Video games best practices

It can be difficult to know which games are suitable for your child’s age.

Choosing games together ensures that they are appropriate. It’s also an opportunity to see what activities your child is interested in.

You can change the settings on most mobiles, tablets, consoles or computers to add a password before downloading a new application or game.

Having to ask your parents to enter the password can be a good time to look at the game together.

All video games feature the PEGI label to indicate whether the game is suitable for an audience of 3, 7, 12, 16 or 18 years old. Additional information on the back of the games’ case provides insight on the nature of the content.

Playing games together is a great way to chat, share moments and see what interests everyone.

It’s also a chance to introduce your children to the video games you grew up with.

Helping your children discover new games is a great way to share and talk with family and friends.

There are plenty of games for all ages to enjoy together.

Take turns picking a "game of the week"—whether it's a quick, fun challenge or an activity that gets the whole family moving!

As with video games and films, there are also age limits for using mobile apps.

But the age ratings are not the same as for video games for consoles and tablets.

If these ratings are not respected, children may see content that is violent, frightening or inappropriate for their age.

Be sure to take a look at the age rating displayed on an app’s product page.

To find suitable apps, you can use websites that recommend suitable ones for children.

Once downloaded, apps can be stored in a folder for each child. That way, each will have their own apps!

We sometimes think that video games are just for children and teenagers.

But in fact, the average age of a gamer is 39!

There are lots of different types of games on smartphones, tablets and consoles and they can bring children, parents and grandparents together.

Playing games with family and friends is a great way to share moments, have fun and even learn together.

If your loved ones don’t live nearby, you can easily organise online gaming sessions.

It’s important to help younger children make the right choices.

Being there means not only taking an interest in the games they like, but also making sure there are no in-game purchases, helping them manage their time and even playing with them!

You can tell your child which games they can play on their own and which require an adult around.

In addition to the blue light from screens, gaming stimulates emotions, attention or thoughts that keep us awake and can delay our sleep.

To get a good night’s sleep and prevent temptation, it’s wise to turn off screens an hour before bedtime, and avoid having games consoles in the bedroom or tablets freely available.

Encourage screen-based activities before dinner to promote a relaxed night's sleep.

Putting your phone aside before bed helps you avoid spending too much time on it and prevents late-night notifications from disturbing your sleep.

You can also set up a charging station in a corner of the room to keep your phone away while it powers up overnight.

When your child tells you that they can’t stop playing straight away, it’s probably because they haven’t reached the save point.

Forcing them to switch it off in the middle of a game often means losing progress time, and that’s very frustrating!

Determine beforehand how much time they can play and the best times to stop.

If you haven’t decided in advance when the game will end, you can also ask: ‘When can you save?’ or ‘Are you quitting at your next save?’

A limited screen time is not always possible for an animated series or video game. When screen time is up in the middle of a session, it can lead to frustration. Indeed, saying ‘you can watch one episode of your favourite animation’ is more specific and less frustrating than imposing a 30-minute time slot.

The PEGI rating system indicates whether the content of a video game is suitable for a certain age group. It helps identify the possible presence of violence, foul language, frightening scenes or other sensitive content. These guidelines are useful for protecting children from content that could shock or disturb them.

However, the age rating does not take into account the playability of the game. A game rated PEGI 3 may not be scary, but it may be too complex, too fast-paced or require skills that a young child does not yet have. The age, maturity and abilities of the child must therefore always be taken into account.

The PEGI rating system is displayed on all video games to indicate whether the game is suitable for ages 3, 7, 12, 16 or 18. This system is designed to help you choose games that are appropriate for your children's age.

For example, you can discuss and choose games together from those recommended for their age group: this will allow you to learn more about your child's tastes while controlling what they play.

On the back of the games, additional signage with logos specifies the nature of the content: foul language, fear, violence, nudity, etc.

You can explain this signage to children and help them choose programmes that are appropriate for their maturity level.

Each family member has their own personality, sensitivities, and preferences, which shape their choices in movies, video games, and other activities. It is important to respect these differences to avoid creating feelings of shame, embarrassment, or pressure to conform. Everyone should have the space to express themselves freely, without fear of judgment.

You can help everyone discover each other’s worlds.Try taking turns choosing the movie, or ask everyone to write down a suggestion before deciding which one to watch. The same approach can be used with video games: explore a game suggested by a family member together.

And don’t forget, age ratings are there to guide you (“not recommended for children under 10, under 12,” etc.)!