A few years ago, Jeff Haynes was at a video game store and witnessed a young boy begging his mom to buy him “Grand Theft Auto.” Haynes quickly approached the woman and advised her that the game — which includes crime, violence, sex and drugs — is definitely not for children.
Haynes knows a lot about video games for kids — he’s the games editor for Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that educates parents on family-friendly entertainment. He rates and reviews many of the most popular titles to see who they are really appropriate for. His first piece of advice when you look for video games for kids: check the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating on the box.
The ESRB assigns games one of six ratings to indicate what ages the content is generally suitable for. According to Scott Steinberg, the author of “The Modern Parent’s Guide to Kids and Video Games,” the ratings are a great place to start, and you should do more research to fully understand why the game has that rating. The ESRB often provides a brief description of what contributed to the rating, such as violence or strong language, and its website provides detailed descriptions of game content.
If you’re searching for a game your child will love, Haynes and Steinberg offer the following tips on what to look for based on your child’s age.
Preschoolers
“For the youngest kids, games that involve basic learning concepts, music or interaction are great,” Steinberg says. A huge portion of games geared toward this age group are specifically meant to be educational, so it’s easy to find excellent options. Games that parents or caregivers can play with the kids are particularly great for preschoolers. Sesame Street: Elmo’s Musical Monsterpiece, for example, teaches preschoolers the basics of making music and allows an adult to take over using a second remote if a child gets stuck.
Games that develop real-world and social skills are also excellent for preschoolers. Haynes recommends Playstation Vita Pets, a pet simulation game that allows kids to adopt, care for and play with a puppy of their choice. “It teaches kids responsible pet ownership, empathy and responsibility,” he says.
For more on video games and education, check out Learning With Video Games.
Grade Schoolers
For kids aged 6 to 8, Steinberg says, “Look for a game with informational content that ties to real-world subjects and teaches them more about the world around them.” Nintendo DS’s The Magic School Bus: Oceans, for instance, includes tons of interactive minigames that teach kids about ocean life.
Haynes points out that there are plenty of games in which the learning component may not be so obvious. If your child is a football fan, for instance, any of the Madden football games can teach her about teamwork, athleticism and how to analyze and react to offensive and defensive plays.
Tweens
Kids aged 9 to 12 are starting to become more competitive. This means they may be ready to start playing multiplayer games, or games where they play against others on the same platform or online. Be sure to monitor their gameplay or set parental controls because these games allow players to interact with one another, meaning older kids will be interacting with younger kids.
Games that allow kids to build things and create their own aspects of the game — such as buildings, characters or even levels — are especially great for this age group. Minecraft and Sid Meier’s Civilization are popular multiplayer games with these features.
“Video games for kids can be a really positive thing,” Haynes says. “They can allow kids to express their creativity and use their imaginations, and they can encourage kids to think in ways they normally would not.” So if a game sparks your child’s interest, has some educational value and has a respectable rating for your child’s age group, go for it!
Jennifer Marino Walters is a Washington, D.C.-based writer specializing in children’s and parenting topics.