Many parents are well aware of the benefits of gaming for their kids. It can encourage their imagination and improve their problem-solving skills. However, there are also gaming dangers, including poor posture and exposure to undesirable ideas. Still, if your child is passionate about games, you should find a balance that still allows them to enjoy games without such exposure, so how can you ensure they are safe while playing games?
Research the Games Before Buying
Although some games will come with hidden themes that you may not discover until it is too late, you can get a good idea of what you will encounter within the game before buying by carrying out detailed research. Game reviews, especially those geared towards protecting children from unwanted ideas, can provide this information, whereas other titles, such as sports games can typically be trusted to be transparent. You may want to trial the game yourself before gifting it to your child, and discussing the content with other parents will enable you to get a clear understanding of what to expect. Not all games are as harmless as solitaire these days.
Set Up Content Locks
If you believe your child is mature enough to use a device without your supervision, you can still make sure they do not download or access any games that are unsuitable for them. Knowing how to set up parental control on their devices, ideally before gifting it to them, will prevent any issues and means your kids can enjoy the wholesome and educational games that will benefit them, rather than causing distress with games that include inappropriate adult themes.
Watch Over Them Yourself
While you may prefer to give your child some freedom while playing games as this can help them become independent, there is nothing wrong with watching over them while they play, especially if you have been unable to check the games beforehand. You can set time limits for their games to prevent them from playing too much, which could affect their other responsibilities. Resources like a cheap VPS also give you and other parents the chance to create age- and value-appropriate space for your kids to play their favorite games without being exposed to foul language from other players on more popular platforms.
Avoid Unauthorized Interactions
Younger children may not understand the ramifications of some interactions while playing, and this can cause them to engage in undesirable behavior, including gambling, as is often the case when obtaining loot boxes to improve their characters. You can avoid these interactions by not handing over any sensitive information, keeping things as anonymous as possible, and therefore avoiding your younger children from making purchases that could have severe financial implications. Furthermore, keeping them away from chat boxes or live microphones and playing music over the game rather than the in-game sound effects can further avoid hearing an untoward dialogue or soundtracks.
Safe Gaming
Protecting your children from the array of problematic games on the market can feel like a constant uphill battle, but with these tips, you can ensure that your game-loving children will remain safe, whether online or playing on their favorite console.