Make gaming fun and safe for kids with these expert tips

As warm weather springs and summer holidays beckon, children have more free time. As parents know, when kids aren’t frolicking at the beach or enjoying holiday fun with friends, they often look to screens for enjoyment.

As a host of new video games are set to launch over the next few months, there’s no doubt children’s list of priorities and Christmas wish lists will include video games, which may leave some parents scratching their heads as to how to ensure their kids stay safe and healthy, all while letting them enjoy some fun and relaxing screen time.

After speaking to the gaming experts at Ubisoft, we’ve compiled a list of our top five tips to ensure gaming can be a fun and safe on-screen activity for your kids.

Five tips to make gaming fun and safe

Be there and monitor their play

It’s understandable that when kids are left to their own devices (no pun intended), safety can be placed into question but despite this, gaming is by and large a safe and fun exercise when parents are there to support their children. By placing gaming devices and consoles in a central environment, parents can have better visibility and control over when and what their children play. If this isn’t possible, checking in on them occasionally lets them know you’re there.

If your children seem to run into any tricky situations – a puzzle that feels quite difficult, or perhaps instructions that challenge them – you can be there to guide them, answer their questions and help them through it.

Pick family friendly video game options

There are plenty of games for people to choose from but as a parent, how exactly do you choose games you can trust are right for your children, no matter their age?

Where possible, opt for offline games that are designed for all ages. Family friendly games are as the name suggests – they’re perfect for the whole family. The new Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is an example of a game that is easy enough to pick up for children but offers strategic challenges that will appeal to people of all ages, meaning everyone can join in for some safe, family fun.

See video games as a learning opportunity

Rethink what screen time means and encourage children to instead opt for better screen time activities. Whether it’s working on an online puzzle or overcoming obstacles in a game, screen time can instead be transformed into an opportunity to stretch the mind. What’s more, gaming has even proven to have a number of positive benefits, such as improving motor skills and coordination.

Get involved and ask questions

Getting involved in the fun is the best way to monitor your children’s safety and also have some fun yourself. A great way to do this is to ask about their experiences, what they’ve learnt and any challenges they’ve faced while playing.

Balance is key

When it comes to gaming, there is no perfect duration for a session, although the time per session should not be detrimental to basic needs like eating, sleeping, going to school and socialising. Everything is best in moderation so ensure you allow time for your children to balance a host of activities, helping them to strike the right balance of education, health and, of course, fun.