The Impact of Video Gaming on 0-12-Year-Old Children’s Visual Cognitive Abilities: Narrative Review

This narrative review explores the growing prevalence of video gaming among children and its impact on their visual cognitive development, particularly attentional mechanisms and visual information processing. As games are introduced at younger ages and become increasingly prevalent, concerns emerge about their effects on developing cognitive systems. The review synthesises current evidence on how fast-paced video games challenge children’s visual processing, filling a gap in the literature, which has mostly focused on adolescents and adults. It outlines childhood gaming habits, key visual cognitive developments, and the effects of gaming on these processes. Research suggests that video gaming can enhance spatial-visual attention and stimulus processing speed; however, the effects vary depending on age, game type, offline engagement, and parental involvement. Early and excessive gaming may lead to cognitive overload and attention difficulties that extend beyond gaming contexts. While games may enhance divided attention, these skills often fail to transfer effectively to real-world tasks, such as learning. The review concludes with practical considerations for age-appropriate, balanced gaming to support healthy cognitive development.