The NPD Group, in the USA, has released a new study called “Kids & Cross-Entertainment Behaviour Report”. Some findings;
* Households that have kids under 12 account for 45% of total videogame industry sales.
* 57% of kids ages 2 to 12 play videogames.
* 62% of kids ages 2 to 12 use a computer for leisure activities outside of school work.
* There are 53.4 million kids ages 12 and under in the U.S.
* Kids under 12 account for 17% of the population of the United States.
* 75% of the tween group play videogames.
* 81% of the tween group use a computer for leisure activities outside of school.
Via VideoGameBlogger
A further study based in the EU demonstrated:
75% of European children are using the internet.
60% of children ages 6-10 ues the internet across Eurpope – this is as high as 87% in countries such as the UK.
By 2008, 6-17 year olds in all EC countries were much more likely to use the internet at home (65%) than school (57%) or anywhere else, and 34% are now going online using their own computer.
Livingstone, S, and Haddon, L (2009)
EU Kids Online: Final report. LSE, London: EU Kids Online.
(EC Safer Internet Plus Programme Deliverable D6.5)
So we might as well face up to the fact and start providing these kids with educational resources where they can learn whilst having fun. With the ever increasing rise in young children using video games, technology and the internet we must strive to engage them on their ground. Let’s work with them not against them.
