The Mental Health Benefits of Interactive Games
Interactive games have been found to have positive effects on the human and their overall mental well-being. These games are beneficial for people of all ages with proven calming effects and the possibility to soothe feelings of anxiety and depression. Certain environments can cause some people to feel overwhelmed in a given space. Having easily accessible interactive digital games in the space may therefore be the answer to reducing discomfort in high-stress environments.
Although usually deemed a distraction in learning environments, interactive games can also be used as an educational tool for children. Additionally, they have been known to benefit both children and adults who suffer from autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Interactive Games And Children’s Wellbeing
Interactivity for children is a crucial part of their overall development on both physical and social levels. Interactive games can help to enhance relationship building for children among their peers, which benefits the overall mental wellness of children. Working together to solve problems is great for building team-working skills and helps them learn how to navigate challenges.
Benefits For Children With Attention Challenges
Children suffering from ADHD benefit from playing interactive games given that they are tasked with focusing on a given problem to solve. Games give children problems to solve with a set of information they have to use to do so. Having children focus on solving a problem with only a select few tools helps them to focus because they can use what’s in front of them instead of acting on their feelings.
Motor Skills Development
Interactive games can be particularly beneficial for a child’s motor skills development if digitally presented on a larger screen. Encouraging movement, problem-solving and teamwork, these games help in development but can also provide a fun outlet for children to enjoy. Some games are focused on encouraging movement as a means of providing exercise opportunities for children. Moving not only assists in physical development but also has benefits for mental wellness – increasing endorphins and dopamine levels.
Building Relationships And Social Skills
Multiplayer interactive games give children the challenge of navigating concepts of taking turns and sharing, therefore building important skills to take into building relationships with their peers. Games that are targeted towards working together to solve problems can be hugely beneficial for children making friends for the first time.
Interactive gameplay also helps children to build emotional resilience. Working through tasks and failing before getting them right builds the child’s ability to learn from mistakes and also assists in helping them understand that it’s not necessary to get everything right the first time. Children often experience great frustration when they cannot complete a task correctly the first or second time around. Interactive games teach them how to manage this frustration and build resilience to try the task again until completed properly.
The Calming Effects Of Interactivity
Those who play interactive games often feel a sense of accomplishment when reaching the goal set out in the game, boosting dopamine levels and reducing stress. This feeling of satisfaction in completing a given task is an excellent booster for confidence, given the sense of achievement reached when engaging in these types of games.
For those who suffer from conditions such as mild obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), interactive games that involve organising can be hugely beneficial. People with OCD often suffer from consistently high levels of anxiety given their instinct to have things in a certain way. Having access to interactive games that involve arranging patterns or organising items can have a soothing effect on people with OCD.
Even for those who have not been diagnosed with OCD, therapeutic interactive games can be massively beneficial for reducing stress. Similar to therapeutic tasks like painting, colouring-in, or other artistic outlets, interactive games provide calming stress relief and an element of satisfaction upon completion.
Interactive games also call for a certain level of mental stimulation, meaning people can also benefit from the mental exercises provided by the game. Those who find games such as quizzes, crosswords or games that involve mathematical problem-solving relaxing will feel the mental wellness benefits of interactive gameplay.
The Importance Of Play Time For Mental Health
Setting aside time for gameplay is important for everyone’s mental health. When interacting with a game you enjoy or playing games with others, the scenario promotes laughter and feelings of happiness. The release of endorphins associated with times of gameplay is vital for relieving stress and realigning with loved ones.
Most therapists and psychologists encourage recreational activities to balance daily life. Interactive games can be a recreational outlet for those who enjoy spending time either alone or with others.
How Sky Inside’s Interactive Screens Can Help In Certain Environments
Sky Inside provides digital screens to commercial or medical spaces that integrate into walls, flooring and ceilings. With a special focus on the likes of paediatric institutions, Sky Inside’s wide range of interactive games provides recreational outlets and developmental games for children undergoing medical care or those in an educational setting.
Our interactive mobile projectors and changing floor installations also provide fun, quirky features for commercial office spaces, adding a sense of playfulness to more formal environments. The immersive nature of the games Sky Inside has on offer provides hours of entertainment for those who engage with them, both adults and children alike.
Our motion-tracking changing floors and mobile projectors add an element of fun to the space giving an air of light-heartedness to environments like offices, schools, and hospitals. These products are proven to improve mental health and the overall atmosphere in these spaces.
If you would like to find out more about our UK-manufactured interactive products, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team on 01173 183919 or email Allan@skyinsideuk.com.