Can Video Games Help Kids Learn Valuable Life Skills?

Understanding the Bigger Picture of Video Games

If you're the parent of a school-aged child, you've likely had moments of worry watching your child spend hours on a screen. Maybe your 9-year-old shuffles away from homework only to build worlds in Minecraft or race digital cars with friends. In a world where academic pressure, screen time concerns, and learning challenges intersect, it's normal to ask: Can children actually learn something useful from all this gaming?

Contrary to what we often hear, not all screen time is created equal. While it's important to monitor content and duration, research increasingly suggests that certain types of video games can support cognitive and emotional skills that are transferable beyond the screen. But the key lies in how, what, and why your child plays.

Executive Function and Problem-Solving: Brain Gains in Action

Many popular games require players to set goals, make strategic decisions, and solve problems creatively. Think of games that revolve around time management, resource distribution, or puzzle-solving. These features can help children strengthen executive function—skills like attention control, flexible thinking, and planning.

For example, games such as Portal or even strategic multiplayer scenarios in Fortnite often involve critical thinking, trial-and-error, and teamwork. Naturally, these gains aren’t guaranteed just because a child is playing—they emerge when there's curiosity, challenge, and persistence.

If your child struggles with focus or planning tasks for school, you might be surprised to notice how these skills show up—or don’t—during gameplay. Using that insight, you can gently guide them to reflect on how they handle frustration, adapt strategies, or coordinate in a group, both in games and real-world learning contexts. For further context, you may want to explore how gaming habits relate to attention and learning.

Learning Through Language and Storytelling

Not all children are verbal learners. Some process information better through stories, visuals, or dialogue—a strength that many story-driven games tap into. Role-playing games, for instance, invite players to navigate rich narratives, engage in dialogue, and make choices that influence outcomes. This interaction can boost vocabulary, comprehension skills, and narrative thinking.

This is especially relevant for children who may feel discouraged by traditional reading or writing tasks at school. Meeting them where they are, through games that use engaging language or fantasy worlds, might help build language confidence in a lower-pressure way. It's worth reading more on how gaming can intersect with language development.

Of course, video games aren’t a reading replacement. But they can be a springboard to related activities—like storytelling apps, audiobook series, or shared reading experiences. One great companion tool is the LISN Kids App, which offers age-appropriate audiobooks and original audio series for kids ages 3–12. When your child finishes a game, they might enjoy unwinding with an engaging story that doesn't involve staring at yet another screen. It’s available on iOS and Android.

Emotion Regulation, Failure, and Resilience

If your child finds academics stressful, they might also struggle with failure—something that games, paradoxically, can help with. A well-designed game challenges players at the edge of their ability and often requires repeated attempts to succeed. Losing a round and trying again fosters emotional tolerance, persistence, and an understanding that mistakes are simply part of learning.

In contrast to school environments where mistakes can feel shameful, video games normalize trial-and-error. Over time, and with appropriate reflection, children can learn to transfer that mindset to more academic areas. The next time your child gets stuck on a difficult assignment, reminding them that they’ve overcome harder puzzles in a game might just reframe their frustration.

That said, learning to regulate emotions through gaming requires parental support—gentle check-ins, not lectures. Try asking open-ended questions: “That level looked hard—what helped you keep trying?” Rather than simply observing screen use, aim to join the experience and extend it.

How to Explore Games With Intention

None of this means video games are a magic fix for learning difficulties. As with any tool, their benefit depends on how they're used. Here are a few reflective actions that can help you strike the right balance:

• Play with them occasionally. You don’t need to be a gamer—your child will love explaining the game to you, and it opens up powerful conversations.
• Connect game experiences to real-life skills. Frame gaming within a learning context. “That puzzle required you to be really patient—when else is that kind of patience helpful?”
• Balance is still key. Screen time limits matter, especially before bedtime or homework. For tips, you can read this article on balancing screen time and learning.

It’s also okay to re-evaluate limits if your child is struggling to disconnect or you're concerned about content. These boundaries matter. But setting them doesn’t mean video games must be removed entirely. If you’re questioning whether limiting game time will help improve learning, this article may provide more clarity.

When You See Growth, Name It

One of the most powerful things you can do as a parent is to notice and name progress, even when it shows up in unexpected places. Did your child problem-solve in a game creatively? Team up with a friend and act as a great leader? Outlined a plan and followed through? Say it out loud. "I saw how you paused and thought it through—just like real problem-solving." These comments reinforce the connection between play and learning.

Finally, if you’re curious about whether games might even help with your child’s creativity, exploring this guide on video games and creativity might be a great next read.

In the end, the goal isn't to make video games the centerpiece of your child's development. But in a balanced mix of reading, exploration, conversation, and yes, even some gaming, you might find surprising openings for growth.