If after playing kids’ online games your child asks you for a certain kind of candy, cereal or similar product, hurry up and make sure what online game your kid is playing. Every online game for kids may be educational, of course: the question is what exactly things kids are taught while playing!
“UC Davis public health researchers have found that children … are the targets of a new medium used to sell high-fat, high-sugar foods: advergames,” we find out from Science Centric.
Diana Cassady and Jennifer Culp from the University of Davis (California, U.S.) analyzed websites for kids which were promoted in grocery advertisements on children’s TV channels. “84 percent of the websites assessed included online games,” the study concluded.
The researchers noticed that many kids’ games websites and advertising games hardly promote healthy nutrition. “Advergames are clearly a means of casting food with few health benefits in a positive way,” Jennifer Culp summed up.
As we have written here, parents shouldn’t be too quick to spring for colorful packs with cereals. As we have noticed elsewhere, you can teach kids to recognize advertisers’ intentions even by using educational online games for kids.
Let us assure you that the Driving Kids online game doesn’t contain any advertisements for dubious food. No hidden catches, just fun educational games for kids!
