Video Gaming Teaches Teens Civics

"The stereotype that gaming is a solitary, violent, anti-social activity just doesn’t hold up. The average teen plays all different kinds of games and generally plays them with friends and family both online and offline," said Amanda Lenhart, author of Pew Internet & American Life Project's report on the first national survey on teens and video games. Findings include:

• Game playing is universal, with almost all teens playing games and at least half playing games on a given day. 97% of American teens ages 12-17 play some kind of video game. 99% of boys say they are gamers and 94% of girls report that they play games.
• Game playing can incorporate many aspects of civic and political life. Not only do many teens help others or learn about a problem in society during their game playing, they also encounter other social and civic experiences.

You will never hear the end of this if your children learn this report's findings. [JH]