Parental perspectives on video game genre preferences and motivations of children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Purpose Video games have the potential to improve brain plasticity in people with Down syndrome. However, little has been done to understand video game preferences in this population. The purpose of this paper is to describe a brief exploration of video game preferences in children with Down syndrome. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was used to collect information from parents of children with Down syndrome about their child’s favorite video games and why they like video games. Findings Children with Down syndrome, as reported by their parents, most frequently play action/adventure games, and have several motivating factors for game play including overcoming challenges to gain reward and having fun engaging in the game world. Research limitations/implications The current study only recruited from a small sample of the Down syndrome population and therefore may lack generalizability. Practical implications Gaining a better understanding of which aspects of video games appeal to children with Down syndrome. Knowing what they prefer will enable us to design games that are engaging and cognitively beneficial. Originality/value This paper proposes the importance of video game play to promote development in children with Down syndrome.