Video Games for Kids

Video Games for Kids

Contrary to popular belief, your child's brain will not rot if they partake in a video game or two. In fact, video games for kids are designed to be educational, making the process of learning the alphabet, mathematics, logic, reasoning, puzzle solving, and strategizing... fun! Children typically have short attention spans so it is important to help keep their interest, and there are tons of video games out there that teach concentration (look at the image above).

At the same time, you have to be careful which video games you provide your child. Some may not be appropriate while others are perfectly suitable. That's where the ESRB comes into play.

Check the ESRB Rating!

It is unrealistic to rely on the video game industry to solely release titles that are appropriate for all age groups, especially considering that the average video game player is between 25 and 35 years old. This target demographic yearns for more complex offerings, and oftentimes these types of games come with sexual or violent themes. In this way, it is up to the parents to do the parenting and not the video game industry at large.

The single best way to determine whether a particular title is appropriate for your child is to check the ESRB rating printed on the front cover of the game. This rating, much like movie ratings, will indicate whether there is questionable content within. There are currently six levels:

• EC for Early Childhood: Suitable for ages 3 and older. No inappropriate material whatsoever, but also probably not very fun or enjoyable for older children.

• E for Everyone: Suitable for ages 6 and older. The vast majority of games fall into this category. They may contain minimal violence or mild language.

• E10+ for Everyone 10+: Suitable for ages 10 and older. More violence, more language, and the possibility of infrequent blood or suggestive themes.

• T for Teen: Suitable for ages 13 and older. Similar to a movie with a PG-13 rating, these games may have more violence, simulated gambling, sexual content and/or language. Most professional wrestling games, for example, fall under this category.

• M for Mature: Suitable for 17 and older. Parental discretion is highly advised as there may be some rather intense blood and gore. Prototypical examples would include Doom, Quake, and Rainbow Six. Many retailers will not sell M-rated games to minors.

• AO for Adults Only: No explanation needed. These games should not be played by children.

Other Things to Consider

Regardless of which video game system you choose -- even your home computer -- there will be a reasonable selection of titles that will be appropriate for your child. As mentioned above, it is best to check the ESRB rating, but you may also want to look into the specific content descriptors as well, because they will give you insight into why a particular game received a certain rating. These descriptors include animated blood, cartoon violence, crude humor, fantasy violence, partial nudity, some adult assistance may be needed, strong sexual content, and use of tobacco. You'll also notice that certain online computer games come with a disclaimer that reads "Game Experience May Change During Online Play." This is largely due to user-created content and in-game chat.

Examples of Good Video Games for Kids

• Animal Crossing: Wild World (Nintendo DS)
• Ape Escape Academy (PSP)
• ATV Off-Road Fury (PlayStation 2)
• Avatar the Last Airbender (PSP)
• Bionicle Heroes (GameCube)
• Elebits (Nintendo Wii)
• Karaoke Revolution American Idol Bundle (PlayStation 2)
• Lumines II (Sony PSP)
• Lizzie McGuire 3: Homecoming (Game Boy Advance)
• Me & My Katamari (PSP)
• Naruto Ninja Council 2 (Game Boy Advance)
• Pokemon Emerald Version (Game Boy Advance)
• Sonic Mega Collection (GameCube)
• Tetris DS (Nintendo DS)
• Tony Hawks Project 8 (Xbox 360)
• Viva Pinata (Xbox 360)
• Wii Play (Nintendo Wii)