Gaming Advice
Tips for parents and carers - in game chat
from Think You Know
Support with GamingThe askaboutgames.com website has information and guidance to support |
The Get Smart About P.L.A.Y campaign provides parents and care-givers with a four-step process to help set parameters around play:
P |
Play with your kids. Discover amazing games and understand what they play and why. |
L |
Learn about family controls for your console. |
A |
Ask what your kids think. Discuss ground rules before setting restrictions. |
Y |
You’re in charge. Set restrictions that work for your family. |
Think You Know
Policing vs Parenting: Get to grips with gaming
With concerns about escalating screen-time, the impact of violence, unexpected costs and interloping strangers it can be tempting to lock down video games to limit their negative impact. While some sensible boundaries are helpful, they are only a short term solution for how we guide children towards gaming health. This is a National Online Safety (NOS) Guide for Parents and Carers (below).
FIFA 20 Online Safety Guide
Age Restriction 3+
In this NOS guide (below), you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as gaming disorder, overspending and scams. You don't need to be the biggest football fan in the world to have heard of FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) - the governing body for football. And, the video game series bearing the organisation's name is one of the most successful ever. The lure of this football series is that official licensing gives your child the opportunity to play games in the role of their favourite players. They can either work through a story mode version of the game or play online in competitions against other players.
Minecraft
Age Restriction 7+
Minecraft is still as popular today as it was when it was first released. The highly addictive block building game has developed a huge following and has millions of monthly active users playing it worldwide across PC, console and mobile platforms. Minecraft is relatively safe generally speaking, however, as per any game, it pays to be mindful about the main features that children may encounter.
Roblox
Age Restriction: 7+
Roblox allows users to create their own gaming experiences using Roblox Studio: building levels and games then allowing other people to play them. Similarly, players can play each other’s creations, either on their own or with other people online. While it’s a tool that can help foster creative thinking, Roblox is also intermittently in the news amid concerns over young users’ safety.
In the National Online Safety guide (below), you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as in-app purchases, online dating and chat functionality.
Fortnite Chapter 3
Age Restriction 12
"Fortnite is one of those rare titles which breaks through from the gaming world to create a wider cultural impact. This success was swiftly monetised, of course, leading to Fortnite action figures, plush toys, branded clothing, stationery, bedspreads and the like. The nature of these products hints at a sizeable proportion of the game’s fans being below the recommended age limit of 12.
So how much of a danger does Fortnite pose to its younger players? For starters, the game is fundamentally about using an array of weaponry to eliminate a stream of enemies. As our #WakeUpWednesday guide outlines, however, on-screen violence is far from the highest concern – with potential issues over in-app purchasing, scams and toxic behaviour from other players.
In the guide [below], you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as scams, in-app purchases and user-controlled content." NoS
Spotlight on: Grand Theft Auto
Age Restriction: 18+
In this National Online Safety Guide (below), you'll find tips on a number of potential risks such as violent content, profane language and playing with strangers. Grand Theft Auto is an action-adventure video game series where players control criminals and wreak havoc in order to complete missions and progress through the game. During the early stages of the game, it solely focused on completing missions to go up a level.