We often hear people express concern that kids spend too much time online these days when they should be out in the fresh air, getting exercise and meeting friends. That may be true but according to some educationalists, there is another, hugely positive side to some aspects of the virtual world and that gaming, in particular, can be helpful to young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in a number of ways.
Specialist SEN tutor Sheree admits she has gradually come around to seeing the benefits of gaming. “Back when I was a newly-qualified teacher, I was given a student by the local authority who didn’t go to school, refused to do English or maths and sat in his room all day,” she recalls. “His mum and I managed to get him to sit in the living room and I discovered that the only thing he liked to do was play computer games.
Using Gaming to Encourage Literacy
“I thought, ‘How can I use this to help him?’” she continues. “To start with, I just watched him play as we got to know each other. After a while, I asked him to give me instructions on how to play the game and write them down with diagrams. We slowly increased the time we were spending on literacy tasks – he didn’t catch on that he was learning as well as playing!”
Games appeal to neurodiverse youngsters for many reasons, Sheree maintains. They’re predictable and there are platforms where you can play remotely with a group of people anywhere in the world, offering anxious kids a way of socialising without the stresses of being face-to-face. Playing in the comfort of their own home allows them to feel relaxed. In addition, she says, older teenagers often choose role-play games where they can play at being different people which again can increase social confidence.
“Gaming and creating virtual worlds online with a game like Minecraft can also give young people a sense of control and a way of belonging when they might feel like they don’t ‘fit in’ in the real world,” she continues, “Minecraft is also good for geometry and non-verbal reasoning as you have to visualise where things should be.”
Skills Gained Online Can Spill into Everyday Life
Sheree says she has seen numerous students gain confidence through gaming. Even those that involve fighting and shooting, she points out, boost cognitive ability, fine motor skills and focus.
She remembers one young man she taught, who was in his early twenties and a selective mute who was reluctant to leave the house. Through gaming, he is now happy to communicate with fellow gamers via text. He has also become more open, she notes, and has joined the student council of his online school.
Families Need to Accept Computer Technology
Sheree points out that the world is very different from when parents were growing up and that digital technology is here to stay. Rather than trying to resist or reject the virtual world, families could work on accepting gaming and take an interest in what their kids are doing online.
“I am definitely a ‘promoter’ of gaming these days!” she laughs. “I think it should be incorporated into the education system. I like to stay one step ahead so I research different games and how they might help my students. Lara Croft, for example, is great for learning about history or geography. My own favourite is Sim City where you’re the Mayor. You have to budget and make decisions about people’s taxes – brilliant for helping numeracy skills.”
Of course, Sheree concludes, any online activity needs to be carefully monitored by parents to ensure that young people are not being exploited or talking to the ‘wrong’ people.
Note: Keeping children safe in the online world is paramount, either as a parent/carer or as a professional working with children. Various websites can help with online safeguarding, including the NSPCC website here
