According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), 76% of kids in the US plan to ask their parents or caregivers for new video game this holiday season. As a Digital Parent, you may be concerned about gaming habits becoming an addiction or child sexual predators that target our kids via the games they love.
Savvy Cyber Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable youth, families, and school communities to be empowered by technology. Our focus is on cultivating safe and positive online environments where children can thrive and reap the benefits of technology. Our resources are used by educators in all 50 US States and in 54 countries around the world. One of our lesson plans alone has been used by over 250,000 students.
So how can you keep your gamer safe?
Talk to your kids about their gaming worlds, learn what they love about gaming and play with them! Savvy Cyber Kids’ Parent’s Guide to Gaming and Esports shows you how!
“Parents with children and teens should use this book and all the resources it provides to make sound decisions for the long-term mental and physical health of their families. This book will help spark conversations with your children or teens about healthy gaming choices and opportunities for the whole family.”
– Bubba Gaeddert, Executive Director, Videogames and Esports Foundation (VEF)
The ‘Parent’s Guide to Gaming and Esports’ is a concise, practical guide for parents of kids that game, no matter their age, no matter the platform. The book is about social interaction, and the joy kids feel of collaborating with their peers and reaching the next level. This book provides you with the background you need to understand regarding what your kids are exposed to when they game and the conversation starters you can use to make sure your kids grow up to their fullest potential.
Conversation Starters for Gamer Kids
- What do the adults in your life not understand about gaming?
- How do you decide what games to try?
- Do your friends play this game? Do you play it at the same time as them? Do you play with strangers or online-only friends? Would you play the game if your friends didn’t play it? Do you play it by yourself?
- Are there incentives to play on certain days? Are there incentives to play a certain amount over a certain period?
- Do you spend time thinking about a game while not playing it (planning, researching, discussing)?
- Have you met a new friend through gaming?
Learn More
- https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Parenting-Ages-Ben-Halpert/dp/0982796870
- https://savvycyberkids.org/shop/books-for-adults/
- How a solar Minecraft server is changing the way we play video games
- Big Read: With more immersive computer games, getting hooked shouldn’t be brushed off amid links to deeper mental health issues
- A Million People Play This Video Wargame. So Does the Pentagon. – WSJ
- https://www.thegamer.com/2024-best-year-kid-gaming-first-games/
- https://technical.ly/professional-development/kids-video-games-higher-salaries-esports/
- https://www.parents.com/best-video-game-console-for-kids-8661458
- https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/book-lists-and-recommendations/best-books-video-games-kids.html
- https://gamerant.com/best-book-series-to-get-your-gamer-kid-reading/
- https://lifehacker.com/family/how-to-raise-a-healthy-gamer-according-to-a-psychiatrist
Savvy Cyber Kids educates and empowers digital citizens, from parents and grandparents, to teachers and students. Sign up for our free resources to help you navigate today’s digital world with cyber ethics. See more cyber safety and cyber ethics blogs produced exclusively for EarthLink. Looking for a social media parental control? Try a 30-day free trial of Bark. If you sign up after your trial, Bark donates 25% of your monthly fee to Savvy Cyber Kids.
Thank you to the Savvy Cyber Kid’s sponsors!
Interested in becoming a Savvy Cyber Kids sponsor? Email Ben Halpert.