Video games can be fun and give children a big adrenaline rush. Gaming for children involves wins, losses, and competitions, which can enhance their self-confidence. Video games are a source of entertainment and distraction. However, there is a fine line between when it can be a healthy distraction and when it can turn to addiction. A child needs to have a balance between overall screen use and other activities that are essential for healthy and good development.

It is the responsibility of parents to develop healthy gaming habits by choosing good games and deciding when and how long to play. If possible, parents should play games with their children. This could make gaming for children fun as well as enable parents to build a great bond with them.

1. Boundaries

Setting ground rules and reasonable boundaries go a long way in allowing the child to do something that they like. Here’s how to ensure healthy video gaming for children:

• Pick games that are authorized for children only.
• Ensure that an adult is around to help understand the game or solve problems.
• Allow the child to play during certain times of the day like after schoolwork, before dinnertime or on weekends only.
• Switch off notifications so that the child does not feel tempted or pressured to return to the game.

2. Praise

By praising the child when they follow all rules, parents can encourage positive gaming behavior and prevent gaming addiction. This would be healthy and bring about discipline too.

3. Manage gaming choices

As a child gets older, they should be encouraged to take more responsibility for managing their gaming choices. Talking to the child about certain issues is usually effective.

• Explain to the children that playing highly stimulating games just before going to bed would affect their sleep. Ideally, they need to stop at least two hours before bedtime.
• Encourage gaming children to choose games that are suitable for short periods. Access to video games should be given only after daily sports or schoolwork or after completion of any other regular activity.
• Children should be taught to get up and stretch periodically. They cannot be sitting still for a long period. It can cause too much strain to the eye. Sitting in a wrong posture can have many negative effects on the nervous system.
• Children should be made aware when is the right time to take a break. If they are angry, frustrated and start losing games frequently, it indicates they need to take a break.
• Whether the child is old enough to play a game – the child should be encouraged to check the age rating of a game before asking permission to download it.

4. Age appropriate

While gaming, children might get interested in games that are classified for teenagers or adults. So, it is advisable to buy video games rated for their age. It would be great to review or play a new game with the child before they start to play on their own. To ward off any negative influence, parents should also keep track of people with whom their children are gaming.