The child lives in the world of online games: which ones are safe and which ones are better banned?

In 2020, eSports was officially recognized as a sport in Ukraine. Championships with million prize funds, thousands of participants, tournaments, cups and a whole world of enthusiastic fans and real stars competing.

Source: freepik

It is probably impossible to protect a child from the topic of video games in the modern world. Therefore, parents should understand this area. So, at what age can a child play online games? How to understand, which of them are harmless, and which are better to ban? Why are video games not only harmful, and is it true that they can also bring benefits? These issues were discussed in the final tenth episode of the podcast "Good parents are not blocked" by #stop_ѕехтинг in cooperation with The Ukrainians Media. The expert of the episode was the coach-methodologist of the public organization #stop_ѕехтинг Vasily Filonenko.

Vasyl Filonenko

Trainer-methodologist of the public organization #stop_sexting

Why do some games have age restrictions?

In games, age restrictions mean that this game will contain content that can injure or cause mental harm to a child. Later it may be a problem for the child. And if the child has a problem, it automatically becomes a big problem for the parents.

I want to share a personal story: as a child, I was a very avid gamer. It got to the point that my parents simply took away the mouse from the house, the wires from the computer, so that I could not play some game. But I found ways to play the game, regardless of whether there were any devices there or not. That is, the child will find a way to play the game in any case. But such situations will have certain consequences for parents: a breach of trust.

Therefore, it is important not to forget about the age restrictions of games. If it is not indicated in the game itself, then you can see it on the Pan-European Game Information website - this is a European rating system for video games, in which there is a classification of the age rating of games in 38 European countries.

Read more:

My child is being followed on the Internet: how to protect?

Read article

How much time can children of different ages safely spend in online games?

One of the trade organizations of the interactive entertainment industry in Great Britain, based on the results of its research, recommends that the game should be part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle: 15-minute breaks, every 45-60 minutes. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that it is necessary to play games for no more than 60 minutes on weekdays, that is, on days when the child has school, and two hours on weekends. Children under 6 years old are recommended not to use or play online games for more than one hour a day.

If the child wants to play some game that everyone is discussing at school, but it does not correspond to the age, what can be done?

Children can also feel pressure from their classmates. You need to talk to the child and explain why this game does not suit him. But the second important point here is to hear the child's point of view, why he wants to play this game. Moreover, you can go to the second level of the discussion and talk to the teacher and parents of the children who encourage your child to download this game.

Source: freepik

What are the risks and dangers in online games?

First of all, these are various types of fraud: manipulation of game currency. The second point: in some games, children can play and communicate with literally anyone around the world. They may encounter profanity, intimidation, aggression, cyberbullying. You can play a multiplayer team game and someone will accuse you of playing poorly. And even there is one case: after one of these games, one of the French players managed to find his opponent, he came to him and stabbed him with a knife.

The main rule is that you need to be yourself online. We must understand that the online world is full of people who pretend not to be who they really are. And research proves that online games are the easiest way for criminals to start communicating with a child. The consequences of uncontrolled online game consumption are obesity, problems with learning, health, posture, and the like.

Read more:

"Mom, don't take pictures": parents' mistakes regarding children's safety on the Internet

Read article

How can a family protect finances or a child's pocket money, because it is often difficult for a child not to buy something in games?

In-game purchases can be disabled when we configure parental controls. On game consoles or in applications, we limit or completely exclude transactions. If the child has his own bank card, then it should be a junior card that does not allow children to make transactions without the knowledge of their parents. And no less important advice - do not tie your financial data to the devices that the child uses.

What terms can gamers, children who play, use so that parents understand at least the basic context of what their child is talking about?

Before talking to a child about an online game, it is important to find as much information as possible about it. One of the terms is "noob". This is a derisive term used to describe new players or those who play poorly. The next term is "loot". This is the process when you defeat your enemy and take away his weapons, ammunition, first aid kits and the like. The term "toxic" is a fairly common one, used to describe a player who exhibits a bad attitude and behavior towards the people with whom he plays the game. The term "sweat rink" means that it is not clear who can win. Further, such a word as "skin" is used to change the appearance of a character or object.

The general conclusion is that there are a lot of terms. I would recommend diving into an Internet search engine and, for example, if a child plays Dota 2, write in the search: "Dota 2 terms" or in English, for example, "Dota 2 definition", or "vocabulary", that is, a dictionary. And a huge number of sites will offer you definitions of approximately these very words so that you understand what this means in general.

Source: freepik

What to do if your child dreams of becoming a cyber sportsman? How to react to this?

In fact, it is a very serious question, because we mentioned at the beginning that huge tournaments, huge prizes, this sport is very actively developing. Consequently, it is important to establish a down-to-earth view of the situation with the child, that this is very difficult work. These are restrictions, fines, discipline, professional consequences for health. Do not be categorical against an enthusiastic child.

What is useful for children in online games?

First of all, this is the development of the child's skills: strategic thinking, creativity, coordination, logic, understanding and, in general, the creation of an idea about the Universe. You won't believe it, but with the help of some online games you can study history. Secondly, it is cooperation and socialization. Many games require cooperation and interaction between players. The next point is economic aspects. Online games provide financial literacy and understanding of resource management. In addition, the online game is a chance to find your own hobby. For example, by building some cubes, a child can understand that he wants to become an architect.

Read more:

A child plays Roblox: is it safe?

Read article

Top tips for parents about online gaming

• Age restrictions. The European video game rating system Pan-European Game Information will help parents with this. Read about the age ratings on their website. Tell the child about the age restrictions and do not forbid ultimatum, but discuss in detail in the conversation if it is still too early for him to play this or that game.
• Time control. Take the data of the American Academy of Pediatrics as a guide: no more than an hour of play on weekdays and up to two hours on weekends. It is necessary to take breaks every 45 minutes of the game.
• Parental controls. Set parental controls on your computer or game console. Limit the possibilities of voice and text chats, set passwords for online accounts and connect the child's account to his e-mail. So you can protect the child without violating his personal boundaries.
• Development of skills. Remember that online games are not only about dashes. This is also the development of the child's skills: strategic thinking, creativity, coordination, logic, understanding, creating an idea about the Universe, cooperation and socialization, financial literacy and a chance to find your own hobby. Therefore, one should not be categorical against an enthusiastic child.

The special project was created based on the podcast "Good parents are not blocked" by the public organization #stop_ѕехтинг. Episode 10 "My child lives in the world of online games", the expert of the episode is a trainer-methodologist of the public organization #stop_ѕехтинг Vasily Filonenko: https: // li.sten.to/gwjpjy88