The recent Toy Story 3 Video Game Report surveyed 1000 parents around Australia who have children between 5-12 years old.
Here are the main findings.
Australian parents on playtime:
• 9 out of 10 Australian parents wish they had more time to play with their children
• On average, parents spend most time with their kids on the following activities per week:
o Watching TV/Movies/DVDs – 3.25 hours
o Playing in parks/gardens – approx. 2 hours
o Playing sports – approx. 2 hours
o Playing with toys – 1.5 hours
o Board games – 1 hours
o Video games – 1 hour
• When asked to rate how important certain benefits were for their children when providing entertainment for them, 78% said stimulation was important; as well as problem solving skills (75%) and motor skills (74%).
Australian parents on videogames:
• 76% believe videogames can have a positive influence on children
• Aussie parents are big kids at heart when it comes to videogames:
o 79% enjoy playing videogames with their kids
o 79% say videogames are mainly played in their house as a shared family experience, either with the whole family or just with themselves and kids, busting the myth that videogames are an isolating and unsocial experience for kids
• When asked about the increasing popularity of videogames:
o 56% don’t mind as long as there is an educational or creative element in the games
o 20% aren’t bothered by it
o 41% find it hard to monitor what games are most appropriate for children
o Only 5% were concerned about the increasing popularity
• The majority also think that playing videogames in moderation can:
o Improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination (94%)
o Improve analytical and problem solving skills (91%)
o Be a good creative and design outlet (72%)
• Although 50% of parents were divided on if videogames were a true social experience.
Videogame mania:
• 97% of Australian parents with kids aged 5-12 have one or more videogame consoles:
o 62% own a Nintendo Wii
o 61% own a Nintendo DS – with a further 39% owning a 2nd DS console
o 50% play videogames on their PC
o 23% own a Playstation 2; a further 20% own a Playstation 3
o 21% own an Xbox
• 37% of Aussie kids play videogames 1-2 times a day, with a further 27% just playing them on the weekend.
Today I spoke with social researcher Marc McCrindle about the report and parent’s changing attitudes towards video games – listen HERE.
