Secret to good grades? Study claims teens addicted to video games do BETTER at school

Teens who spend a lot of time playing video games do better at school, an international study has suggested.

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said there was strong evidence that playing computer games on handheld consoles like Nintendo DSs and Sony PSPs had ‘positive effects on learning’.

It said many games ‘incorporate good learning principles’ and can ‘hone problem-solving skills’.

Students who play one-player video games between once a month and almost every day perform better in mathematics, reading, science and problem solving than students who hardly ever play games, the OECD said.

But the evidence shows that playing computer games only helps children at school if they are not competing against other people over the internet.

Boys are much more likely than girls to play computer games – but often get caught up in shoot ’em ups and other online competitions against other players, the study said.

This means that playing on the computer at home helps girls more than boys. The report said: ‘The gender gap in video gaming translates into a performance advantage for girls.’

However, it also warns that the ‘addictive nature of gaming’ has its downsides.

It said: ‘Students who play video games excessively might not be able to focus on their work at school, may be less willing to spend time on school work at home, might develop sleep problems, and might be less perseverant if there are no immediate rewards for their efforts, like those offered in gaming.’

Today’s shock research comes after Boris Johnson claimed video games were helping children become ‘nicer, kinder and more well-balanced’ than their parents – and was even helping to cut crime.