Most Children Play Video Games – Report

Two years after birth.

According to research group Common Sense Media, a majority of children have played video games.

Children’s Media Use In America, which is based on a survey of 1,384 parents with children ages 0 to 8 years old, reports that 51 percent of all 0- to 8-year-olds have played a console video game. Not bad for an entertainment medium that didn’t exist 50 years ago. Breaking the data down further, 44 percent of 2- to 4-year-olds have played video games, as have 81 percent of 5- to 8-year-olds.

Although the number of children playing video games at an early age is high, the medium doesn’t dominate most of their time. Among 5- to 8-year-olds, only 17 percent play console video games at least once a day. Another 36 percent play them at least once a week.

I suspect young gamer dads are responsible for this. No?

Thanks, Gamasutra.