“I’ll stop right now – really!” Do you know this phrase from your child? Then they must be a big fan of games. Whether on a smartphone, tablet, PC or console, digital games are a popular leisure activity for many children and young people. They enjoy using and developing their gaming skills. At the same time, gaming at home can also lead to conflicts, for example when it comes to the choice of games or media time. We have summarized the most important recommendations for a good approach to games in the family for you.
Immerse yourself in game worlds, simply switch off, learn something new or compete with others – what fascinates your child about gaming? Let your child show you how a game works and what they experience in it. You won’t always be able to share their fascination. Nevertheless, take your child’s enthusiasm seriously. Watch your child play and ask about it. This allows you to recognize whether they can distinguish between reality and fiction, whether they understand the content presented and what challenges they are confronted with. Play together sometimes too!
Not every game that your child knows from friends or that is advertised by streamers is suitable for them. Aspects such as content risks, online interactions and incentives to buy pose particular challenges when it comes to gaming. Therefore, pay attention to the USK age ratings and only allow your child access to games that are appropriate for their age. . Make security settings on devices, in accounts and in the games themselves. An overview of the youth protection settings of various platforms can be found in the NRW player guide and the information service medien-kindersicher.de.
Age labels are not educational recommendations: Therefore, always check suitability based on both the release and your child’s individual stage of development. Educational age recommendations help you to select suitable content. In this article, we present suitable online platforms for educational game ratings. Test out the games and form an opinion on which games are age-appropriate and suitable for your child. If siblings of different ages play together, base your choice on the younger child.
Set media rules together that all family members adhere to. Decide together with your child when they are allowed to play games or agree how much time your child can spend playing games each week. The duration of the game should be based on your assessment and your experience with your child. What doesn’t work at all in gambling is to stop at a certain point. It is better if you agree to stop at the end of a level. All rules should be easy for your child to understand. Keep talking about the media rules and adapt them to your child’s stage of development. Does your child sometimes play games with friends? Then talk to the other parents and come to an agreement about which games can be played there and for how long. You can find more information and tips on game rules on the USK website.
Online games are fun, promote team spirit and communication. However, games and platforms such as Steam, Twitch or Discord also harbor risks such as insults, disinformation and ideological influence. Talk to your child about respectful communication, how to use gaming language and how to check information critically. Explain to your child what data they should protect, how they should deal with strangers and what risks they may encounter online – such as cybergrooming. Encourage them to block annoying accounts and use moderated chats where possible. Use parental control and privacy settings to limit communication to known contacts if necessary. Have regular conversations and pay attention to USK notices such as “contact risks” or “increased communication risks”. Be there for your child as a contact person so that they can get in touch with you at any time if they are unsure.
Don’t forbid your child to play because he or she has messed up, and don’t use play as a reward. Because that only gives it a higher status. Keep an eye on your child’s screen time and intervene if it gets too much. Every child needs times when they can move around and experience things independently of the screen. Support your child in pursuing leisure activities such as sports or music, meeting friends offline and doing things with you and the family.
