Collaborative post by another author.
What makes certain computer games better or worse for your children to play? It’s a tough question and you may argue this is subjective, but you can also identify a few clear similarities between child-friendly video games. Run from it all you want, but you can’t hide from the fact that gaming is now a significant part of playtime for kids.
It’s also (believe it or not) very beneficial for parents; giving your child a game to play for 30 minutes or an hour can provide you with some much needed alone time. It’s your chance to sit down with a book and a cup of tea for a few moments, or to focus on other tasks without your child needing attention from you.
Taking all of that in, it’s helpful for everyone if you can find the right computer games for your kids, so here’s what to look for:
Pick Games That Develop Key Skills
The best games for children are ones that help them learn and develop skills while they play. It’s called sneak learning; they think they’re just playing a game and having fun, but really, they’re being taught important lessons or learning essential educational skills.
You can immediately throw games like Sudoku into the mix; it teaches your child all about numbers and patterns while helping them solve problems. Chess is another classic example, because again it develops problem-solving skills and encourages lateral thinking. Other computer games may include various titles that are specifically designed to be educational. You find these on a lot of kids' TV network websites, which are excellent because your child plays a game involving characters they love, but they’re also learning to count or spell at the same time.
CBeebies has a great choice of games like this, but you can also look at various other sites across the internet to pick out the best educational games for kids.
Opt For Safe Games With No Threats
It doesn’t require a technical genius to work out that some games are not safe for children. Avoid the more conventional video games that teenagers and adults play, and stay far away from any multiplayer titles.
Multiplayer games are a recipe for disaster because you have no idea who’s on the other side of the game. Your child might be playing with or against anyone of any age, and that’s a worrying thought. Even if they’re playing with other children like them, there’s no telling what someone else might type or say while playing. Your child could see swear words or ask you what certain phrases mean because someone typed them into their game. This opens up a whole can of worms and can lead a young child to hear or learn about some really confusing things.
It’s never worth the risk, so stick to single-player games for optimal safety. You should also keep an eye on some of the game’s features, particularly those involving things like loot boxes. For those who don’t know, loot boxes are highly controversial in video games because they may encourage gambling tendencies in young kids. The feature involves paying for a box (or anything) that unlocks additional things to use in the game. However, there’s no guarantee what you’ll get, so it’s up to chance. Sometimes you trade tokens earned in the games, sometimes real money. Kids become addicted to this game mechanic which isn't healthy, but they are now commonly incorporated into games.
Choose Games Without Built-In Transactions
Building on the previous point, you should aim to avoid any type of game with built-in transactions. Some games don’t adopt the loot box mentality, but they do bombard children with ways to improve their gaming experience. Roblox is a super popular game that’s primarily aimed at kids, yet it has so many micro transactions that encourage children to spend their money (not to mention the chat function and that many of the subgames are not appropriate for children).
Kids can save up their pocket money just to buy “skins” or other things from a computer game. It’s an irresponsible way to spend money, so you’re encouraging bad habits from a young age. Choose games without in app purchasing to avoid this problem.
Educate your kids about money and how to save/spend so they’re smarter when they eventually get old enough to play games with loot boxes or micro transactions. You can’t hide them from these features forever, but you can do your best to ensure they don’t create financial problems or bad habits.
Watch Clips Of Games Before Picking Them
Some games, like Sudoku, chess or solitaire, are quite obviously safe for children. You’ve played them before, and they’re basically classic games that have been transferred to computers, rather than more traditional “video games”. Some computer games will come with loads of features and may even involve storylines and various characters.
How do you know if games like these are suitable for your kids? Well, you can either play them a little bit yourself to test them out or watch clips of them online. It’s almost guaranteed that YouTube will have clips of the game you’re considering, and if it doesn’t, the publisher will normally have clips on their website or via an online games store.
All you need to do is spend a few minutes watching these clips to see if anything is worrying you about the game. It should already tick the previous boxes, so this is your final stage. If you’re unsure and think it might not be 100% appropriate, then don’t let your kid play it. Why risk it when you can easily find child-safe gaming alternatives?
You can’t avoid computer games because in this day and age they are an almost inevitable part of playtime. They can educate your child and teach them new things while giving you a moment of respite. Rather than running for the hills and banning your children from computer games, look for suitable options that won’t cause problems. Find games that encourage educational development, aren’t full of micro-transactions and don’t put your child in harm’s way.
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