Intro to Gaming for Parents
Video Games, Gaming Consoles, Parental Controls, etc.
Kids love video games. According to a 2022 JAMA study, 71% of 2-17 year olds in the US play video games (Source: JAMA, 2020).
I personally do not care about video games. And, I’ll admit I was pretty judge-y when my elder tween first uttered the word Minecraft. I was wrong. Turns out they have some benefits!
How you set up the rules matters. Read on for the pros and cons of video games, the most popular consoles, parental controls and some perspective on what you can do to manage gaming in your house. There’s SO much to cover on gaming but for today lets do the basics.
Pros
Yeah so it turns out there are plenty of pro’s
Improved cognitive skills. Some studies have shown they can improve problem-solving, critical thinking, memory, and attention as you work to solve puzzles, navigate mazes, and strategize during battles.
Increased hand-eye coordination and spatial reasoning. Many require good hand-eye coordination to complete tasks which can help in other areas of life like sports and driving.
Enhanced creativity. Some allow for creativity in problem solving or task completion which can be a real confidence builder.
Reduced stress levels. After a long day at school, a video game can be an entertaining way to relax and de-stress.
Increased social skills. Some allow players to interact with other players online. This can help to improve some specific social skills such as communication and teamwork. BUT they can also decrease other social skills and their is the stranger component— more in the next section.
Cons
And of course there are cons, too.
Addiction. Kids (and adults) can become addicted. This can lead to issues with academic performance, social isolation as well as physical and mental health problems. Neurodivergent kids can be particularly susceptible.
Violence. Some games are violent. This can desensitize kids and potentially lead to aggressive behavior.
Obesity. Sitting for long periods of time playing video games and/or not being physically active can contribute to obesity.
Eye strain. Playing for long periods of time can cause eye strain.
Sleep deprivation. Playing late into the night can lead to sleep deprivation.
Decreased Academic Performance. Spending too much time playing may leave kids with too little time to complete homework or study for exams, which can lead to poor grades and low academic achievement.
Decreased Social Skills/Increased Social Isolation. As noted above, social skills are a mixed bag. Less time interacting in person, means less practice learning social cues and facial expressions. Also more time alone, even if by choice can make you feel isolated.
Popular Gaming Consoles for Kids
If you’re planning to buy a gaming console, these are the three most popular ones:
The Xbox- produced by Microsoft and is primarily aimed at older children and teenagers. Popular Games: Minecraft and Halo
The PlayStation- produced by Sony, is also primarily suitable for older children and teens. Popular Games: Spider-Man and God of War
The Nintendo Switch- produced by Nintendo and is suitable for younger children. Popular games: Super Mario and Animal Crossing
Note that many games are available across for different consoles.
Parental Controls
Parental controls for these Gaming Consoles do adequately cover the trifecta of screen time, content and communications.
Xbox parental controls are accessed through a Microsoft account. Parents can set time limits, restrict access to age-inappropriate games, restrict chat and restrict multiplayer access. The console also allows parents to set up a passkey, which can prevent children from making purchases or accessing content without approval.
Instructions: Press the Xbox button to open the guide. Go to System > Settings > Account. Select Family settings > Manage family members. Choose a family member,
PlayStation parental controls are accessed through the console. Parents can set time limits, restrict access to certain games, restrict communication and user generated content. Parents can also set up a passcode to restrict access to content.
Instructions: On your PS4™ console, go to Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management. Select the child account you want to set restrictions for and select a feature to adjust
Nintendo Switch parental controls are accessed through the console or through a smartphone app. Parents can set time limits on game time, restrict access to age-inappropriate content and well as chat.
Instructions: Select “System Settings.” > Select “Parental Controls.” > Select “Use this Console.” > Select “Restriction Level.”
Note that individual games have a content rating. The ESRB RatingSystem designates:
Everyone.
Everyone 10+
Teen. (13 and up)
Mature 17+
Adults Only 18+
My $0.02
If you decide to invest in a console, take the time to set it up and stay on top of it, you may have to adjust as you go! For example we set a time limit on our Switch but since I didn’t download the app, it just sort of dings on the device and the kids ignore it. It doesn’t actually block them from continuing to play! (I’ve since downloaded the app.)
Managing across multiple devices can get complicated fast. At the risk of stating the obvious, a Video Game Console is yet another device to keep track of. I felt like I had a great screen time plan a few weeks ago when I finally got a handle on YouTube and we set a daily screen time across tv and ipad. And then I realized I had completely forgotten about video games! Is it one total limit inclusive of video games? Are video games separate? I’ll admit we’re back to the drawing board a bit here.
What Parents Can Do
Talk to your kids. Find out what they like to play and why.
Set time limits. Either video game specific limit or a total screen limit. Its ok to adjust as needed.
Choose appropriate games. Check the content ratings and decide what’s right for your kid’s age and maturity level.
Play with your kid. It can be a great way to bond and help them learn how to play responsibly. Even if you suck at video games (ahem…) it can give you something new to talk about
Monitor usage. Keep an eye on how much time they are spending playing games and what types of games they are playing.
Consider chat and multiplayer settings. Decide whether you want your kid playing against strangers or chatting with them.
Before I go I have a request, I am trying to grow my Instagram presence, so please consider following me there @digitalmomming. Okay that’s it for this week!
Love,
Sarah