Do Video Games Help Kids Engage More with School?
When Play Meets Purpose
You're not alone if you've ever stood outside your child’s bedroom door, hearing the unmistakable sound of Minecraft or Fortnite and wondering, “Would she be this focused on her science homework?” As parents, we often walk a tightrope between concern and curiosity when it comes to video games. Are they just a distraction pulling our kids further from their school responsibilities—or could they actually boost school engagement?
The answer, as with so many things in parenting, isn’t simple. But it is hopeful.
Rethinking “Wasted Time”
A 9-year-old boy, I’ll call him Max, struggled every evening to stay on task with reading assignments. He groaned, fidgeted, and often gave up halfway through. But when his parents gave him a chance to try an educational story-based video game over the weekend, something changed. The game adapted its dialogue to include Max’s first name and walked him through vocabulary challenges as part of the adventure. He was suddenly invested—not in a boring task, but in his own role as a hero solving meaningful puzzles.
Max’s experience is not uncommon. Many story-driven games tap into narrative-based learning, which research shows can significantly strengthen reading comprehension and retention. When content is wrapped in context and emotion, the brain remembers more.
Agency, Motivation, and the Gamer Mindset
What makes games so compelling to children can also be what helps them learn. In many games:
- Players set goals and navigate obstacles toward them (just like academic tasks).
- They fail, adapt, and try again—without fear of judgment.
- They receive immediate feedback that meets them at their level.
Compare that to a child sitting in front of a textbook, unsure of even where to begin. The emotional and cognitive contrast is stark. Games offer a learning scaffold that traditional school sometimes lacks. And thoughtful use of these elements can help children develop skills like persistence and independent problem-solving—both essential for school success.
This “gamer mindset” can be channeled toward learning when the right tools and guidance are in place. It’s about more than what game your child plays—it’s how their brain engages while playing.
Building Bridges, Not Barriers
Instead of continuing the tug-of-war—homework versus screen time—what if we built a bridge? Some parents have begun inserting ten-minute breaks with short, educational games between study chunks. Others use their child’s love of audio and play to present lessons in new ways. A parent recently told me about how, during car rides, their daughter listens to science lessons that have been reimagined into audio adventures where she is the protagonist. This kind of engagement wasn’t possible through silent reading at home.
Apps like Skuli, for instance, offer options that turn dry school lessons into personalized storytelling experiences, using the child’s name and transforming the week’s vocabulary into an audio journey—not unlike their favorite games. For auditory learners or daydreamers, it’s a subtle shift that transforms resistance into curiosity.
What to Watch For
Of course, not all video games are created equal. As we explored in our article “Video Games in School: Should Parents Be Worried or Encouraged?”, it’s essential to distinguish between games that nurture learning and those that offer only distraction or overstimulation.
When evaluating a game or screen-based tool, ask yourself:
- Is my child learning or just zoning out?
- Does the game challenge them to think, read, calculate, or solve?
- Does it offer structure and goals, without overwhelming visuals or content?
- Can elements from the game connect back to classroom learning or real-life thinking?
Used intentionally, certain types of games can do more than entertain—they can teach self-regulation, build confidence, and even reduce anxiety around school tasks. If your child is overwhelmed by school, consider whether the regulatory rhythm of a routine game session might actually help them reset emotionally before tackling homework.
Play Isn’t the Opposite of Learning
Too often we treat learning and play as if they're two separate rooms with locked doors. But when those doors swing open, something remarkable happens—children remember more, retain longer, and participate with more confidence. Play sparks the kind of emotional engagement that deepens memory—and this emotional glue is the key to school success.
So next time your child asks for “just five more minutes” of game time, pause before saying no. Ask yourself what they’re playing, and how it might be integrated—gently and creatively—into a broader plan to help them love learning a bit more. It’s not the magic answer, but it might be a step toward turning after-school frustration into moments of joy, connection... and maybe even progress.