Photo by Kinzoo.

Before you agree to let your child start playing online games, what should you consider?

Playing online games can be a wonderful experience because children can play with friends, solve problems, work together, compete, and enjoy games as a group. However, moving from offline to online games also means parents need to learn a few new things.

Start by setting up a child account and entering the child’s actual age rather than having them use an adult account. With a child account, parents generally gain access to extra safety and parental control options.

First, examine the game itself by checking its age rating, the kind of content it has, whether players can communicate with one another, and whether it offers in-game purchases. A game that seems suitable for children might still have open chat, allow interaction with strangers, or include spending options.

It is particularly important to have the right communication settings. With younger children, the first step should be to restrict online communication to people they really know, such as school friends or family. Once the child has gained more experience and shows greater responsibility, you can then gradually allow them to use voice chat and messaging.

Set purchase limits from the start. Many online games offer skins, virtual currency, subscriptions, upgrades, or other digital items. Either establish spending restrictions or get parental approval before making a purchase.

Before joining an online game, children should know a few basic rules: they must not give out their real name, school, address, position, passwords, photos, or any other personal details to anyone they meet while playing. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, asks strange questions, or acts aggressively, block them, report them, and tell a parent.

And in the end, why not try the game from time to time? You needn’t become a gamer, but spending just twenty minutes in it can help you understand what your child is doing, who they are interacting with, and why they enjoy it.

The aim must not be to keep an eye on each of the things your child does online, but rather to provide them with a safe environment in which they can slowly learn to make good decisions for themselves.

Online gaming may form part of a healthy digital childhood, but the best way to get started is usually for an informed parent to take the lead.