While there are downsides to playing video games, there are also surprising benefits. Video games can help kids build skills and make social connections.

What kids call “survival games” are actually brilliant adaptations of classic board/card games. Kids can develop critical decision-making skills, strengthen cooperation, and teach empathy and social interaction. Little does any parent know that playing video games could change the entire trajectory of their child’s life.

Yet, not all video games are created equal. Steam’s free games list features renowned games like Minecraft and Fortnite. Or Bigscreen’s “kids games” give odds as high as 3–4 to win a game of Candy Crush. What makes this so problematic is that parents could end up paying a few dollars for a shovelware game and miss the real gems of the platform.

As a marketer, I get it. We want to use marketing to get people to interact with our products. Yet, we should approach games from different perspectives. I love to see people playing DOTA and playing Super Mario in the background without gloating or losing interest.

In reality, gamers are just like the rest of us: humans with different needs and wants. Marketing should contextualize and talk about gaming as it relates to mothers, families, and day-to-day life. Video games are often immersed in fantasy worlds where gamers can let down their guard. Subtle themes may win individuals to stick around for a few more hours. Influences exist like themes, characters, and mechanics that resonate with the players.

Games can also offer exercises and tough puzzles to make learning easier. It can help children build social connections with their peers. Parents, as game executives, need to take riskier bets while balancing budgets. Because video games are in a publicity race, game developers face intense scrutiny and visibility to sell new games. While appearances play a role in the development, the technology and game engine companies should do more to fight the stigma around mental health and suicide.

The headaches and nausea some people feel while playing might just be the benefit we crave. Since 2008, 41% of children and adolescents have tried a video game. If you want more kids to game, consider this: If we want to grow as a society, we need to learn from and help each other grow.

There is also something else behind the 4 am wake-up call: a need for escapism.

Escapism is a literal and figurative blue ocean. Everyone’s different, but gaming provides limitless scope for self-expression. Even though humans may lose themselves in games, we also need a way to cope with the harsh reality of life. A crushing diagnosis permanently confined me to a dark room. Even though I couldn’t spend more than 60 minutes in that house, I was productive and creative.

Here’s a look at the top five cool kid’s games that might entice parents.

Iron Butterfly was the best game for a five-year-old to play, according to USA Today. The game teaches kids about traffic accidents and situational awareness, and it’s a good way to encourage kids to talk to and ask questions of adults.

You Don’t Know Jack is a great game for teaching critical listening skills. It’s also great for incorporating role-playing and playfulness into your child’s mental health routine. The game can promote socialization and prompt kids to follow a “lead” without them feeling like the “chase.”

Magic Phone is a unique game that lets kids use their phones as magic wands. Players must choose between their phone and their imagination to cast their spells. Potentially, playing this game could improve spatial reasoning and communication skills for children.

IKEA’s book series The Little Book of Magic is so popular that you could get caught up in the full series at once. The games in this series are focused either on reading, making crafts, or creating magic tricks. Kids will have a lot of fun crafting and playing with magic while learning about the other characters and plotlines.

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