Have you ever been gaming and your mom or dad told you to turn off the TV and do something else? My parents have said that for a long time, but gaming can build skills as well as be fun to play. Games are different from what parents think they are, and let me tell you—there are a lot of things they assume that are wrong. Adults think that gaming just makes your eyes worse, but it is a whole lot more than that.

To begin with, many people think gaming is all about fun, but games require different skills that you need to know, or else you’re not good at the game. People only play games that they are good at or find fun to play. If you play games like Fortnite, Minecraft, or Roblox, they each teach different skills. Fortnite makes people think quickly as they need to adapt to situations, especially when it’s difficult—like being between fights or running from storms. They also have to build, heal, or reload weapons so they can defeat other opponents.

In the same way, Minecraft teaches you how to survive in the wild by killing sheep and getting wool to make beds. You have to mine for items that will help you create weapons and armor to survive different dangers. It helps you use natural resources from the forests and build places to live in. This teaches kids and adults how to live in the wild if they ever get lost anywhere they go.

Additionally, most games are played using a controller, so you need to be strong enough to look up and move the controller quickly. Another skill gaming builds is quick problem-solving with leadership. You have to act like a leader and guide your team or yourself through difficult situations, using strategic planning in areas with traps or intricate problems. You have to be accurate with your decisions, which makes you better at taking control of projects in school.

Furthermore, other valuable skills developed through gaming are teamwork and social skills. Teamwork is important so you and your teammates can work together effectively. You can get into fights, survive, and collect better loot as a team. You can only do teamwork well if you use social skills to communicate with teammates, helping you understand what they plan to do. Once you understand that, you can assist them or get other tools to support your team.

On the contrary, almost all games have instructions for completing quests to earn trophies or points. This can be done more easily when people talk with each other. Most games have a feature where you can change your team members instead of playing alone. Many people play this way and make friends by talking about what they’ve done in the game or what they need to win. Gaming also requires multitasking—to gather weapons or valuable items while someone else may be trying to get them too. You have to secure beneficial treasure while fending off opponents.

After that, many kids who play games are talkative in real life, but some are not—and that’s not always bad. Those who are talkative love chatting with people who play the same games, and they become good friends. This happens easily as more and more people love playing games with friends all the time. In 2020, there were 2.71 billion people worldwide playing video games, and by 2025, there will be over 3.57 billion estimated players. That is over 0.86 billion more people in a five-year span.

For example, there are games that involve playing different sports. In Madden, there are different football teams like the Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, and many more. In other sports games like soccer, when you play, it makes you want to become like a famous player on the pitch—just like in games such as FC, Madden, MLB, NBA, and other sports that kids are interested in. You can play with your favorite team and favorite players, which makes you want to do impossible feats with them.

To sum up, many people play video games and are passionate about different types of games. Games can build different skills and provide satisfaction, which helps both kids and adults in the future. Most games encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, social skills, teamwork, decision-making, and other important life skills. So if you’re someone who plays games and your parents tell you to turn it off—even when you still have time—try telling them these facts to impress them. Who knows what they might do?