I wrote a blog a while back on how I think gaming could be a great way of bringing kids together and keeping them off the streets, especially if its incorporated in an after-school program. Such a program could help bring kids together who would not usually hang out with one another during school hours.  Gaming could very well be that one common interest that would bring them together.

Recently, I got a chance to see it in action. My cousin invited me to help her run a gaming night at P.S. 314. From 6pm to 8pm, we ran a gaming night at the school that she works at. We had two televisions hooked up in a classroom and gamed on Guitar Hero 2 and Dance Dance Revolution. I also brought my Wii as a special “guest console” so that the kids could check it out and see how much fun it is.

This event was a blast! The kids loved Guitar Hero 2 and the other games that were there. Many of them had never played Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution before and learned how to play right then and there.  They loved it! It was awesome seeing them learn to play for the first time and get good at it!

Here are some photos from the event. We plan on doing this again and making it bigger and better!