Morrison Child and Family Services

Morrison offers outpatient mental health therapy and substance use treatment for kids and teens at our Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, and Milwaukie clinics. Take the first step toward healing by scheduling an intake appointment at morrisonkids.org.

While previous studies have linked video games to certain mental health problems, a recent study adds more complexity to the topic, showing that video games can also promote cognitive performance in children. The study found that the group who played video games had higher brain activity in regions of the brain associated with attention and memory than did those who never played. They also did not find statistically significant evidence that the video games resulted in ‘problem behaviors.’

Games can be a safe place for children to ‘fail’ and try again, helping them to build resilience and to serve as a sandbox for critical thinking. So while we’re not recommending giving your children unlimited screen time, some video games in moderation can be a good place for children to test themselves.