Parents’ and children’s perceptions of active video games: a focus group study

Abstract

Energy expenditure studies have shown that playing Active Video Games (AVGs) is positively associated with increases in heart rate and oxygen consumption. It is proposed that playing AVGs may be a useful means of addressing inactivity and obesity in children. This study explored children's and parents' perceptions of AVGs and the likely facilitators and barriers to sustained use of AVGs. Data were gathered using focus group interviews: seven with children, four with adults. Both children and parents reported that AVGs offered a way to increase activity and improve fitness. Barriers to sustained engagement, according to parents, were the cost of AVGs and lack of space in the home to play the games. According to children, the likelihood of long-term engagement with AVGs depended on game content and child age, with AVGs being seen as more appropriate for younger children than teenagers. It would appear that there is potential for AVGs to reduce inactivity in young people. However, barriers to widespread, sustainable adoption would need to be addressed if this potential is to be realized.

Real Life Active Gaming Practices of 7–11-Year-Old Children

“…15,16 One reason for such low frequency of active game-play in the present population could be a preference for outdoor games and play as also favoured by 13-to-14 year-old New Zealand boys. 17 In the present study, children who consumed foods and/or drinks during active gaming reported a significantly longer play time in comparison to those who did not. The additional energy expended by active game-play could be counterbalanced by this EI.…”

“…The children had easy access to active gaming consoles and games at home, as do New Zealand children 17 and Canadian and Dutch adolescents. 14,15 As with the Canadian adolescents, the children preferred the Nintendo Wii™ console and Nintendo Wii™ Sports game compendium.…”

“…There is also limited understanding of the reasons for children's active game-play, which might be dependent upon the study population. 16,17 In New Zealand, children reported the content of some active games motivated their play 17 . They are also viewed as being a more social form of computer game than non-active games as they enable game-play against others 15,17,18 .…”

The Benefits of Active Video Games for Educational and Physical Activity Approaches: A Systematic Review

“…These results could have been "contaminated" since participants did not perform the activity as they should have (Baranowski et al, 2012). Also, these results could be the consequence of small samples and short intervention periods, focus on the wrong type of learner or underprovided design intervention (e.g., Chung, Vanderbilt, & Soares, 2015;Dixon et al, 2010;Gao, Hannon, Newton, & Huang, 2011).…”

Child Goal Setting of Dietary and Physical Activity in a Serious Videogame

“…Moreover, active games give children the opportunity to engage in an activity they like [46][47][48] in their own home while getting some exercise. An aspect that children like about active games is the suitability to play with friends.…”