Gaming, in general, is slowly becoming a part of everyone's daily lives. Whether it's a console or PC game, almost everyone has access to video games, especially younger kids. Video games aren't inherently bad for kids, with some recent studies showing that kids who game more tend to have better cognitive performance than those who never played video games. This doesn't mean that kids should have free-for-all game time, as excessive video game sessions for kids also pose risks of worsening ADHD symptoms.
As of Q1 2024, 20% of gamers in the U.S. consist of kids aged 18 and below. That means at least 1 out of 5 gamers are kids and must be monitored by an adult. If you belong to a household with a strong gaming influence or are a gamer parent, here are 10 great tips for managing your gaming time for younger gamers. After all, gaming is meant to be enjoyed by everybody.
Set Up Parental Controls and Boundaries
Getting that new Mario game or jumping into Pokémon multiplayer is exciting, and kids may look forward to playing video games as soon as possible. Before anything else, make sure you have set up proper parental controls to establish boundaries when gaming. These parental controls allow parents or guardians to monitor game time; some even limit access to consoles and video games should an adult decide to.
Nintendo has an amazing parental control app that lets parents decide which games their kids can play and set game time limits. Almost every gaming platform has parental controls. Steam has Family View, while PlayStation and Xbox have their parental control apps. Gaming on mobile devices can be monitored through iOS and Android parental controls. These resources are readily available, and it's up to parents or guardians to establish these boundaries fully to foster healthy relationships with their kids through video games.
Check Ratings
Video game ratings are quite similar to how toys are labeled for children. Some toys are not advised for kids below 8 years old, while others are best for everyone, regardless of age. Similarly, video games have ratings based on their content type, from language to violence and visuals. More often than not, your young gamers will ask to buy a video game that may be inappropriate for their age. Being knowledgeable on how these ratings work will help you decide which games are the best for your kids, given their current age.
Treat video game ratings like you treat your product ingredients when grocery shopping. Keeping a vigilant eye on which video game products you consume will help encourage kids to have healthy gaming habits.
Alternate Physical Activities Between Gaming Sessions
Gaming sessions can be visually tiring and may cause mental fatigue. It can also be physically straining as kids will have to sit for longer periods when gaming. It is best to establish screen breaks from time to time, and combining these screen breaks with physical activities will help kids stretch out and freshen their minds.
Activities such as jumping jacks or brisk walks around the house will get their blood flowing to those areas that can be fatigued from gaming. Doing a quick round of tag to see who plays next is also one of the best activities you and your young gamer can do. Kids can also snack during these breaks, and encourage drinking lots of water, as gaming can also cause dehydration. Gaming while dehydrated is a no-no and can also affect their gaming performance.
Set Up Proper Equipment
Whether you are an adult or a gamer who is young at heart, it is important to have the right peripherals for your gaming comfort. This also applies to children; having the right sizes for them is as important as playing the right game. Encourage proper posture by setting up their seats at the proper height. Some controllers are best for smaller hands, and some adjustable tables are best for optimal height.
Having the proper lighting is also important. Be sure that they will play games in an adequately lighted room and adjust the screen settings for better brightness and contrast. It's always best to involve your kids during the setup, and this will surely become a good memory for them when they become adults.
Be Wary of Online Purchases
There are tons of parent horror stories online showcasing huge credit card purchases done by kids. Buying Robux or any other in-game currency can deal real-life damage to your bank account, so secure all your payment methods when checking for games to play for your kid.
Always remember to go over the in-app store to see whether you have a linked payment method for that game. Kids are smarter than we think and have so much potential that even making an in-app purchase for the game they love is as easy as learning the alphabet for them. So, set up your parental controls, check your game rating and in-app purchases, and be wary of your payment methods.
Find Out Who They Play With Online
The Internet is a wild place. From hilarious memes to disturbing real-life events, almost every kind of information is accessible to anyone on the Internet. Unfortunately, this meant that the Internet also included shady online personalities and cybercrimes such as fraud and social engineering.
Protecting their children from every form of harm is one of every parent's ultimate goal and responsibility. Knowing who plays with your kid online is one of the best ways to protect them from harm. Online games pose these threats, and while you may not identify who these fellow gamers are, it is best to monitor their interaction with everyone online. These are great teaching opportunities to let your kids know what language should be used and how to immediately report inappropriate online behavior.
Play Together
Like good food and music, good games are catalysts of great parent-child moments and can foster healthy relationships. Playing with them is a great activity for you and your kid, and these games can also act as great conversation starters and encourage kids to express themselves further. Having big feelings is challenging for kids, and being able to help them identify these feelings through certain video game moments will help them grow in-game and outside the game.
Co-op games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Unravel 2 encourage teamwork, while competitive games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe teach the value of winning and losing. It's a win-win situation for parents when they game with their kids. Hey, they may cry a bit when you beat them 7 times in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but at least that'll teach them to "git gud."
Set a Gaming Schedule
Setting up a gaming schedule is important when teaching healthy gaming habits, just like boundaries and parental controls. Gaming can take up a lot of kids' time, and without proper scheduling, they may tend to deprioritize more important tasks such as chores and studying.
Setting up a gaming schedule will go hand in hand with enforcing parental controls. These schedules can be aligned with the game time set in the parental controls. You can also offer some flexibility in the schedule, such as an extra hour of gaming on a weekday when things go well with your kid's overall attitude and studies. Sticking to a schedule will also help them create bigger habits that will help them in adulthood.
Keep Conversations Open
Different kids have different personalities, and with them come different approaches to communication. Being aware of things that interest them encourages communication, and talking about gaming in general can help you strengthen your relationship with your young gamer.
Gaming should be a family activity for younger gamers. Keeping conversations open and encouraging communication while spending time with them while they play will not only help them improve their communication skills but also help them have better emotional health.
Balance It With Other Hobbies
Video games are fun and should be treated like a fun hobby. However, they also require a delicate balance with other activities to help kids have much more holistic growth. Be sure to balance everything out by introducing other outdoor activities and social engagement.
Playing too many video games is detrimental to everyone, not just kids. Little to no game time also lets kids miss out on great cognitive practice they could be doing in the comfort of their homes. Finding the right balance of various activities, including gaming, is perfect for any growing kid.
There are tons of fantastic video games out there, and here's our list of great games for families and friends you should try when playing with your kid. Whether you prefer an action-packed gaming session with Castle Crashers or just a relaxing evening while playing Stardew Valley, stay updated with the latest gaming news and stories by following and subscribing to Gfinity Esports.