Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop’s Post

Are video games good for children? The latest RITEC research report, co-founded by UNICEF and the LEGO Group and funded by The LEGO Foundation, reveals that digital games can indeed contribute to the well-being of children. We are pleased to see that LEGO Builder’s Journey was included in this research along with Plants vs Zombies, Rocket League Sideswipe, World of Goo, Angry Birds 2 and LEGO Tower. “They can allow children to experience a sense of control, to have freedom of choice, to experience mastery and feelings of achievement. Digital games can support children in experiencing and regulating emotions and help them feel connected to others and manage those social connections.” The full UNICEF report, Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children, is available online here: https://lnkd.in/dyaBVz37

"The study found that digital games, when designed well, can allow children to experience a sense of control, have freedom of choice, experience mastery and feelings of achievement, experience and regulate emotions, feel connected to others and manage those social connections, imagine different possibilities, act on original ideas, make things, and explore, construct and express facets of themselves and others. These experiences are all important for children’s well-being and can support their development." Interesting study by UNICEF showing that when games for children are well designed, they are good for children. Playtesting your games with Becky Palmer and me at Playtest Games will ensure your final game is well designed and meeting the needs of your young players.

👾 Digital play can be more than entertainment; it’s a powerful tool for children to explore, construct, and express themselves. The latest UNICEF Innocenti - RITEC report shows how children use online games to connect with broader career aspirations, hobbies, or interests; while also exploring individual, collective, or future identities. Given the broad concept of identity and varied reactions to games among children, companies and designers must consider local contexts, cultural diversity, and different needs. This ensures digital play can be a transformative tool for positive experiences. Read the complete report here: https://lnkd.in/dxrQisyA #DigitalPlay #DigitalTechnology #OnlineGames

As part of the #RITEC project, a research team led by Jan L. Plass (New York University) and Bruce Homer (The Graduate Center, City University of New York ) invited children (ages 8 to 12) in the US, Chile, and South Africa to play a select set of tablet-based video games to determine how digital games can potentially enhance well-being. Through a combination of observation, video analysis of gameplay, as well as post-play interviews with the children to ask them what they liked or disliked in a game and how playing made them feel, the team identified specific patterns of play related to well-being concepts, including competence, agency/autonomy, and relatedness/belonging. Learn more about their research and key findings in this blog post: https://lnkd.in/e4vcVZDT

Video games are often thought of as harmful to children, but they can also have positive effects such as: 🔵 Allow children to experience a sense of control, have freedom of choice, experience mastery and feelings of achievement 🙌🏼✨ 🔵 Children can experience and regulate emotions, feel connected to others and manage those social connections 🫶🏼💫 🔵 Through video games, children often imagine different possibilities, act on original ideas, make things, and explore, construct and express facets of themselves and others 🧠🤖 ❤️ Read more 👇🏼 (vía UNICEF Innocenti) https://lnkd.in/dqyMXF6f #Gaming #ForEveryChild

How to start our game development with accessibility in mind? Follow TimeRavel.Studio to get the latest news about our games. Follow #AccessibleGameDesign to join Peter J. Jonas on this exciting journey and ensure you don't miss a single thing! #g13e #GameDevelopment #IndieGameDev #a11y #AccessibilityMatters #InclusionMatters #APXD  

Accessibility is not just a checkbox to tick, especially in game development. My concept is that we don't just apply accessibility solutions for disabled individuals; we build them in for everybody. How? 👇 So, let's dive deeper into the planning phase of game development. Planning a game is more than just sketching out storylines and mechanics. It's about creating an experience that captivates and keeps your players immersed. When we integrate accessibility into this process, we're not just ticking a box -we're designing with inclusivity in mind. This approach not only ensures that every aspect of the game is accessible but also enhances the experience for all players, inspiring us to create games that seriously engage and entertain a wider audience. By building accessibility considerations into the very foundation of our game during the planning phase, we set the stage for an enjoyable and fully inclusive experience for all.  Accessibility is not just a tool; it's a powerful tool. It's a responsibility we all share as game developers and designers, and it's a responsibility that can lead to incredible opportunities and experiences for our players' tools to engage and entertain. Designing with inclusivity in mind doesn't just help players with disabilities but also enhances the overall user experience for all players.   Accessibility benefits everyone. 🚀♿️ Let's rocket accessibility! Stay tuned for more updates on how I'm integrating accessibility into my game development journey. Follow #AccessibleGameDesign to join me on this exciting journey and ensure you don't miss a single thing. If you don't want to miss any of my posts, follow #PeterJJonas #g13e #InclusiveDesign #GameDevelopment #IndieGameDev #a11y #AccessibilityMatters #InclusionMatters #APXD

Unlocking the Power of Play! New research by UNICEF in collaboration with leading universities, delves deep into the impact of digital games on children's well-being. From fostering a sense of control to promoting social connections, the findings are groundbreaking! 🔍 But the key lies in responsible innovation. Join the conversation on how digital technology, when designed with children's well-being in mind, can shape a brighter future. Tell us what you think in the comments below! UNICEF The LEGO Foundation #ResponsibleInnovation #ChildWellbeing #DigitalPlay #RocketLearning

Cultural Integration in Game Design 🌍 In our latest project update, we see compelling evidence to support the idea that incorporating cultural landmarks and language elements in our game may enrich the player's experience and significantly boost engagement rates. It’s about creating a world where everyone feels represented and connected! 🤔 How do you incorporate cultural diversity in your games or educational tools? Looking forward to hearing your innovative approaches! #GameDesign #CulturalDiversity #EngagementBoost #Learning #EdTech #Stemuli #LearningThroughGames

The right video games can boost kids’ well being Video games can contribute to and support the well-being of children if they are designed with the needs of children in mind, according to new research. The study also demonstrates that digital play has a particularly positive impact on children’s autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity when it responds to their deep interests, needs, and desires. The studies found that games can support children’s senses of autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity, as well as help them regulate emotions and build relationships. But in order to support one or more of these aspects of well-being, games should consider certain features. For example, to support children’s sense of autonomy, a game could put them in control, allow them to make decisions about gameplay, and encourage them to develop their own strategies to progress. Or to support creativity, a game could allow children to freely explore and solve problems or create their own characters or narratives. This exciting research from UNICEF and leading academics shows that safe and inclusive digital play can have a profoundly positive impact on children’s lives,” The finding that digital play can enhance child well-being and meet children’s psychological needs, such as the need for connections to others, is especially important at a time when we are concerned about children’s mental health,” Plass says. “This research helps us understand not only how video games can impact the well-being of children, but also helps the producers and designers of these games understand what elements they can include to support children,” Nylund says. “We hope they will consider these findings as they design the games our children will be playing in the future.”   Source: NYU https://lnkd.in/e8RGUF7b     Original Study https://lnkd.in/eXt-pph8