Gaming seems to have become something of a rite of passage in our society.  The average LR reader probably assumes that all kids grow up gaming. A report from The NPD Group bears out the same:

According to Kids and Gaming 2009, the most recent report from leading market research company, The NPD Group, among all kids in the U.S. ages 2-17, 82 percent, or 55.7 million, are current gamers. Of these gamers, 9.7 million are ages 2-5, representing the smallest segment, while 12.4 million are ages 9-11, and represent the largest segment.

Predictably, gaming activity tapers off somewhat among the older teen set:

At 10.6 hours per week, gamers ages 12-14 are spending the most time playing video games, with the time spent playing dropping off among older teens, ages 15-17. Teens 15-17 and females are the groups that are most likely to report spending less time gaming and playing online this year versus last year.

Vespasian:  It is in these crucial late teen years that we in the gaming community need to reach out to teens to keep them on course.  This is especially true for young ladies who, in spite of growing representation, still do not game in sufficient numbers.  Our community simply can’t afford to let young minds go astray.

To prevent the loss of young gamers, the message we need to send is that there is always time for gaming.  Even the varsity athlete who makes the honor roll every semester can find time for little console time in before bed.  And while their peers are texting and wasting time with mindless smart phone apps, young gamers can use the opportunity to break out their portable system of choice to pass the time more meaningfully.

We’re bringing kids up right, it seems.  Here's hoping they stay on the right path into adulthood.

Written by :

Vespasian

 

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Maneatingcow23

Re:We're Bringing Them Up Right - Kids Are Still Gaming Dec 03 2009 18:47:48 You know, I don't think it's school that makes them game less and less. I think it's having those younger gamers make them look like talentless hacks online. As soon as the ten year old down the street is tea-bagging your lifeless corpse on a daily basis you tend to go out and find other interests.

#14251

Ethan

We're Bringing Them Up Right - Kids Are Still Gaming Dec 03 2009 21:59:36 I've been playing games for 8 years, ever since I was five. And quite frankly, I never plan to stop.

#14255

PhantumPhyr

We're Bringing Them Up Right - Kids Are Still Gaming Dec 04 2009 04:10:58 I've been gaming since I was 5. So it's been 9 years. In those nine years, I've covered nearly EVERY Genre. and the MMORPG, and FPS/TPSRGP and the FPS are my favorites. MMORPGs are definately the best for developing gamers, aroung the ages of 10-12. Develops social skiills if you're mature enough.

#14261

Vespasian

We're Bringing Them Up Right - Kids Are Still Gaming Dec 04 2009 15:07:09 Game on, my young friends. I started when I was very young and never stopped. Once I started earning my own money and could by my own games, I played all the more. And cow, you only have to worry about getting tea bagged by those little creeps until about 9 PM or so when they are forced to go to bed.

#14266

PhantumPhyr

Re:We're Bringing Them Up Right - Kids Are Still Gaming Dec 04 2009 16:49:47 Even if I have my own money my Mom won't drive me out to gamestop. xD But there's this shop thats right along my bus route from school. Me and my friend are gonna go over there one day. I saw a poster on the window that said "New Releases $25!" I almost had a heart attack.

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