3 hours of gaming damages children’s school behaviour

Children who play video games for more than three hours a day are more likely to be hyperactive and unruly at school, a study has shown.

The behaviour, which included getting into fights and lack of interest in class, is linked to the amount of time devoted to games rather than the types of games played.

No clear association was seen between violent games and the extent to which the 12- to 13-year-olds displayed a tendency for aggression. Some types of game, as well as low play levels of less than an hour a day, appeared to have benefits.