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Video game store promotes textbook use
(Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sep. 16--LAYTON -- Video games and good grades do not usually go hand in hand, but a local business is using video games to encourage kids to pick up a textbook along with their game controllers.
Play N Trade, a video game store located at 729 N. King St., Suite 500, rewards students for good grades with the "Games for Grades" promotion.
"For the parents, it's a good thing because video games are something the kids love," said store owner Travis Kinnersley. "Anything that helps parents drive their kids to do better in school is helpful."
The store offers a 10 percent discount on video games for every A students get on their report card.
Kinnersley said that he has had elementary to high school students use the program. Students just have to bring in their report card to get the discount.
"Those who know about it really love it," he said. "Parents can save some money, and kids will get better grades, so it's a win-win situation for everyone involved."
Educators say that video games are not always helpful in their goals with students. However, the idea of any incentive to get kids to work harder at their schoolwork is principal-approved.
"Any perk that helps motivate them to do well in school, seems like it would be a good thing," said Steve Davis, Fairfield Junior High principal. "But I am not sure the discount they are providing would be enough motivation to get an A so they can get $2 off a video game."
Jane Muna, West Point Junior High School principal, said many businesses offer students everything from doughnuts to bowling games for doing well and her school takes advantage of these motivators.
"I think businesses want to reward kids for doing well in school and try to give them an incentive to get their grades up," she said. "Kids love that kind of stuff. If that's what spurs them on to do a little bit better in school, that is great -- as long as the gift is age-appropriate for them."
Jay Tucker, of Layton, has a 9-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter and has used the program for the past year as an incentive for his son. He said it also helps him save money.
"Video games may not be the best for him, but anything that I can do to get him to try harder helps," he said.
Play N Trade is working to extend its "Games for Grades" program into a fundraiser for local schools. In addition to the 10 percent off for students, the store would contribute 10 percent of student purchases to their school.
"Initially when I bought the franchise, I was not a big video gamer myself," Kinnersley said. "I have heard a lot of the stories of how kids are devoting their whole lives to games. Come to find out, it's a way that a lot of families spend time together."
Student can receive up to four 10 percent discounts per semester. Report cards must be presented and in some cases a valid school or other picture ID may be required.
To see more of the Standard-Examiner, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.standard.net.
Copyright (c) 2008, Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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