How Digital Platforms Are Encouraging Intergenerational Play
One thing that digital gaming has done is to bring everyone onto the same platform. As people of the new generation play heavily on gaming platforms, older people are also enjoying it similarly. Now, you and your grandparents might share a similar virtual platform to play games.
Those times are gone when grandparents and grandkids used to spend time together on board games or through a storytelling session. Now, with the digital transformation and advancement in the gaming industry, both grandparents and grandkids vibe together on gaming platforms.
You might be wondering how people of two different ages enjoy gaming together! That’s the beauty of modern games available on digital platforms. These are simple and easy-to-use digital apps, suitable for people of all ages.
This blog will focus on the concept of integrational play using digital apps. Read on if you find it interesting already.
What is Intergenerational Play and Why It Matters
It is when activities bring together both children and older adults on the same platform or ground. The intergenerational play aims to create a meaningful engagement between the participants. When children and older adults come together on the same platform to engage through playful activities, both of them benefit from it.
Intergenerational play helps children improve their cognitive skills, and communication skills, and remain emotionally healthy. At the same time, older people remain physically healthy with emotionally secure. Besides, they do not feel left alone in their homes or society.
| Benefits | ||
|
Children |
● Brain Development
● Strategic Planning Skill Development ● Memory Improvement ● Improvement of Communication Skills ● Developing Care and Empathy |
|
|
Old People |
● Muscle strength improvement
● Coordination ● Reaction time improvement ● Feeling emotionally healthy ● Building a meaningful relationship |
Table 1: Benefits of Intergenerational Play in Children and Old People
While playing with children, old people get the feeling of being included in society. It supports their mental well-being and helps them to live a healthy life.
The Rise of Digital Platforms as a Medium for Shared Play
Emotional well-being, memory skills development, and other cognitive skills can be developed through online gaming as well. Especially when children play with older people on digital platforms, they have a shared experience of gameplay. The innovative and engaging gaming activities make old people feel included and valued.
Earlier, people used to play rummy games with physical cards. Grandparents can relate to the old memories of playing with physical cards while playing them on digital platforms. Now they relive their old memories and introduce their grandchildren to the exciting games.
Moreover, multiplayer games and battle royale games make the gaming environment more competitive and engaging for players. This offers an excellent opportunity to create a strong bond between players from different generations.
Several mobile games, PC games, and games on Nintendo Switch are changing the way grandparents and grandkids used to bond together.
Popular Game Types That Bridge the Generation Gap
With technological advancement, a variety of games are now available for intergenerational play. It can be a puzzle, a game of adventure, or a card game.
Let’s see some of the games that are key in intergenerational play.
| Games | Category of the Game | Interesting Features |
| Sudoku | Puzzle | Children and adults can brainstorm together to solve puzzles |
| Minecraft | Building, Crafting, Surviving | Communicate, build, explore new areas, and survive obstacles |
| FIFA Soccer | Football multiplayer game | Play football games in a simulation |
Table 2: Popular Digital Games to Bridge the Gaps between Two Generations
These are some easy-to-play games that players from different generations can play together. The simplistic gaming approach helps to strengthen the memory of older people. At the same time, children can create a strong bond with their grandparents.
How Design Features Foster Intergenerational Engagement
Modern digital games offer a simplistic yet engaging user experience while playing the games. A study on the users of Tekken 7 found that approximately 67% of users liked the game UI very much, which shows how game design plays a crucial part in attracting players.
Moreover, modern games come with chat features that actively engage players in the gameplay. Even when two players are not sitting side-by-side, they can communicate with each other through voice chat.
These apps offer interaction with fellow players using emojis. Players can maintain an active line of communication while enjoying the thrill of the game.
Games of Our Fathers on Our Phones
Games today are bridging the generation gap, not just through design and features, but through their mere presence. Many games from our childhood and our parents’ and grandparents’ generation have made their way into our phones. Today, we can play card games in a Rummy app or enjoy a solitary game of Ludo while commuting from work. Online games, thus, have become an unlikely but solid bridge between generations past and present.
Redefine the Relationship through Intergenerational Play
Modern gaming platforms are opening a new dimension of the relationship between children and older people. Interesting and engaging gaming platforms are offering space for grandchildren and grandparents to play together and have fun. Even when they are not together in the same house, multiplayer games and other similar digital games are bringing them closer to each other. Through digital platforms, intergenerational gameplay is bringing a new era to our society.
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