The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in Kids' Educational Games
Jul 14, 2023 | 0 Votes
by Mel
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rate
In its relatively young history, the video game industry—including the sector that designs educational games for kids—has, unfortunately, developed a reputation for fostering a culture of sexist and racist behavior, mainly attributed to the fact that the industry has always been historically dominated by white males (case in point, the infamous “Gamergate” controversy of 2014 which was a misogynistic online harassment campaign and a right-wing backlash against feminism, diversity, and progressivism in video game culture).
Fortunately, in recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion in both the general video gaming community, and in particular, kids' educational games to promote a more inclusive and representative learning environment.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Children’s Educational Games
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are becoming increasingly important principles in game design. These principles not only promote fairness and equal opportunities for all players, but they also lead to a more engaging and enjoyable gaming experience for everyone. EDI ensures all players feel welcome no matter their age, gender, race, sexuality, or anything else that makes them who they are.
One of the main reasons why equity, diversity, and inclusion are important in game design is that they help to create a more inclusive and welcoming gaming community. Representation in media can be incredibly powerful, especially for groups that have rarely seen themselves represented.
After all, as gamers, we want to play games that have characters that resonate with us, that we can identify with. Unfortunately, the main protagonists in video games are often white and they’re often male which is likely the result of a traditionally white male-dominated game dev workforce. The flip side of this is that any characters of color risk being portrayed stereotypes in games.
The ability to escape into a new world is one of the greatest benefits of gaming. For many people, that escape can be harder to achieve when none of the characters in the games they play resemble them in any way. Taking steps to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion are included can help to improve the overall quality of a game. Accepting and promoting EDI throughout design and development can ensure that the game is fair and accessible to all players and creates an environment where game designers can help to prevent issues such as discrimination and bias from arising. This can help to create a more balanced and enjoyable gaming experience for everyone.
What’s more, including characters who are LGBTQ, characters with different cultural backgrounds, characters with disabilities, and many other forms of representation allows people to see themselves in the games they play. That representation not only validates people, it allows them to enjoy the escapism in games that can be easy to take for granted. By ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities to participate and succeed in the game, game designers can help to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity among players. This leads to a more positive and supportive gaming environment, where players feel comfortable expressing themselves and engaging with others.
Below are some examples of how diversity and inclusion are being incorporated into educational games for kids:
Better Character Diversity. Educational games now feature characters from various ethnicities, races, genders, and abilities. This representation helps children see themselves and others better represented in the games, which fosters inclusivity and promotes empathy during the crucial growing up ages.
Customizable Avatars. Many educational games allow kids to create their own avatars, offering a range of options for different appearances, such as skin tone, hairstyle, clothing, and accessories. This customization feature enables children to not only personalize their gaming experience, but also encourages creative self-expression and acceptance of diverse appearances.
Collaborative Gameplay. Most educational games today, especially of the MMORPG kind, not only allow but also promote collaboration among players with diverse backgrounds from around the world. Before the advent of online gaming, this opportunity would have been rare, if not impossible, to do face-to-face. By encouraging teamwork and communication, these games teach children the value of inclusivity and working together towards a common goal no matter who or where you are.
Wider Variety of Language Options. Previously, a majority of video games were only available in English (though many were likely translated from their original Japanese), Nowadays, educational games provide multilingual options, allowing children from different language backgrounds to engage with the content in their native language. This inclusivity helps non-English-speaking children feel that they belong in the general gaming community and also aids in language learning.
More Inclusive Narratives and Storylines. Modern kids games can now include narratives and plotlines that tackle complex social issues such as global conflict, poverty, bullying, discrimination, and the environment. By exploring these topics, children learn about empathy, respect, social responsibility, acceptance, and the importance of inclusivity in society.
Non-stereotypical Roles. An inclusive game manages to avoid reinforcing gender stereotypes by offering characters with a variety of interests and abilities. For example, girls can become scientists or engineers, while boys can engage in activities traditionally associated with girls such as cooking or flower arrangement. Breaking down gender stereotypes both fosters inclusivity and encourages children to pursue their interests freely and without prejudice.
Culturally Diverse Content. Educational games now include content that represents diverse cultures and traditions when previously they tended to be White or Western-centric. This introduction of diverse cultural practices in-game teaches children various global cultural perspectives, practices, and celebrations they otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to, which then promotes open mindedness as well as cultural awareness and appreciation.
Enhanced Accessibility Features. Gaming hasn't always been the most accessible of hobbies, but in order to be more sensitive and inclusive to players with special needs, educational games these days are increasingly being designed with accessibility for people with disabilities in mind. They may incorporate options such as subtitles, colorblind modes, on-screen visualizers, full-screen filters, customizable controls and alternative grip, adjustable difficulty levels, adaptive controllers, or compatibility with assistive devices, ensuring that all children can participate and learn.
Coming a long way from the unfortunate days of “Gamergate,” it is heartening to know how diversity and inclusion are not only being incorporated heavily into kids' educational games, but other game genres as well. As the video game industry continues to learn and evolve from their players’ collective experiences; hopefully, video games will continue to help create more inclusive, diverse, sensitive, and representative content where players can learn values such as acceptance, empathy, and open-mindedness from a very young age.
Featured Games
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