How to Educate Kids About Online Gaming Safety

Games have reached the highest level of users nowadays. Kids and adults play different kinds of games, from simple puzzle games to complicated sports and shooting games (what happened to good old Tetris?) 

Because of the possible dangers that our little ones can face in their games, we need to be present and help them.

We can easily educate our children about online gaming safety and security by having open communication and acting out different online scenarios.

Risks of Online Gaming for Kids

Parents can’t stop their kids from playing video games (we play some games too), but we need to inform and educate children about potential risks, which we’ll cover in the following paragraphs.

For example, a lot of games feature violence, blood, aggression, nudity, and such. Experts state that children might develop strange behavior after exposing themselves to this kind of content.

Moreover, children can come across cyberbullies and online predators that can harm our kids mentally and physically.

Studies show that 46% of children have experienced a cyberbully attack. Shortly, we parents must be aware of these risks and keep our children’s online gaming safe and secure.

Tips for Parents to Ensure Online Gaming Safety for Kids

Parenting is the most responsible role we have. Having trustful communication with our kids can contribute to making easy agreements regarding their online gaming safety.

So one of the most important parenting tips that I recommend is to openly talk to your kid about the game. But kids are kids, they won’t tell you everything. So, you can try searching for some reviews on the Internet for your child’s game, or even try the game yourself!

For example, a good page that gives honest reviews about games is Common Sense. Check it out!

Another option is using parental control apps. Some of the best parental control programs, such as mSpy, Norton Family, Panda Dome Family, Qustodio, and Google Family Link will help you guarantee your children’s online gaming safety.

Educating Kids About Online Gaming Safety

If we want our children to have a safe online gaming experience, we must educate them on this matter.

So, in the following paragraphs, we’ll go over the steps you should take as a parent, to make sure your children are safe while gaming online.

Picking the Right Game

Firstly, you should let your children pick the game they want. After the choice is done, review the game together, and decide whether it is suitable for you sweetie.

But don’t forget to let your children state why they should play the game, although most of the time those are just excuses.

Every game has content that’s suitable for different age groups. So, it is important to educate your children to objectively decide whether they should play that game. 

If you don’t allow children to play a certain game, they might throw a tantrum. But don’t worry, children grow up. Be patient and try to politely explain why that game can hurt them and hinder their development (just don’t reveal all the details).

Setting Time Limits

So, you’ve picked a game, and your child starts playing it. Your little pumpkin might forget the time and start playing for hours. That’s why setting limits is so important. 

Experts say that 2 hours of tech daily is more than enough! So, keep track of your children’s screen time.

This can be a tough process to overcome. Kids love playing games, so they surely don’t want to be limited. But, what should be done, must be done. 

The best way to educate children about the importance of limiting screen time is by implementing these healthy habits from a young age, or by using parental control apps.

Educate Children about Possible Risks While Gaming Online

Most games today include other real-life people. So, your child might run into some bullies and predators along the way, as we said earlier.

You must educate children about this matter because cyberbullies and online predators are probably the biggest dangers of online gaming.

So, to guarantee your children’s safety and security while gaming online, you can prepare them on how to handle cyberbullies by acting out similar scenarios at home. But parents must also inform children about the importance of password safety and security.

Circle the Process by Making it a Habit

So, after picking the right game, setting up rules and boundaries, and informing your children about potential dangers, it’s time to let them play and relax.

But in a few days, you’ll notice that your children might try to play more, or download other games. 

That’s why it’s crucial to not only educate your children about only gaming safety and security but to also make sure your children use that knowledge every day, as a habit.

Constant communication, having a trustful relationship, and setting yourself as an example is the key to making healthy online gaming habits.

Gaming Platforms and Their Safety Features

The most widespread gaming platforms are PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. Each of them allows users several safety and security options. 

Firstly, you can easily track your children’s computer (PC) gaming with the help of parental control apps.

And what about the consoles? You can’t use the same parental control app you use on your children’s phones for your Xbox.

But luckily, each console comes with its own privacy settings that include options to block inappropriate users and even set some parental controls regarding screen time and such.

So, don’t worry, every platform has ways to guarantee your children’s online gaming safety and security. You just need to find them in Settings!

Conclusion

We must admit, video games are really fun. But children often get lost in the big world of digital gaming.

We must encourage our children to set healthy gaming habits, ultimately protecting themselves from dangers.

Parents are the ones that should educate kids about online gaming safety and security. After all, children are our precious little gems.

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