Video Games for Your Children: How to Choose the Right One

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 9:13 am

If you grew up during a time where your preoccupations as a child were made up of dolls, robots and playing games with other neighborhood kids then it’s easy to get suspicious of modern videogames. After all, the violence and sexual content portrayed in many games today are enough to make parents want to ban all games from their children’s routine.

However, you can’t deny the fact that kids today will want to play videogames. To make sure that they are playing the right type of games, you can play a role in the selection of the videogames they play.

When it comes to choosing a game for your kids, it’s important that you consider their interest. For instance, are they interested in medieval battles or playing sports? Choosing games that cater to your kid’s interest will surely motivate him to play the game.

The ESRB, or Entertainment Software Rating Board, is a body that provides ratings and reviews of almost every videogame that emerges in the market. Check out the your options by limiting them to the titles that are appropriate for your child’s age. However, the rating is not a guarantee that the game will be violence-free since even the mildest games today can contain plenty of blood and gore.

Young boys love to play violent games because these games make them feel a sense of control, power and dominance. Instead, channel this need to more educational and intellectual pursuits. For instance, games that require a lot of strategies and smart thinking can let your child feel good about himself without the violence.

If you are buying the videogame for your young daughter, then make sure you refrain from games that depict female characters in stereotypical and patriarchal ways–such as females who gain favors of men by relying on their appearance.