By Carla Hodge
The British Medical Journal has published an investigation that indicates playing video games at a young age doesn't increase behavioural issues later in life.
Scientists did science by recording the behaviour of 11,000 five year olds over a period of two years, and discovered that the same children did not experience elevated levels of conduct problems, hyperactivity or inattention, the mysteriously-named 'emotional symptoms', peer relationship problems, or prosocial behaviour. All of those things sound like excellent things to avoid. The study did find that five year olds who watched TV (including DVDs or, if you're old-school, videos) daily for three hours or more experienced conduct issues by the age of seven.
The British Medical Journal has published an investigation that indicates playing video games at a young age doesn't increase behavioural issues later in life.
Scientists did science by recording the behaviour of 11,000 five year olds over a period of two years, and discovered that the same children did not experience elevated levels of conduct problems, hyperactivity or inattention, the mysteriously-named 'emotional symptoms', peer relationship problems, or prosocial behaviour. All of those things sound like excellent things to avoid. The study did find that five year olds who watched TV (including DVDs or, if you're old-school, videos) daily for three hours or more experienced conduct issues by the age of seven.
It's the first study to go into depth about the individual influences of TV and video games, as they've previously been investigated together rather than separately. It's also the first long-term, UK-based study. It also reveals that there's something called a 'confusion, hubbub, and order scale', which sounds like something everyone needs in their kitchen.
Check out the study here: http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2013/02/21/archdischild-2011-301508.full.pdf+html
Check out the study here: http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2013/02/21/archdischild-2011-301508.full.pdf+html
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