There is plenty of information about children and playing games. Why children play, age indications and which games are good for the development of children and which are less good. If you want to know more about adults and games, there is little information available. Do adults still play games? Is that good or not and when should you start worrying?
Do adults still play games?
More than half of adults play games. The youngest more than the seniors and men more often than women. Of young people between the ages of 18 and 29, 81% regularly play a game and above the age of 65 this number has dropped to 23%. Adults play less than teenagers. Almost all of them play games (97%). It is striking that people with a higher level of education play games more often than people with a lower level of education.
Why should you play games as an adult?
- First of all, for relaxation, of course. We do something that we enjoy and that we see as a challenge and that has absolutely nothing to do with our normal work. This is relaxing and regular relaxation counteracts stress.
- Many games played by adults have a challenge element. The game challenges them to look at things in a different way. This is necessary to progress in the game. Games can therefore increase your innovation and creativity. Also in everyday life you will be more inclined to look for creative solutions instead of following the well-known paths.
- Seniors who play games such as Braintrainer and other mentally stimulating games stay mentally fitter. This can reduce or postpone dementia symptoms.
Disadvantages of playing games
Playing games takes time and many adults already suffer from a chronic lack of time. This means that less time is spent on other things. Adults who game a lot are on average slightly fatter than adults who do not game. Gaming also often comes at the expense of social contacts. People no longer see each other live, but play a game together and exchange some social information via the game chat. When this is the case, the lack of personal social contacts can trigger feelings of depression. An occasional game can’t hurt, but don’t overdo it and certainly don’t let it be at the expense of your physical activity and your social contacts.
Parents playing games
People with children play games slightly more often than people without children. Is this a problem? In a sense, yes. Children imitate their parents. The current generation of children does not spend enough time physically, playing outside, building, playing games of skill, or playing fantasy. They are kept too busy, either by organized sports or by games and television. The unorganized, unstructured play from which children learn a lot is becoming less and less and is in danger of disappearing . Adults show the same behavior and set this as an example. We usually play sports and exercise in groups and we also spend a lot of time in front of the PC, tablet or television. When we enjoy unstructured activities, like messing around in the sandbox, messing around with clay and paint, or building huts with branches and blankets, we encourage our children to do this too. This way of playing not only stimulates exercise, but also their intelligence and parents should set a better example in this.