Do Video Games Affect Children's IQ? What Every Parent Should Know

What You Notice as a Parent (and What You're Not Sure About)

Your 8-year-old can focus for hours on a complicated video game but can barely sit through ten minutes of math homework — sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many parents of children between 6 and 12 wrestle with the same contradiction, trying to understand how video games seem to absorb their kids completely while schoolwork feels like pulling teeth. It leads to a natural, and important, question: Do video games actually impact my child's intelligence?

IQ: More Than Just a Number

Before diving into studies and theories, it’s helpful to clarify what IQ really means. It’s not just a number measuring how “smart” your child is. Rather, IQ (or intelligence quotient) is a score derived from standardized tests that assess a range of cognitive skills — logical reasoning, memory, processing speed, verbal skills, and more. These areas can evolve over time, especially when children are actively engaged in activities that challenge their thinking in different ways.

So when we ask whether video games affect IQ, what we’re really wondering is: Can they enhance (or weaken) some of the mental skills that contribute to learning and problem-solving?

What Science Tells Us About Games and Mental Development

Several studies have looked into the relationship between gaming and cognition, and the results are surprising. Children who engage in certain types of video games — especially those that are strategic, problem-solving, or memory-based — often show improvements in memory, spatial reasoning, and even reading comprehension. In fact, one long-term study found that moderate gaming was associated with higher performance in some cognitive domains.

But there’s a catch: not all games are created equal. Fast-paced shooter games may enhance reaction time and hand-eye coordination, but they don’t necessarily build the skills your child needs to solve a word problem or synthesize a history passage. Conversely, puzzle games, simulations, or experiences like Minecraft (when used thoughtfully) can engage higher-order thinking in really meaningful ways.

When Gaming Gets in the Way — and When It Doesn’t

Let’s be honest: sometimes video games are the enemy. The overuse of gaming — particularly when it replaces sleep, physical movement, or social connection — can negatively affect a child’s focus and academic performance. Screen addiction is a real concern for many families.

But we’ve also seen the other side of the coin. When gaming is balanced, intentional, and even tied into learning, it becomes a powerful ally. In fact, many parents are beginning to pivot from asking "how do I stop this?" to "how can I harness this?" That’s where it gets interesting.

In families who navigate this shift, gaming becomes a catalyst for broader conversations. A child who struggles with reading might find new motivation when their favorite game requires decoding clues or following a narrative. One mom I spoke with recently started asking her son to teach her how to play the games he loved. That simple act not only boosted his confidence but led to moments where he could show real strategic thinking — something he rarely felt capable of during homework time.

Our article on how video games can boost motivation shares similar stories that might inspire you.

Smart Use of Smart Tools

Rather than seeing gaming and learning as separate worlds, the most transformative thing parents can do is to find bridges between them. If your child has a strong visual memory or builds impressive worlds in Roblox, there’s a good chance they can benefit from more visual and interactive forms of studying — even if traditional textbooks don’t click for them.

This is where educational apps can become more than just a “screen-time compromise.” For example, one helpful tool allows you to take a photo of your child’s science lesson and turn it into a customized 20-question quiz. Suddenly, instead of dreading review time, it becomes a challenge, a mission — even a game. For auditory learners, the same tool can turn that same lesson into a personalized adventure they can listen to in the car, with their own name woven into the story. It’s not just about “gamifying” school — it’s about making learning feel alive, just like the games they already love. (This feature is available in the Skuli App, which is built with these exact kinds of learners in mind.)

One of our most-read articles explores this idea further in Can You Turn a School Lesson into a Video Game?

Fitting the Pieces Together at Home

Let’s say your child is bright, imaginative, but easily discouraged when it comes to academic work. They might hover near average on an IQ test, but as a parent, you know that doesn’t capture who they really are. The truth is, their patterns of attention and curiosity are being shaped every day — whether that’s through homework, conversations at the dinner table, or yes, video games.

As you navigate what helps and what doesn’t, consider:

• Choosing games that challenge your child creatively and strategically
• Watching for signs that gaming may be causing stress, not relief
• Translating your child’s gaming strengths into learning strengths
• Using their love of play as a door into academic content

For more ideas, our post "My Child Loves Video Games: Here’s How to Make It a Strength at School" is a great next read.

When We Stop Fighting the Wrong Fight

Parents are often made to feel like video games and school are locked in battle for our kids’ attention — one good, one bad. But like most things in parenting, the real picture is more nuanced. Games can be distracting, yes. But they can also be deeply motivating, cognitively rich, and an entry point into real-life problem-solving. The question isn’t simply “do video games affect IQ?”, but rather: how do we support our children in using their screen time to grow, and not just escape?

And perhaps most importantly, how do we help them believe that the focus, creativity, and tenacity they show in the worlds of gaming can live fully in the world of learning, too?

When you start seeing both worlds through that lens, the gap doesn’t look so wide after all.