In recent years, an increasing number of young adults and teenagers are opting for gaming as a full-time career. A 2020 survey found that 41.2% of male respondents wanted to pursue a gaming career, while 70.9% of females surveyed stated no interest in professional gaming.
This growing desire to game professionally is likely driven by the booming esports industry, lucrative streaming opportunities, and the proliferation of content creation platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Marin Cristian-Ovidiu, the CEO of FreezeNova, analyzes the growing influence of gaming and discusses steps you can take to support your child’s gaming ambition.
Gaming’s Influence
In recent years, more young adults and teenagers are choosing gaming as a full-time career. This trend is fueled by the booming esports industry, profitable streaming opportunities, and the rise of content creation platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
Teens in the Gen Z cohort, aged 14 to 19, are especially passionate about gaming and are significantly influencing overall Gen Z gaming trends. According to one recent study, about 27% of Gen Z teens consider gaming their favorite entertainment activity.
Practical Steps for Parents to Support a Child’s Gaming Ambition
Supporting a child’s ambition to become a professional gamer can be challenging for parents. However, with the right approach and understanding, it is possible to nurture their dreams while ensuring they maintain a healthy balance in life. Marin offers several practical steps for parents:
Understanding the Industry
The first step for parents is to educate themselves about the gaming industry. This includes understanding the different career paths available, such as competitive gaming, streaming, game development, and content creation.
Competitive gaming involves participating in esports tournaments where players compete for prize money in games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Fortnite.
Streaming on platforms like Twitch and YouTube allows gamers to broadcast their gameplay live to an audience and earn money through subscriptions, donations, and sponsorships.
Some gamers are interested in creating their own games, which requires skills in programming, design, and storytelling.
Beyond streaming, creating engaging content such as tutorials, reviews, and vlogs can attract a large following and generate revenue through ad partnerships and sponsorships.
By understanding these avenues, parents can better appreciate the potential and challenges their children might face.
Providing the Right Resources
To help their children succeed, parents should invest in the necessary resources. This might include high-quality gaming equipment, such as a powerful computer or gaming console, a good monitor, a reliable internet connection, and ergonomic accessories to enhance performance and comfort.
Marin advises, “Enrolling in coaching programs or seeking mentorship from experienced gamers can provide valuable skills and insights.”
Implementing tools and practices to balance gaming with other activities is essential. This could include setting specific gaming hours and using productivity apps to ensure the child doesn’t spend excessive time gaming to the detriment of other responsibilities.
Encouraging a Healthy Balance
Balancing gaming with other aspects of life is essential. Parents should encourage their children to maintain a healthy lifestyle by ensuring regular physical activity, such as sports, walking, and short exercise breaks to prevent health issues associated with prolonged sedentary behavior.
Promoting social interaction through participation in social activities and family time helps the child develop interpersonal skills and maintain relationships outside the gaming community.
Emphasizing the importance of education and setting academic goals helps maintain a balanced approach to gaming and learning.
Seeking Educational Opportunities
Marin states,
“Many educational programs and courses are available that can enhance a child’s gaming skills and knowledge about the industry. Parents should look into coding and game design camps, which teach the technical skills needed to develop games and can be a valuable asset whether pursuing game development or understanding game mechanics better.”
Esports scholarships offered by some universities for talented esports players provide both education and competitive opportunities. Attending industry conferences and workshops with leaders in the field can provide insights into the latest trends and opportunities in gaming.
Marin says,
“Supporting a child’s dream to pursue gaming professionally requires a blend of understanding, resources, and balance. By educating themselves and providing the right environment, parents can help their children turn their passion for gaming into a successful and sustainable career.”
Methodology
Data on teen gaming was gathered from Deloitte’s Digital Media Report.
Data from the survey on wanting a professional gaming career was taken from Statista.
