GAMING TIPS

                          GAMING ADVICE 

These resources will help you to make an informed decision about what games are allowed in your home. Plus, gaming helps kids to develop digital, cooperative and problem solving skills that they will need for future success.

Use Resource Guides

Next, educate yourself with the
age ratings and guides available. For example, you may allow them to play a game, but only connect with an approved list of friends.
Set Parental Controls

The tech industry has responded to concerns for child safety with parental controls and settings virtually across the board. You can also set restrictions for downloading games across the gaming systems and other digital devices like tablets and smartphones.

Play with Your Kids

                    

You are likely going to lose, but… try the game. Use resources like the Electronic Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings guide or Common Sense Media. Take one step at a time, tap in to helpful resources, learn as you go and be present. Video games are an important part of socializing today for kids so part of the draw is the ability to play and to discuss strategies with friends. Following are my top 5 tips for parents to get started.

 Learn what the goals of the game are, how it is played and try to get your child to verbalize the skills needed to succeed. Don’t be judgmental or dismissive about their game playing. Mobile gaming can be a bit trickier as the Age Rating in the iOS and Android App Stores can conflict with the actual intended and appropriate audience suggestion. For both mobile and console games, you need to know what content may be inappropriate but you also need to be aware of any interactive elements of the game such as a players ability to interact with others, sharing of personal or location information and in-app purchases. Most games for Android, iOS, Xbox, PS4 and others have an interactive component. Keep an open mind and try to understand the attraction to the games they like to play. You may not be the most challenging opponent, but you’ve made the effort to understand why they like to play.

You should also note that kids are searching YouTube and apps like Twitch to watch and share videos of popular gamers, high scores, game tricks and strategies. Gaming systems like PS4, Xbox and Wii have customization options for limiting game playing time, approval of online friend requests and which ESRB-rated games are allowed for each user.

Gaming Advice for Parents

Parents concerns about gaming are very similar to the overall ­­­­issues parents have with regard to technology: time spent, interaction with strangers, and inappropriate content. Some of the videos can contain questionable language, so be prepared.
Parenting today’s digitally connected kids can be challenging. Show your child you are interested in what they are playing and you want to understand their interest. So what can parents do to address their concerns? Parents can empower themselves to take the lead in online safety instruction. This means kids can join up with friends (or strangers) to play together. Some of the top games kids are playing include: Fortnite, (a great article on this game by Your Teen for Parents), Rocket League, NBA 2K18, Madden (NFL and Mobile), FIFA, Super Mario Odyssey, Star Wars Battlefront II, Clash of Clans, Trivia Crack, Minecraft and Call of Duty. But you can do it! It’s not unlike parenting itself.

Keep an Open Dialogue

First, I tell parents the most important action they can take is to talk to their kids. It’s best to do some research ahead of time so you are ready to explain to your kids the reasoning behind the game restriction decisions you have made. Ask them about the games they are playing.

He Internet is a parent’s best friend for getting up to date information on safety, tools and gaming features.

Play the game yourself by spending time alongside your child to learn about the game. Remember, the games can be violent, are often highly addictive. Warning signs of a problem are increasing agitation when play time is restricted, becoming more sedentary and less interested in outdoor play, increased isolation, aggression and depression. The NSPCC reported that 1 in 4 youth aged 11-18 have been contacted on Fortnite by someone they don’t know. We advise that younger gamers, under 15, only play with people they know in person and that are parent-approved.

Use suitable screen names (gamertags) - don't use your actual name
Be aware of cyberbullies (griefers)

Never give out personal information about him/herself or that of another player.
Kick out any players that make them feel uncomfortable (ignore/block), and tell a trusted adult.

Report abusive or inappropriate behavior in the reporting area of the game.

Remember that use of games and other technology is a privilege, not a right.

As a parent:

Review games and ratings posted by games and apps before you download or buy games to make sure they are age-appropriate. Limit the players your child can play with to parent-approved players, ie, kids you and your child know. (Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Windows 10 and iOS). Seek professional help if your child exhibits the last three of these behaviors. Gaming developers like Microsoft and Epic often have features on their websites whereby a parent can received updated changes to gaming functions.

Follow Enough Is Enough®’s Rules 'N Tools for online safety.

Talk to your child about coming to you if anyone bullies them, asks them for inappropriate pictures or makes them feel uncomfortable

Keep all software current (security system, operating system) to protect against viruses and spyware.

Balance screen time with live play, outdoor time and face to face interactions.
Keep a close eye on how the game may be affecting your child in a negative way. Be aware your child may hear profanity or other unwanted language via voice chats features.

Have your child check with you before attempting to enter any credit card information. How to Stay Safe

on Gaming Sites

Setting ground rules at home is essential, but remember, your kids can play games from a friend's computer as well as at an Internet café. While there are both safe and dangerous strangers, they are still strangers. Use these opportunities to keep the safety conversation current and ongoing.

Use parental controls for games used by your child. Remember, games can be played on multiple devices (consoles, phones,tablets), so controls need to be set on each device.
Keep your parent password private. (Here's a resource to show you how). Check out the safety features and parental controls offered by all the major gaming consoles including Xbox, Wii, and PlayStation.

TIPS:

Teach your child to:

Use voice chat wisely

Be aware of voice masking technology - while masking can be a safety feature, predators can use it to pretend to be someone they are not.

Beware of strangers. Believe it or not, some parents have their kid set up parental controls which can defeat the purpose.

Here are some basic guidelines for setting parental control tools:

Set time limits. Consider setting controls to require your parent PIN on purchases and to restrict access to games, including free games in the online store via your PIN.

Know who your child is playing with. (Note, your child cannot detect a disquised predator. You can help keep your child’s gaming experiences safe, age-appropriate, friendly, fun, and even educational by educating yourself about the gaming community, game ratings, and how to use the privacy and safety tools built into the games. Remember if you set controls provided by the game itself, you will also need to do the same on the gaming platform used by your child. (2018). To help protect your children at home, talk to them about the dangers of online gaming, be ready to listen if they seem upset about something that happened while they were on the computer, and encourage them to use wisdom when deciding what types of online games to play. Additionally, set and save parental controls provided within the game or gaming app. Gaming can be addictive, so set boundaries for when and how long your child can play.

Filter mature language

Determine if your child is mature enough for voice chat, if not, turn it off. Predators groom many children at a time and are patient with gathering details on the child and accessing their vulnerability for grooming.)

Consider limiting access to web browsing, which is unrestricted Internet access and opens up all of the good and bad on the Internet.

Consider disallowing the webcam use while gaming - instead, consider use of an avatar, especially for under 14+ gamers.

Consider disallowing voice masking technology

Be aware that there are numerous blogs, youtube videos etc that show kids how to disable parental controls.

Keep up with new gaming functions introduced by the game as they often change and can put your child at risk. Kids love to teach parents and will enjoy the interaction.
Build an atmosphere of trust with your child regarding all of his/her online activities. For instance, a game feature was added to Fortnite Battle Royale allowing users to connect with strangers through both text and voice chat. Have regular ongoing conversations with your child about the games they are playing, their gaming experiences (both good and bad), and who they are talking to.