Welcome to Learningworks for Kids Game Vocabulary for Parents! In this series, we are highlighting some key gamer vocabulary for busy parents and defining the key executive functions that can be strengthened through play. This video will focus on the word SUS. Click below to watch the video and learn more. The transcript is also provided below for your convenience. A special thanks to our videographer J.R. for his work on this awesome video!

Hi and welcome to Learningworks for Kids’s Gaming Vocabulary for Parents. This is a video series where we will be taking some of the most common gaming terms and vocabulary and breaking down their meaning and how these terms can help you understand the executive functioning skills behind your child’s favorite games. Like what you see? Then be sure to visit us at learningworksforkids.com to read our educational blogs, read our game reviews, and learn more about how to create a balanced play diet for your child. 

Today we are going to be talking about the word “sus.” Even for parents who are not familiar with gaming, it is easy to see that this word is shorthand for suspicious. It is used in the game Among Us, where players are trying to determine who in their group is a murderous imposter. Any actions in the game that look less than Legitimate can get you ejected from the ship after everyone gets together in a meeting to call out sus actions. But you might have heard this term bleeding over into your child’s daily speech. If something seems off or not “right” to your child, they might still refer to it as “sus.” 

So what does this term have to do with executive functioning skills? Well, when your child identifies something as “sus,” whether in-game or in real life, they are most likely using their self-awareness and focusing skills. It takes both of these skills to A) Notice odd behavior in the first place and B) Use their knowledge of abnormal behavior to identify something as suspicious. 

So when you tell your child to stop looking for their birthday present and they call you “sus,” appreciate that they may have noticed things about your behavior that you weren’t even aware of! 

So outside of games, what can you do to encourage your child’s focus and self awareness skills? Help them use these abilities to solve mysteries outside of Among Us! Read Choose Your Own Adventure books together, play a game of Clue, or even visit an escape room as a family. The more you reinforce these skills within your child’s play, the more they may carry over into other areas of their everyday life. 

Well, that’s all the time we have for today. If you’d like to watch more videos like this, go ahead and hit the subscribe button. We publish new content every week so you can learn how to set up your child’s play diet. To learn more visit learningworksforkids.com