Video games: the right habits to adopt
At what age can a child start playing video games?
The earlier a child starts playing video games, the greater the risk of excessive consumption.
Serge Tisseron, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst specialising in relationships with images and new technologies, recommends not giving children their own games consoles. before the age of 6, in order to encourage the development of their motor skills and creativity. Next, it is not a question of banning video games until the age of 18, but rather of ensuring that they remain a source of pleasure rather than conflict or abuse. And there are many educational games designed for younger children, which provide a fun and user-friendly introduction to the world of video games.
In general, it is always preferable to’support your child, and from set rules of use like a limited period of use for example.
Check that the video game is suitable for the child's age.
To ensure that the video game your child wishes to play is age-appropriate, you can refer to the PEGI rating system. This is indicated by a sticker on the game cover that shows the recommended age for the game. However, you remain the sole judge of what you think is appropriate. suitable or unsuitable for your child, particularly his sensitivity and maturity.
You can also check the game content and its potential educational value on the Internet. There are a large number of websites, such as our partner jeuxvideos.com, for example, which offer reviews and opinions on a wide range of games. You will be able to get a clearer idea of the game in question and will therefore be better equipped to make the right decision.
Regardless of age, Proper supervision of this type of leisure activity is preferable to prohibition. Playing games should remain enjoyable and not become a source of conflict.
Choosing the right location for your computer or video game console
The best way to ensure that your child is not playing video games that are unsuitable for their age and that they are sticking to the allocated playing time is to place the computer or games console in a room that is shared by the whole family. This is usually the living room. This allows you to:
- you take an interest in the content of the game and limit the time spent playing it
- to keep your child in the family environment by avoiding isolation in his virtual world
- from get involved in your child's use of the Internet, including the nature of the comments exchanged in chats (insults), virtual contacts that may lead to real-life encounters, commercial solicitations, etc.
- from raise awareness make your child more aware of the potential risks of the internet
Find out about backup options to facilitate compliance with playing times
If arguments break out when you ask your child to turn off the video game, they will most likely argue that they will lose their game, etc. So how can you tell if they are just trying to buy time or if they really risk losing all their efforts by stopping the game immediately?
Firstly, it is important that you and your child agree on daily or weekly playtime before he starts playing. The rules must be clear from the outset.
Next, the e-Enfance website offers detailed information sheets for a wide range of video games. There you will find all the information you need to know whether it is possible to make a backup at any point during the game or if you have to wait until you move from one level to another.
In the latter case, it is best to anticipate that playtime may run over, so that your child can validate the level completion. To make it easier and more enjoyable for both you and your child, one solution may be togive him more playing time once a week, such as two to three hours straight on Sundays, for example.
The right questions to ask to identify excessive video game use in children
Not trivialising children's use of video games also means asking the right questions to detect possible excessive consumption. It is true that it is not always easy to identify whether the situation is normal behaviour for a teenager or whether there is cause for greater concern.
To help you make a preliminary assessment of the situation, American psychologist Mark Griffith has compiled a list of seven key questions.
These questions are merely indicators and cannot be used to make an accurate and definitive diagnosis, but they can give you a clearer picture of your child's behaviour, which may help you decide on the best course of action.
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Bullying, cyberbullying, revenge porn, webcam blackmail, identity theft, gender-based and sexual violence, exposure to violent and pornographic content, etc., and all issues related to usage (video games, parental controls, account settings, overexposure to screens).
