research-article

Gaming as Family Time: Digital Game Co-play in Modern Parent-Child Relationships

Authors:

Nathan J. McNeeseAuthors Info & Claims

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, Volume 5, Issue CHI PLAY

Article No.: 251, Pages 1 - 25

https://doi.org/10.1145/3474678

Published: 06 October 2021 Publication History

Abstract

The role of digital gaming on parenthood and parent-child relationships is a common research interest in HCI and CHI PLAY. Yet, how technology co-use, such as co-playing digital games, affords and impacts parent-child relationships is still understudied. Using 20 in-depth interviews of adults who had co-played modern digital games with their parents and/or children, in this paper we investigate parent-child relationships mediated by co-playing modern digital games. We update prior HCI and CHI PLAY research on game-mediated parent-child relationships by suggesting a "democratized" family life and a fading digital divide for families with favorable digital game co-play experiences. We also contribute to HCI and CHI PLAY by providing new perspectives of technology co-use in the context of gaming, such as an important relational tool that parents can use to promote conversations with their child(ren). These insights can further inform the design of future play to better support parent-child interactions during digital game co-play.

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cover image Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction Volume 5, Issue CHI PLAY

CHI PLAY

September 2021

1535 pages

EISSN:2573-0142

DOI:10.1145/3490463

Editors:
Kathrin Gerling
KU Leuven
,
Elisa Mekler
Aalto University
,
Regan Mandryk
University of Saskatchewan

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Published: 06 October 2021

Published in PACMHCI Volume 5, Issue CHI PLAY

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Altvater R(2025)The Reality of Virtual Human ConnectionsMental Health Virtual Reality10.1002/9781394278480.ch3(27-37)Online publication date: 10-Jan-2025
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394278480.ch3
Arnaudeau SLefèvre NHofer CDanet M(2024)L'enfant dans son environnementL'enfant dans son environnement10.3917/eres.zaouc.2024.01.0059(59-70)Online publication date: 25-Jan-2024
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Liszio SBäuerlein FHildebrand Jvan Nahl CMasuch MBasu O(2024)Cooperative Virtual Reality Gaming for Anxiety and Pain Reduction in Pediatric Patients and their Caregivers during Painful Medical Procedures: Research Protocol for a Randomized Control Trial (Preprint)JMIR Research Protocols10.2196/63098Online publication date: 8-Jul-2024
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