Impact of serious games on five-year-old children in preventing psychological violence against older adults

Objective To understand the impact of serious games focused on respectful relationships, targeted at five-year-old children, in preventing psychological violence against older adults. Method This qualitative study was conducted in a municipality in northern Paraná, Brazil, and involved the application of serious games in early childhood education settings, followed by a focus group with the children’s guardians to assess behavioral changes after the intervention. Data analysis was based on a hermeneutic-dialectical approach emphasizing the critical interpretation of contradictions within the data, complemented by thematic content analysis that enabled identification and organization of key emerging themes. Results The findings indicate that the Super Netos game promoted greater awareness of respect and empathy for older adults among children, resulting in positive behavioral changes, strengthened family and intergenerational bonds, and closer relationships with grandparents. Conclusion Serious games proved to be an innovative and effective tool for educating about intergenerational respect, offering a promising model for preventing psychological violence against older adults.