience and perseverance over time.
That said, it’s important to pay attention to emotional regulation. If a game consistently leads to meltdowns or stress, it might be too difficult, too competitive, or lacking in healthy boundaries. Step in with curiosity, not criticism. Ask:
- “What’s making this part hard?”
- “Do you want to take a break and come back with fresh eyes?”
- “What would help you enjoy it more?”
Use those moments to model emotional awareness and coping strategies, and when possible, play alongside them. You might find that working through those tough levels becomes a shared victory.
Join the Conversation at GameSchoolCon 2026
February 19–22, 2026
Sonesta Irvine – Orange County Airport Hotel, California
If you want to explore how all kinds of play—including digital play—can support your child’s learning journey, GameSchoolCon is the place to be.
Register now and join families who believe learning can (and should!) be joyful!
Attending GameSchoolCon 2026? Unlock exclusive Disneyland Resort ticket discounts and turn your conference trip into a family vacation. Limited time offer.
Not sure if GameSchoolCon is the right fit for your family? This guide helps you decide based on your how your family actually enjoys time together.
As kids move into the tween and teen years, family time changes. Interests shift. Schedules fill up. Conversations get shorter and sometimes more guarded. Parents often feel the distance growing and wonder how to stay connected without forcing it. What many families discover, sometimes by accident, is that games become one of the most reliable bridges during this stage . Not because games solve communication challenges, but because they create shared space where connection can happen naturally, without pressure or performance. And for tweens and teens, that kind of connection often matters more than ever. Connection Looks Different at This Age Tweens and teens are in the process of separating and redefining themselves. They want independence, privacy, and autonomy, but they still need connection and safety. Direct conversations can feel intense. Forced family bonding can feel awkward or unwanted. Games offer something different. They allow parents and kids to be side by side rather than face to face. The focus is shared activity instead of emotional spotlight. Connection happens through problem-solving, strategy, laughter, and shared frustration, not through heavy conversations that can feel risky or uncomfortable. For many teens, this is the sweet spot. Games Require Interaction in a Way Other Family Activities Do Not Many families default to movie night when they want time together. Movies can be cozy and familiar, and they have their place. But movies are passive. Once the film starts, everyone is quiet. Interaction drops off. And realistically, phones often enter the picture. Even when everyone stays present, the experience is parallel rather than shared. Games work differently. Playing a game together requires interaction. You have to respond to one another. You make decisions, negotiate rules, react to outcomes, and adapt together. Even simple games create moments of collaboration, disagreement, humor, and surprise. That interaction is where connection actually forms. Games Create Low-Pressure Relationship Time One of the reasons games work so well with tweens and teens is that they remove the spotlight. When you play a game together, no one is expected to perform emotionally. You are not asking your child to explain their feelings or open up on demand. You are simply doing something together. Over time, those moments stack. Kids often talk more freely during or after a game. Conversations drift naturally. Even silence feels comfortable instead of strained. The game gives everyone something to return to when words feel hard. Video Games Let You Step Into Their World For many tweens and teens, video games are not just something they play. They are places they spend time, build skill, connect with friends, and express identity. When parents step into that space, something important happens. Playing a video game with your child, watching them play, or letting them teach you their favorite game is not about becoming a gamer. It is about showing interest in a world that matters deeply to them. Kids notice this immediately. They love seeing their parents try their games. They notice when you ask questions, when you laugh at your own mistakes, when you genuinely engage. Even sitting beside them while they play communicates curiosity and respect. You are not just playing together. You are entering their world on their terms. That kind of effort builds trust in a way lectures and rules never will. Shared Play Builds Mutual Respect When parents play games with tweens and teens, power dynamics soften. You are no longer just the rule-maker or evaluator. You are a teammate, an opponent, a collaborator. You follow rules together. You lose sometimes. You adapt. You learn. Kids see their parents as participants, not just authority figures. Parents see their kids’ creativity, competence, and problem-solving in action. That shared experience builds mutual respect, which is essential during the teen years. Games Make Returning to Each Other Easier One of the hardest parts of parenting tweens and teens is maintaining closeness as independence grows. Games make returning to each other easier. A game becomes a natural re-entry point after a busy week or a tense day. It gives families something familiar to come back to without needing to resolve everything first. For many households, games are the constant that remains even as everything else changes. Playing Together Still Matters Playing games together is not about reliving childhood. It is about meeting your kids where they are now. Whether it is a board game at the table, a cooperative video game on the couch, or sitting beside your teen while they show you a world they love, these moments matter. They create interaction, trust, and shared experience in ways passive activities cannot. For tweens and teens, play is not something they outgrow. It is something that grows with them. See This Kind of Connection in Action For many families, the ideas in this post are not theoretical. They are something they experience firsthand at GameSchoolCon. The event is designed around shared play across ages, including board games, tabletop roleplaying games, active games, and video games. Parents and kids play together, learn together, and build the kind of low-pressure connection that becomes harder to find during the tween and teen years. If you are curious what it looks like when families are given space to play, explore, and connect without being rushed, join us at GameSchoolCon - February 19-22, 2026.
Families are not short on options when it comes to events. Every year brings a steady stream of activities, conventions, programs, and weekends promising fun, enrichment, or connection. Many of them sound appealing. Fewer of them genuinely work for the way real families function. When time, energy, and money are limited, the question is rarely “Is this interesting?” It is “Is this worth committing to for our family?” GameSchoolCon stands out not because it rejects familiar event formats, but because it rethinks how those formats are combined. It takes elements families recognize and reshapes them around participation, choice, and shared experience. The result feels noticeably different once you are there. What Family Events Typically Look Like Most family events fall into a few familiar patterns. Some are activity-based , like fairs or expos. They offer a lot of variety, but engagement is often brief. Families move quickly from one attraction to the next, balancing excitement with crowds, waiting, and logistics. Others are conference-style , organized around talks, panels, or workshops. Value is tied to attendance, and missing sessions can feel like missing out. These events tend to be more observational than participatory. Some are entertainment-first , where families watch tournaments, performances, or demonstrations. There is a clear separation between participants and audience. Many kid-focused events are also split experiences, where children attend programming while adults supervise, wait nearby, or attend separate sessions. Families arrive together but spend much of the event apart. These formats are familiar, and they work well for what they are designed to do. They also shape expectations going in. How GameSchoolCon Is Structured Differently GameSchoolCon does not rely on a single event model. Throughout the weekend, there is a full schedule with structured opportunities happening all day. Families can choose from tabletop roleplaying game sessions, strategy and crunch-heavy board games, active games like Nerf or laser tag, video game tournaments, and a small number of discussions and panels. Alongside those scheduled activities, the game library remains open for drop-in play. What makes this different is not the absence of structure, but how that structure is used. Instead of funneling everyone through one track or defining value by how many sessions are attended, the schedule creates parallel opportunities. Families choose where to spend their time based on interest, energy, and curiosity. You can commit deeply to a session, sample different activities, or spend long stretches in open play. The structure exists to create options, not obligations. Participation Is the Center, Not the Periphery Another key difference is how participation works. At many events, families watch things happen. At GameSchoolCon, families are actively playing together. Adults are not spectators while kids participate, and kids are not rushed from attraction to attraction while adults wait on the sidelines. Parents and kids sit at the same tables. They learn rules together, negotiate strategies together, and experience wins and losses side by side. Active games, tournaments, and roleplaying sessions are designed for engagement, not observation. This shared participation changes the tone of the weekend. It feels less like consuming an event and more like spending time in a space built around play. Discovering New Games Without the Risk One of the most valuable parts of GameSchoolCon is the opportunity to learn and play new games in a low-pressure, low-risk way. Families often arrive curious about games they have heard about but never tried, especially larger or more complex titles that feel like a gamble to purchase sight unseen. At GameSchoolCon, those games are already on the table. You can sit down, learn the rules, play a round, and get a real sense of whether a game fits your family’s interests and play style. Some games click immediately. Others do not. Both outcomes are expected. There is no pressure to finish, no obligation to stick with something that is not working, and no sense that moving on means you missed out. Exploration is part of the design. At the same time, when a game does resonate, there is room to stay with it. Families often return to favorites, build confidence with repeated play, or discover new strategies as they go. Over the weekend, many families naturally narrow in on the games they genuinely enjoy most. That is why people often leave GameSchoolCon with clear favorites in mind. Through raffles, play-to-win opportunities, or the vendor hall, families go home with games they have already learned, played, and loved, rather than guesses pulled from a shelf. The Connections Do Not End When the Weekend Does One difference families often do not expect is how relationships continue after the event. Kids regularly meet friends they stay in touch with long after GameSchoolCon ends. They keep playing games together online, reconnect through shared platforms, and build ongoing friendships that extend well beyond the weekend. Because of that, returning to GameSchoolCon feels different. It does not feel like starting over. It feels more like a family reunion. Kids look for people they already know. Parents recognize familiar faces. There is a sense of continuity that is rare in one-off family events. That ongoing connection changes how families experience the weekend. It becomes part of a longer story rather than a single isolated experience. What Tends to Stay With Families After the weekend ends, the impact is usually subtle rather than dramatic. Families talk about playing more games together at home. Kids suggest games they discovered or revisit ones they learned at the event. Parents notice increased confidence around social play and collaboration. Everyone remembers what it felt like to spend time together without rushing. What stays is not a checklist of activities or a set of instructions. It is the experience of shared play in an environment designed to support it. Why This Difference Matters GameSchoolCon tends to resonate with families who enjoy structure but want flexibility, who value learning but do not want to sit through lectures, and who want to participate together rather than divide into separate experiences. It does not try to be everything. It combines the strongest elements of several familiar event types into something deeper, more participatory, and more human. For families looking for an event built around games as a shared experience rather than a performance or a lesson, that difference is what makes the weekend memorable. Learn More About the Weekend GameSchoolCon takes place at the end of February and offers a wide range of ways to participate. If you want to explore further, you can: review the schedule to see the variety of sessions and activities browse the game library to get a sense of what is available to play visit the registration page to see attendance options You do not need to do everything to have a good experience. You just need the space to play, explore, and connect.
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