“My child spends all their time playing video games… Is this really okay?”
Many parents have probably felt this kind of anxiety at some point.
Especially for children with developmental differences, whose interests can sometimes become narrowly focused, parents may worry, “Will gaming make my child’s world even smaller?”
In this episode of Dekiruba’s Shaberuba (“Let’s Talk Space”), we explored the role of video games from a therapeutic perspective.
In short, the discussion suggested that—depending on how children engage with them—video games can actually become an important gateway to expanding a child’s sense of comfort, connection, and ease in life.
What Is “Therapeutic Support” in the First Place?
The Most Important Question: Does It Help a Child Live More Comfortably?
“Therapeutic support” refers to providing individualized developmental support that helps children with disabilities or developmental differences navigate daily life and participate in society more smoothly.
What matters most in therapeutic support is not simply increasing the number of things a child can do.
Rather, the key question is whether the child is becoming able to live more comfortably and confidently.
When we look at video games from this perspective, their role can appear completely different.
Why Expanding a Child’s Interests Matters?
What Does It Really Mean to Build on a Child’s Strengths?
We often hear the phrase “build on a child’s strengths.” Many people assume this means helping a child become increasingly specialized in one particular skill or talent.
In reality, however, it means using a child’s interests as a foundation and gradually expanding the range of things that capture their curiosity.
For example, if a child loves and excels at Minecraft, the goal is not simply to have them continue playing Minecraft. Instead, Minecraft can be used as a starting point for exploring a wider variety of interests and experiences, such as the examples below.
- 🪨 Becomes interested in ores and minerals → Learns about geology → Goes to see them in real life
🏗️ Sees amazing buildings on YouTube → Develops an interest in real-world architecture
💻 Experiments with command blocks → Begins exploring programming
In this way, a child’s world gradually expands outward from what they already love.
Along the way, they may encounter things that feel unfamiliar, challenging, or even a little uncomfortable. But because the starting point is something they genuinely enjoy, they are often willing to take the first step.
The joy of gaming can become a bridge that helps children explore new interests, face challenges, and broaden their world. 🌱
From Gaming to Growth:
Building Connections and Expanding Future Possibilities
Creating Opportunities for Connection
Through playing games with friends and interacting online, children can naturally develop social connections and meaningful relationships with others.
“I Want It!” Can Lead to Planning and Goal-Setting
When children discover something they want to do or achieve in a game, they often start asking themselves, “How can I make that happen?”
Thinking through the steps needed to reach a goal can help develop planning skills and motivation. Over time, these experiences may even inspire future goals and interests. 🌱
The Importance of Broadening a Child’s Interests
We may not know ahead of time where a child’s interests will lead.
But as their interests expand, they gain more places where they feel comfortable and more options for the future. These, in turn, can support emotional well-being and self-confidence, helping children live with greater ease and comfort.
This is why expanding the range of a child’s interests is considered so important. 🌱
Learning How to Handle Losing
This is another example of how gaming can contribute to a child’s ability to navigate life more comfortably.
Many children become intensely emotional when they lose a game. However, after years of playing and practicing, they often begin to handle those feelings more effectively.
They may still say, “That’s frustrating!” but gradually learn how to move on, choose to stop playing when needed, or recover without having the meltdowns they once experienced.
Seeing these changes reminds us that the experiences children have through gaming are not meaningless—they are helping to build real-life skills, little by little.
Over time, those experiences can foster resilience, emotional regulation, and the ability to cope with disappointment in everyday life. 🌱
＼Tips for Parents／
Be Curious,Not Controlling
As parents, it’s easy to feel like saying, “You’re always playing games!” and wanting to put a stop to it.
But instead of focusing on stopping the game, try showing interest by asking questions like, “How does that work?” or “What do you like about it?”
These simple conversations can lead to deeper connections and help expand a child’s world over time. Knowing that a parent is genuinely interested in what they enjoy also gives children a sense of security and support.
Tips for Starting a Conversation
・Show curiosity about the game by asking questions like, “How does that work?”
・Let your child take the role of teacher by saying, “Show me!” or “Teach me!”
・Explore real-life experiences connected to the game and discover them together.
Video Games Can Help Children Navigate Life More Comfortably
- The goal of therapeutic support is not simply to increase skills, but to help children live more comfortably and confidently.
- Building on a child’s strengths means using their interests as a foundation and gradually broadening their world.
- Because games are enjoyable, they can encourage children to take their first steps toward things they find challenging.
- Gaming can create opportunities for social connections and inspire children to think about their future goals and possibilities.
- Rather than focusing on stopping the game, parents can support their children by showing genuine interest in what they enjoy.
- As a child’s interests expand, so do their sources of comfort and their options in life, helping them navigate the world with greater ease and confidence.
Video games are not just about having fun. When approached thoughtfully, they can become meaningful opportunities that help children build confidence, expand their world, and navigate life more comfortably.
We hope this article has given you a new perspective on the role that games can play in a child’s development.
The concern with a child spending all their time gaming is not gaming itself. The real issue is that it can leave little room for other valuable experiences—such as physical activity, social interactions, creative pursuits, or hands-on learning. When this happens, a child’s skills and experiences can become increasingly narrow and specialized.
However, this is not unique to video games. The same can happen with studying, sports, reading, or any other activity if it takes up all of a child’s time and attention.
Whatever a child’s passion may be, the goal is not simply to increase the time they spend on it. Rather, it is to help that interest become a gateway to a richer and more fulfilling life.
As adults, we can support children by taking an interest in what they love and helping them use those interests as a bridge to new experiences, new connections, and new possibilities.
On the other hand, some people have talents that leave them with no choice but to follow a certain path in life, whether they—or the people around them—planned it or not. Think of the classic artist mindset.
When that happens, there is often little point in adults worrying endlessly about it. Their energy is going to flow in that direction anyway.
As a parent, your main job may simply be to make sure they eat regular meals and get enough sleep—otherwise, they might get so absorbed in their passion that they forget both!
