article_snippet: Children who spend a lot of time playing video games do better at school, an international study has suggested.
article_snippet: The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said there was strong evidence that playing computer games on handheld consoles like Nintendo DSs and Sony PSPs had 'positive effects on learning'.
article_snippet: It said many games 'incorporate good learning principles' and can 'hone problem-solving skills'.
article_snippet: The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Co-said there was strong evidence that playing computer games had 'positive effects on learning' Girls are more likely to get higher marks at school because teachers like Girls more, an international report has found.
article_snippet: Students who play one-player video games between once a month and almost every day perform better in mathematics, reading, science and problem solving than students who hardly ever play games, the OECD said.
article_snippet: But the evidence shows that playing computer games only helps children at school if children are not competing against other people over the internet.
article_snippet: Boys are much more likely than girls to play computer games – but often get caught up in shoot 'em ups and other online competitions against other players, the study said.
article_snippet: This means that playing on the computer at home helps girls more than boys.
article_snippet: The report said: 'The gender gap in video gaming translates into a performance advantage for girls.'
article_snippet: However, The report also warns that the 'addictive nature of gaming' has The report downsides.
article_snippet: The report said: 'Students who play video games excessively might not be able to focus on Students who play video games work at school, may be less willing to spend time on school work at home, might develop sleep problems, and might be less perseverant if there are no immediate rewards for Students who play video games efforts, like those offered in gaming.'
article_snippet: Today's shock research comes after Boris Johnson claimed video games were helping children become 'nicer, kinder and more well-balanced' than children parents – and was even helping to cut crime.
article_snippet: Students who play one-player video games between once a month and almost every day perform better in mathematics, reading, science and problem solving than students who hardly ever play games .
article_snippet: Boris Johnson has praised video games for making today's teenagers more sociable than today's teenagers parents . '
highlights_snippet: OECD report finds computer games have 'positive effects on learning'
  Many games 'incorporate good learning principles' and 'problem-solving'
  Children who play   almost every day do better at maths and reading .
  
highlights_snippet: But it warns there are downsides to the 'addictive nature of gaming'
  Gaming can cause sleep problems and often stops children exercising .