Gaming has certainly evolved over the last decade. Kids don’t use their consoles solely for gaming anymore. An extensive interconnected network of millions of gamers is available for playing any time of the day or night.
You can talk, text, send emails, send pictures, watch streaming movies/television, play games, and more from the access granted through one gaming console. This means that parents have a heightened sense of danger, and must pay closer attention to what their kids are doing.
Make use of the parental controls
Get to know your child’s preferred console. All modern gaming consoles come equipped with the option of parental controls.
Dig into the specific options you have for your child’s platform, and set them to your liking. Here is where you can place a password on purchases from the online game stores, and keep your kids from blowing money without permission.
Stay interested in what your kid is doing on their console
You can’t maintain full control of your child’s gaming until you really know what it’s all about. Educate yourself on the various gaming platforms available, and understand what each machine is capable of doing.
Stay interested in your child’s gaming likes and dislikes. It’s helpful to be able to connect with your kids on this level, especially if gaming is something they really enjoy.
Set time boundaries for your gaming kids
You should never just let your kids play video games for twelve hours straight. It’s not good for their body, and it’s definitely not good for their eyes.
You can experience vision loss from extensive exposure to screen time. Use the parental control settings and your own verbal reinforcement to limit your kid’s screen time. Consider their age and maturity while calculating just how long they can play each day/week.
Have a conversation about cyberbullying
Your first instinct is likely to teach your kids what to do if someone is bullying them, but it’s important to remember that your kid may be the bully. Teach them that it’s bad form to verbally abuse their competitors, no matter the setting.
Gamers can be pretty unforgiving, so keep an open line of communication when it comes to your child’s gaming connections. Some kids may not be responsible enough to use a headset. Others are mature enough to be trusted. Gauge your child before granting them free access.
Maintain control over game choices
Play a game before ever allowing your child to play it. This is the best way to monitor the content your kids are really being exposed to during gameplay. Use your judgment after playing to decide whether or not your child is mature enough to play the game in question.