As we rapidly approach that most wonderful time of the year again, parents will once again be pressed with providing their children with the latest and greatest in toys and video games, amongst other things. A slight problem arises though when children's expectations are not on the same page as what their parents deem appropriate.
Even as a long time gamer and parent of three I find it difficult to judge what my children should be exposed too. After all as a child my parents allowed me to play titles such as Metal Gear and Ninja Gaiden on the Nintendo Entertainment System, both of which have iterations on today's consoles that are rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) as M for Mature. The decision on gaming content today are harder than ever. Games today are more complicated, more lifelike, deal with more mature subject matter and require more thought than any game my parents ever bought me as a kid.
So how do you decide if Modern Warfare 2 or Assassin's Creed 2 or Uncharted 2 is right for your child? Well the first key is educating yourself about the games, learn about the ESRB ratings and the content of the game. Gaming sites like the parent focused what they play will help you in getting some essential information and it may even surprise you that some games are not anywhere near as bad as they may seem, while other less suspecting games may be more over the top than anything else on the market.
The second and most important key though is communicating with your child. Talk with them about the games they want and why they want them. Communicating with your child about the games they want will allow you to become more knowledgeable of said games and knowing what you are talking about when discussing a game is a great asset in diffusing any argument that may arise if you decide a game is not appropriate for them.
There are a ton of games to choose from this holiday season, with games appropriate for all tastes and styles but getting the right thing for you child is going to take a little bit of work. But then again, who said parenting was easy?
Comments