51% Of US Children Under The Age Of 8 Have Played A Console Game, Says Study

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Non-profit organization Common Sense Media has issued a new study that proves something we’ve suspected for quite some time now: children like video games. Okay, so it isn’t as cut and dry as all of that, with the study results actually revealing that 51% of American children aged 8 and under have played a console game at some point in their life.

Common Sense Media’s findings fill nearly 30 pages, but here’s some of the more standout statistics on your average tyke’s affinity for video games: the study found that 44% of kids aged two to four have played a console game, while a whopping 81% of 5-8 year olds have plopped down in front of the TV to spend some time with the family console. Of that 81%, 36% of them play at least once a week.

51% of the children United States is certainly a large number, but I’m actually surprised that the number isn’t larger. When I was a kid, it seemed like each and every one of my friends had either an NES, Sega Genesis, or Super Nintendo (though maybe I was just subconsciously selective of the company I kept when I was a lad).

Couple a kid’s love for video games with the fact that Wii has hit it big this generation, and it seems that number should be at least a little bit bigger. Perhaps, though, I’m just disconnected from reality these days – after all, when someone says they don’t play video games, I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me not to trust them.

What do you think – are you surprised to hear that only 51% of US children have played a console game, or did you actually expect that number to be a little bit lower? Do you think these numbers will stay pretty much the same as time goes on, or will the percentage of children that game increase we march into the future? Head down to the comments section to share your thoughts, and click the source link below if you’d like to read the entire study!