Supporting your children in a hobby you don’t understand is challenging, especially if the activity carries inherent risks to their health and safety. However, just as watching a football match can teach you the rules and reveal the joy it inspires, researching and participating in gaming will show you how to spot and avoid potential issues and provide valuable opportunities for connection.
1. Understand the gaming landscape
Just as with the world of books, there are several different video game genres.From sandbox games where creativity is king to quests in fantasy worlds, combat operations and traditional puzzles, you’ll find there are many facets to explore. Taking time to understand the types of games available and their typical content will give you insight into which are age-appropriate for your child.
Some games are singleplayer while others are multiplayer, with the latter split into team games, challenges against one another and games played completely independently while remaining ‘interactive’ such as real-time strategy games. Multiplayer games can be played against friends or anyone on the networkdepending on privacy settings.
2. Establish safe gaming practices
Gaming can teach a host of skills including problem solving, teamwork and hand-eye coordination, but as with any activity it comes with challenges too. An excess of screen time can cause problems with sleeping and other more serious mental and physical health issues. There is also risk in online interactions.
Set boundaries that limit screen time: this could include only allowing video gaming between set hours, or negotiating a weekly allowance with the bulk played at the weekend. You should also discuss how to protect yourself in the online world. Explain the meaning of a VPN and how it works to hide data and warn your kid of the potential harmful consequences of sharing private information over the internet such as bullying, identity theft and fraud.
3. Engage with them and play together
Direct engagement with your child’s gaming hobby is a subtle way to monitor the situation. Participating in their games gives you a first-hand understanding of the playing experience so you can be sure of the content, and provides a chance to guide them on safe behaviours when interacting with others online.
Playing together is a recommended way to strengthen the parent-child attachment from birth, and this doesn’t change as they get older. You might find that this once-solo hobby becomes an easy way for you to build and maintain a strong family bond.
4. Stay informed about online safety
Especially in the wake of the advent of AI, the digital landscape is transforming at a rapid rate. As security software becomes more developed, it’s a race against time to stay ahead of ever-clever scams and other digital dangers. Keeping up to date with the latest trends and educating your children accordingly, such as on how to spot phishing attempts, is invaluable in ensuring their safety online.
You should also stay abreast of developments in online safety laws to ensure platforms are compliant with government guidelines and are providing a positive playing experience for children. The UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to do more to protect children’s safety, was passed in 2023 and is set to be fully implemented this year.
