If It Ain’t Broke…

Don’t fix it. Most parents tell us that screen time is their biggest challenge when it comes to video games and their kids. Fortunately, 86% of parents set at least one parental control setting on their kids’ video game devices, and the most frequently used setting is to manage screen time. This doesn’t have to change just because it’s the summer.

If you want, most of these rules and settings can stay in place. That means video games (or all screens!) are off during “school hours” when you may want your kids to be engaged in other activities like camp, playing outside, going swimming, riding their bike, reading a book and/or hanging out with friends, and you can keep any time parameters established by your family’s household rules and/or parental controls during the evening.

Start a Conversation

The best way to re-engage managing screen time for your kids is to start (or continue) an ongoing conversation around video games. Before even discussing parameters and limits, invite your kids to tell you what they love about games, which ones are their favorites, and why. This accomplishes two things:

1. It shows your kids that you respect their favorite hobby. You’re not looking to take something away. Rather, you’re trying to understand how they benefit from games and make it part of their life in a way that makes sense. There are so many positive elements kids can take away from playing games, and it’ll be helpful for you to understand which ones your kids enjoy most.
2. It gives you the opportunity to explain why there need to be screen time limits. Video games are fun and offer a lot beyond entertainment value. But – like all things – games should be part of an environment that also includes education, family time, in-person play, and more.

In terms of benefits, you may hear several from your kids and it’s helpful to have some background. One of our previous blogs, written by Dr. Rachel Kowert, highlights that kids who play video games can see enhanced creativity and happiness, as well as a reduction in depression and anxiety. There’s also a lot of “unintentional” learning, meaning new information and skills, that can occur simply by playing a game.

86% of parents set at least one parental control setting on their kids’ video game devices.

Social connection is another huge benefit for kids that play video games. A recent survey from Pew Research found that 72% of teens who play video games (aged 13-17) do so specifically to spend time with others, including with members of their family near or far.

This conversation will allow you to gain a holistic understanding of your kids’ video game experiences and reach a more mutually agreeable set of rules for the summer. Of course, you may want to preserve some wiggle room; after all, your kids deserve some downtime during their break from school to enjoy their favorite pastimes. Ultimately, it’s up to you as a parent to determine what works best for your family.

If you’re looking for some tips to help you set or modify your household rules, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

Backing Up Your Rules

Household rules may not be made to be broken, but it happens sometimes… doesn’t it? Parents have told us that they trust their children to follow household rules, but it never hurts to have a little backup. This is where parental controls come into play.

Virtually every device that can play video games offers parental controls settings. This includes the ability to manage when your kids can play, and for how long. Some devices – like the Nintendo Switch – even has the option for you to set a schedule time parameters for every day of the week though the mobile app.

Same games, like Fortnite and Roblox even have in-game parental controls to add another layer of management.

If you have screen time controls activated your kids will receive an on-screen alert when game time is running low. This will let them know that it’s time to save their game, say goodbye to friends, and prepare to sign off. Some devices allow kids to ask for some more time. The request often goes directly to your mobile device or email – which you can accept or deny remotely. Once time is up the console or device will power down and remain unplayable until the next block of scheduled time.

In addition to setting screen time schedules, you can set parental controls to block games based on the ESRB-assigned age rating, manage online communication with other players, and limit (or block!) the amount of money your kids can spend on new games or in-game purchases. Visit PrentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides that can walk you through the setup process. And remember, all of these are password or PIN protected, so make sure this is something your kids can’t guess!

Staying Involved

No matter what your household rules are, the best thing you can do to manage your kids’ video game experiences is to stay involved. Keeping the lines of communication open and honest is a great way to stay on top of your kids’ changing tastes in games and what they’re getting out of them. It doesn’t need to be a daily check in, but it can make for some fun dinner conversation as your kids walk you through their newest interactive adventure.

And who knows, maybe they’ll inspire you to join them for a video game session and make it a family activity.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post Managing Screen Time Over Summer Break appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

If It Ain’t Broke…

Don’t fix it. Most parents tell us that screen time is their biggest challenge when it comes to video games and their kids. Fortunately, 86% of parents set at least one parental control setting on their kids’ video game devices, and the most frequently used setting is to manage screen time. This doesn’t have to change just because it’s the summer.

If you want, most of these rules and settings can stay in place. That means video games (or all screens!) are off during “school hours” when you may want your kids to be engaged in other activities like camp, playing outside, going swimming, riding their bike, reading a book and/or hanging out with friends, and you can keep any time parameters established by your family’s household rules and/or parental controls during the evening.

Start a Conversation

The best way to re-engage managing screen time for your kids is to start (or continue) an ongoing conversation around video games. Before even discussing parameters and limits, invite your kids to tell you what they love about games, which ones are their favorites, and why. This accomplishes two things:

1. It shows your kids that you respect their favorite hobby. You’re not looking to take something away. Rather, you’re trying to understand how they benefit from games and make it part of their life in a way that makes sense. There are so many positive elements kids can take away from playing games, and it’ll be helpful for you to understand which ones your kids enjoy most.
2. It gives you the opportunity to explain why there need to be screen time limits. Video games are fun and offer a lot beyond entertainment value. But – like all things – games should be part of an environment that also includes education, family time, in-person play, and more.

In terms of benefits, you may hear several from your kids and it’s helpful to have some background. One of our previous blogs, written by Dr. Rachel Kowert, highlights that kids who play video games can see enhanced creativity and happiness, as well as a reduction in depression and anxiety. There’s also a lot of “unintentional” learning, meaning new information and skills, that can occur simply by playing a game.

86% of parents set at least one parental control setting on their kids’ video game devices.

Social connection is another huge benefit for kids that play video games. A recent survey from Pew Research found that 72% of teens who play video games (aged 13-17) do so specifically to spend time with others, including with members of their family near or far.

This conversation will allow you to gain a holistic understanding of your kids’ video game experiences and reach a more mutually agreeable set of rules for the summer. Of course, you may want to preserve some wiggle room; after all, your kids deserve some downtime during their break from school to enjoy their favorite pastimes. Ultimately, it’s up to you as a parent to determine what works best for your family.

If you’re looking for some tips to help you set or modify your household rules, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

Backing Up Your Rules

Household rules may not be made to be broken, but it happens sometimes… doesn’t it? Parents have told us that they trust their children to follow household rules, but it never hurts to have a little backup. This is where parental controls come into play.

Virtually every device that can play video games offers parental controls settings. This includes the ability to manage when your kids can play, and for how long. Some devices – like the Nintendo Switch – even has the option for you to set a schedule time parameters for every day of the week though the mobile app.

Same games, like Fortnite and Roblox even have in-game parental controls to add another layer of management.

If you have screen time controls activated your kids will receive an on-screen alert when game time is running low. This will let them know that it’s time to save their game, say goodbye to friends, and prepare to sign off. Some devices allow kids to ask for some more time. The request often goes directly to your mobile device or email – which you can accept or deny remotely. Once time is up the console or device will power down and remain unplayable until the next block of scheduled time.

In addition to setting screen time schedules, you can set parental controls to block games based on the ESRB-assigned age rating, manage online communication with other players, and limit (or block!) the amount of money your kids can spend on new games or in-game purchases. Visit PrentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides that can walk you through the setup process. And remember, all of these are password or PIN protected, so make sure this is something your kids can’t guess!

Staying Involved

No matter what your household rules are, the best thing you can do to manage your kids’ video game experiences is to stay involved. Keeping the lines of communication open and honest is a great way to stay on top of your kids’ changing tastes in games and what they’re getting out of them. It doesn’t need to be a daily check in, but it can make for some fun dinner conversation as your kids walk you through their newest interactive adventure.

And who knows, maybe they’ll inspire you to join them for a video game session and make it a family activity.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post Managing Screen Time Over Summer Break appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Establish Household Rules

Household rules can be a powerful tool not only when managing screen time, but appropriate content, online communications, and more. Call a family meeting where you can start an ongoing, judgement-free conversation around video games to get the ball rolling.

This kind of open-ended conversation will help you better understand why your kids play games and what they like about their favorites. Meanwhile, it’s a good opportunity to set screen time expectations for the whole family (including you!). By giving everyone a chance to chime in on screen time rules, you are showing your children that you respect what they’re doing, but boundaries are necessary, too.

Remember: It’s crucially important for you to model that behavior and follow some of the screen time rules as well. Unlike your kids, you probably don’t need to finish homework before checking your phone, but no screens at the dinner table can apply to the whole family.

Set Parental Controls as a Backup

Nintendo Switch

Virtually every device capable of playing video games has parental controls, including PCs, smartphones, tablets, and video game consoles. These controls can help you manage what your kids play, with whom, whether they can spend money, and (you guessed it) when they can play video games and for how long.

Controls vary depending upon the device, but every single one offers the ability to set screen time limits, which you can use to reinforce your established household rules. For some devices you can even set a full weekly schedule dictating when your kids are permitted to play and for how long. This means that you can have strict timeframes during the school week and allow more time on weekends if you’d like. When your kids near the time limit the device will let them know so they can finish their online match or save their game. But once the timer is done the device will automatically shut down.

In most cases you can change these settings remotely via a companion app or website. This includes the ability to extend your kids gameplay if a game of Fortnite is going long, or cut it a little early if something comes up.

Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides.

Stay Flexible

Video games can include a lot of variables, so it’s helpful to understand the “rhythm” of the games your kids are playing and why they may be asking for “five more minutes.”

Many single player games will automatically save progress as you play, others will require that the player head to a dedicated save point. Sometimes these save points are few and far between and there are few things more frustrating than losing hours of progress because you couldn’t make it to a save point in time. Meanwhile, if your kids are in the middle of an online game, turning it off before a match is complete can have a number of negative effects, from disappointing friends and teammates, to (in some cases) in-game punishments.

PlayStation 5

Sometimes “five more minutes” can turn into 10, and it can seem arbitrary, but allowing those five minutes shows respect for your kids’ hobby and social connections. Furthermore, it shows that you understand why it’s important to reach a logical stopping point. Of course, part of managing screen time is understanding if the third call for “five more minutes” is a bit of a stretch.

Assess and Reassess

Windows and Xbox

Rules and flexibility go a long way, but you’ll want to regularly revisit your screen time rules and parental controls as your kids mature. Some rules – like no phones at the dinner table – can work forever, but you may one day find that your kids need a little more leeway. Maybe your kids are coordinating on a school project via Discord, or catching up with a friend in their Minecraft world. Of course, you may also see areas to periodically clamp down to make sure schoolwork, extracurriculars, and other responsibilities are taken care of.

This is all part of staying involved with your kids’ video game experiences. Managing screen time is just one aspect of this, but it can lead to some great conversations and it may even inspire you to pick up the controller for a fun family game night.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Managing Screen Time appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Like soccer, FIFA games are easy to play, but difficult to master. It’s notable that many top professional soccer players are avid FIFA players. But what do parents like you need to know about the games? Read on to find out!

What is FIFA 23?

FIFA 23 is a soccer simulation game, the latest in a long-running series, developed and published by Electronic Arts. In FIFA 23 the player can pass, cross, shoot, tackle, and dribble using simple joypad button presses, while working to master more complex tricks and tactical maneuvers. FIFA games are excellent simulations of the physics of soccer, while also giving players a sense of soccer’s passion and grandeur. The stadia, TV commentary, and the details of player’s faces and goal celebrations are all rendered in highly sophisticated detail.

Career mode allows players to live the dream of a career as a professional player or club coach. Ultimate Team challenges players to build a team made up of their favorite players, including legends from the past. Pro Clubs and Volta online modes let the player join up with real world friends and play as an individual soccer player in 11-v-11 games, or with smaller teams in street matches.

What’s New in FIFA 23?

Every year, publisher Electronic Arts seeks to improve its latest FIFA game with new features and tweaks, as well as including all the latest player statistics and trends from the real world of soccer. FIFA 23 is no exception, offering a host of updates and new features.

Over the next year we’re being treated to the men’s World Cup in Qatar, and the women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Both tournaments will be represented in FIFA 23 (these modes won’t be available at launch, but will be added for free later) allowing players to take part in soccer’s biggest competitions.

Source: EA

For the first time, women’s club soccer is also available to play. The English and French leagues are included at launch, with more to follow, as well as international teams. They’ve also added the fictional soccer club from Apple TV’s Ted Lasso as a playable team.

All in all, FIFA 23 features more than 19,000 players, 700 teams, 100 stadiums, 30 leagues, and other elite competitions.

Is FIFA 23 Appropriate for Children?

FIFA 23 is rated E for Everyone, meaning that the content is generally suitable for all ages, with Interactive Elements including Users Interact and In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items).

FIFA 23 is out on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Google Stadia. Gamers who own different gaming devices (in the same generation) can play one another in online modes. This means players on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia, and PlayStation 5 will be able to enjoy cross-play compatibility. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners of FIFA 23 will also be able to play together.

How Much Does FIFA 23 Cost?

FIFA 23 costs $69.99 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and $59.99 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. FIFA 23: Legacy Edition costs $39.99 on the Nintendo Switch. That said, it does include the ability to make additional purchases in the FIFA Ultimate Team mode.

Ultimate Team allows players to build a team made up of their favorite professionals. Your kids can “hire” professional soccer players by purchasing random packs (which also include various boosts). It’s important to note that none of this is mandatory; players can earn these packs by playing the game. Winning matches and completing challenges earns in-game currency that your kids can then spend. They can also buy in-game currency using real money, and many players do just this as they seek to perfect their team. Players can also be bought and sold individually (for in-game currency) on an in-game market, using in-game currency.

Make sure you discuss household rules around digital purchases with your kids, and set parental controls to manage spending as a backup!

Playing FIFA 23 Online

While FIFA 23 is rated E for Everyone, it is a good idea to monitor online play.

Most players just want to have a good time and connect via a shared love of soccer and/or video games. But of course, some players may not have a “good time” in the same way. Make sure your kids know that they can always come to you if they encounter anyone behaving poorly. From there, you can work as a team to figure out what to do. And remember that you can block, mute, and/or report players that are behaving inappropriately.

Furthermore, you can set parental controls to proactively manage who your kids are allowed to play with. Some parents may want to limit their kids’ interactions to known friends and family, while others may be OK with allowing their kids to play with strangers. Ultimately, all devices have parental controls options to manage online play.

It’s also worth noting that online play does not require chat, and many players of all ages prefer to play with chat disabled. Online modes can also be switched off entirely, allowing the player to engage with FIFA 23 in a single-player environment.

Parental Controls in FIFA 23

In addition to console parental controls, FIFA games include a system called Playtime, that allows parents to monitor and restrict the amount of time or money players are spending on the game. This means you can allow your children to play online for a set amount of time, or stipulate the amount of money they can spend on the game, even if that amount is zero.

Online play does not require chat!

As always, understanding the games your children are playing is key to making sure they have appropriate experiences. Checking the ratings, researching online, or even by watching your children play for a while is not only a great way to stay informed, but also nurtures a judgment-free environment around something they love! Who knows, you may even want to pick up the controller with them.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.

The post What Parents Need to Know About FIFA 23 appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Read on for more key trends from our most recent survey with parents, conducted by Hart Research Associates in June 2022.

Trend: More Parents Are Playing Games to Help Decide Appropriateness

Parents are making time to play a video game to help them decide if it is appropriate for their children; in fact, playing a game to determine age appropriateness is second only to checking the ESRB rating information.

Parents and caregivers are getting into the game more than ever. Most say ESRB ratings are still a “very helpful” method for determining the appropriateness of a game. This year, we’re also seeing more and more parents jump in as player 1 to help them decide about appropriate video games. Of course, as the survey confirms, parents are also taking advantage of other resources and strategies, including getting information from other parents, considering the genre of a game, and conducting internet research.

Trend: All Three Parts of the ESRB Ratings Continue to Be Very Important to Parents

Parental awareness and use of ESRB-assigned age and content ratings remains high. Parents say that all three parts of the rating system continue to be very valuable when deciding whether a video game is appropriate for their children. 

Parents continue to show a high level of awareness and use of the ESRB ratings. In fact, 84% say they are aware of the age ratings, while 74% say they check them before buying a game “every time” or “most of the time.”

A large majority of parents also find that all three parts of the rating system are “extremely” or “very” important when making decisions about appropriate video games for their family.

Trend: Parents and Caregivers are the Primary Decision-Makers When it Comes to Video Games

Parents and caregivers remain active in the decision-making process around appropriate video games. The survey revealed that parents make the decisions about which games and apps are permitted in the home.

Parents are in the driver’s seat when making decisions about which video games are permitted in the home. 78% of parents say they make all or most of the decisions about which games their kids can play and which apps they download. Some parents (17%) opt for a hybrid approach, working with their children to make these decisions. Only 5% of parents say their kids are allowed to make all or most of the decisions about what they play and download.

Trend: Parents Trust their Kids While Leveraging Parental Controls as Back-Up

Parents generally trust their children to follow the household rules. That said, many parents still enable parental controls to ensure that there are guardrails in place for their children around what they play, with whom, for how long, and whether they can spend money on new games and/or in-game purchases.

A large majority of parents (80%) say they use at least one parental control setting on one or more of their kids’ game devices (including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices) in the home. For parents who use parental controls on a video game console the highest proportion say they do so to limit or block purchases using real money. This is followed by limiting screen time, blocking games based on the ESRB-assigned age rating, and managing online communications with other players.

Trend: Parents Are Involved!

We often say that the best way for parents and caregivers to manage their kids’ video game play is to stay involved. From conducting pre-purchase research to setting parental controls, nurturing an open-ended, judgement-free conversation around appropriate video games is a surefire way to make sure you’re never in the dark about what (with whom and how much) your kids play. The good news is that this year’s survey illustrates that parents largely take advantage of the many tools and resources available and are actively engaged in managing their children’s video game experiences.  Parents being parents!

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post Parents Press Start to Help Pick Appropriate Video Games appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

1. There’s No “Right Way” to Manage Video Games

You don’t have to stress about finding the “perfect” balance of video game time for your kids. Every family’s needs are different – and not all video game time is created equal. Instead of setting inflexible limits on your kids’ video game time, webinar panelist Andy Robertson, author of Taming Gaming, said it’s all about understanding your children’s love of video games and helping guide them toward healthy gaming habits.

Believe it or not, a great way to do this is by playing games with your kids! Sharing video game time will give you insight into the content, skill level, and context of the games your kids are playing – as well as providing invaluable family bonding time. This is a great opportunity to model a healthy relationship with video games and screen time.

“I know how I parent in other areas, so how am I going to be able to do this with video games? I think it’s quite helpful just to create some space and take a step back to figure it out,” said Andy Robinson, author of Taming Gaming. “A big part of that was developing habits, conditions, and rituals [during family video game time] around how we play games together. I think that sets in action an ongoing relationship with video games that continues to evolve.” Andy finished by saying that parents should “find a way to play together, but be confident in your own values” as a parent.

While it’s great to add something fun to your never-ending parent to-do list, you don’t need to be involved every time your kids pick up a controller. You can also show your interest by participating at a level that works for you, whether this means sitting in the same room while they play and asking the occasional question, or making it a topic of conversation during family meals. Keep the lines of communication open and chances are good you’ll learn more about why your kids love games, and have some fun along the way!

2. Check the Ratings

Picking appropriate games for your kids can feel daunting, but there are tools to help make it easier. The ESRB rating system provides information to help parents choose appropriate games for every player in the family. Ratings have three parts:

• Rating Categories suggest age appropriateness.
• Content Descriptors indicate the type of content that likely factored into the age rating assigned.
• Interactive Elements highlight online features that don’t influence ratings but are important to know about, such as in-game purchases and user interaction.

“Find a way to play together, but be confident in your own values.”

When asked about what other tools parents could use to make sure kids have the best possible experience online (even when they’re not around), ESRB President Patricia Vance responded by explaining the importance of having some basic household rules about video games.  She encouraged parents to start the conversation early, agree on a few ground rules, keep the door open for ongoing conversations and be prepared to adjust those rules as time goes on. Acknowledging that, parents can’t be around all the time, she referred parents to ParentalTools.org which provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up parental controls to help manage what kids can play, with whom, for how long and whether they can spend money on in-game purchases.

In addition to parental controls, parents should be aware of other in-game measures they can take to create a positive experience for their kids. When it comes to multiplayer online games, Patricia Vance recommends that parents review a game’s “community guidelines” with their child, which detail the rules of the road for players and also provides a “teachable moment.” She also wanted parents to know about in-game features that allow children to “block, mute and report other players that make them feel uncomfortable.”

Learn more about the ESRB rating system here.

3. Video Games are Good for Your Kids!

Although often overlooked, it turns out that when kids play video games they’re not just exercising their thumbs – they’re exercising their brains! In her book A Parent’s Guide to Video Games, webinar panelist Dr. Rachel Kowert discusses the many benefits of playing video games, including effects on:

• Cognitive development: Video games foster improved goal setting, initiative taking, persistence, strategic thinking, and more.
• Physical and mental health: Playing video games can help improve attention and reduce impulsivity, while developing imagination and empathy skills. Games that incorporate movement, or “exergames,” promote physical fitness.
• Social development: Video games today are increasingly social, with 77% of players reporting playing with other either online or in person according to ESA’s 2021 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry. In fact, 74% of parents say they play games with their kids weekly! No matter how you play together, connecting through video games can enhance communication and teamwork.
• Positive learning: When kids play video games, they’re picking up a variety of skills and knowledge without even realizing it! This can include leadership, time management, problem solving, content knowledge (such as history or urban planning), and other skills that have direct offline applications.

“Games bring a lot to the table,” says Dr. Rachel Kowert, Research director at Take This. “Games are valuable tools for learning because they are fun… because they balance the challenge of the game with the skill of the player. In psychology we call that a ‘state of flow.’” Dr. Kowert goes on to explain that games can teach kids, “problem solving, multi-tasking, and creativity.” She adds that a lot of this is unintentional, meaning that a child can play a game about farming, and accidentally learn important skills about resource and time management.

Dr. Kowert adds that there are a “range of social benefits” to video games that have become an “integral part of social lives” for many – kids included. She adds that video games can not only help reinforce existing friendships, but create new ones. Dr. Kowert finished by saying, “What brings us together more than saving the world?”

4. Keep the Conversation Going and Stay Flexible

Panelists agreed that replacing enforcement with involvement in your kids’ video game time isn’t a one-and-done affair, and the household rules should reflect that. They advised parents to treat video games like any other activity your kid might engage in and include it in your everyday conversations about your kids’ interests. Ask them about the games they love and they’ll likely have plenty to say!

“Games are valuable tools for learning because they are fun.”

During the webinar, Patricia Vance drives home the importance of combining the ongoing video game conversation with flexibility around household rules. For example, she explains that most parents are rigid regarding rules about in-game purchases, but far more flexible around screen time. Nurturing an open conversation about video games makes it easier for you to stay flexible, and easier for your children to understand the “why” behind the household rules.

5. Take Advantage of Additional Resources

After listening to the panelists, it’s clear that parents are not in this alone! In addition to ESRB ratings, there are many useful tools parents can use to help their kids have positive video game experiences. Check out:

• ParentalTools.org, with step-by-step parental control guides to help you manage your kids’ video game time when you’re not around. You can set parental controls to help you manage what your kids can play based on the ESRB rating information, when (and for how long), with whom, and whether they can spend any money on in-game purchases.
• Family Video Game Database, created by panelist Andy Robertson, provides in-depth descriptions of video game content and features. This includes information on accessibility so you can make sure everyone can join in the fun, regardless of disability or other special needs.
• The webinar also recommended the following resources for additional information:
  • Takethis.org
  • Internetmatters.org
  • Mediasmarts.ca

This is just a taste of what our expert panelists discussed during the free webinar for parents, Harnessing the Positive Power of Video Games. To learn more about how you can make the most out of video games in your home, check out the video recording of the webinar.

The post Top 5 Webinar Highlights: Harnessing the Positive Power of Video Games appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

The latest survey results indicate several key trends.

Trend: ESRB Ratings Continue to Be Very Important to Parents

Awareness and use of ESRB ratings remain high among parents, and all three parts of the rating system continue to be very, if not extremely, important to more than three-quarters of parents when deciding whether a game is appropriate for their children. 

Parents continue to use ESRB ratings as a first step to picking appropriate games. This has been relatively consistent from year-to-year, exemplifying ESRB-assigned age and content ratings are core to many parents’ decision-making process. Among parents who purchase physical games for their children, 84% say they are aware of the age ratings, while 75% say they use them “every time” or “most of the time”.

While this goes a long way to explaining how caregivers pick appropriate games for everyone in the family, there is more to the story.

Trend: Parents Are Strictest When It Comes to Their Children Making In-Game Purchases or Sharing Personal Information Online

In 2020, we saw that most parents establish and enforce household rules to manage what their kids play, how much money (if any) they can spend on in-game purchases, with whom they can play, and for how long. This trend has continued and expanded into 2021.

As we’ve seen before, parents tend to be most concerned about games that offer the ability to make in-game purchases using real-world money. To manage this, 92% of parents require that their kids get permission before they make any in-game purchase with real money. But what’s a rule with no backup? Parents told us that they strictly enforce this rule, with 74% saying there is “no flexibility”.

In the past year parents have remained aware of the potential pitfalls of sharing personal information with others online. 91% of parents said they have a household rule barring the sharing of any personal information with other players online. Three-quarters of parents say there is “no flexibility” with this measure.

It is also clear that parents are actively engaged in determining the type of  video games they let their children play. The survey revealed that 82% of parents require that their kids get permission before playing any new game, and 58% say there is “no flexibility” when enforcing this rule.

Screen time has always been a key part of household rules. In fact, 79% of parents say they have rules regarding when (and for how long) their kids can play. Interestingly, flexibility on this rule tends to be significantly more relaxed than other rules about video games. Over the past year with children turning their screen time into school, play dates, and entertainment, it stands to reason that 10% of parents say they are “very flexible” with this rule, 53% are “a little flexible” while 34% cite “no flexibility”. We’ve also seen more parents turning video games into a family activity.

Lastly, 76% of parents require that their children get permission before communicating with others online via chat, text, or video. According to the survey, 65% of parents say there is “no flexibility” with this household rule.

Trend: Most Parents Are Familiar with In-Game Safety Features

Parents are not only aware of a game’s online community guidelines, but they are also aware of in-game settings to address encounters with other players behaving inappropriately.

More than 60% of parents say they are familiar with monitoring features in the games their kids play, such as the ability to mute, block, and/or report other players. Many video games also have community guidelines, which are rules governing how players interact online. For example, many community guidelines bar players from engaging in toxic behavior (harassment, hate speech, etc.) and/or cheating. 54% of parents say they are aware of community guidelines.

These in-game features are important for parents to know about, as they provide actionable steps to resolve conflict and avoid other players that behave inappropriately.  Moreover, the survey results show there’s more work to do to better inform parents about these in-game tools.

Trend: Parents are Taking Advantage of Parental Control Apps

By and large, parents trust their children to follow the household rules. That said, the survey also shows that parents take advantage of parental controls to make sure there is back-up when they aren’t around. Traditionally, parents set these controls directly on a console or other game device, but this year the survey reveals that parents are increasingly inclined to take advantage of setting parental controls remotely via a mobile app – provided by the platform.

A large majority of parents (83%) say they set at least one parental control on their kids’ gaming device be it a PC, a mobile phone or tablet, or a console.

In the past, most parents who set controls for game consoles did so directly on their kids’ device. However, parents have increasingly been taking advantage of the convenience of managing their kids’ games through parental control apps provided by the platforms. 45% of parents now set controls through apps (an increase from 31% in 2019) instead of on the game device itself.

Over the past year we have seen video games become a key avenue for communication, familial bonding, and stress relief. With this has come a greater understanding among parents, not only about how their children engage with video games, but why it is such a great resource for camaraderie, education, and fun.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

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It’s no surprise that 2020 looks very different, with many parents and kids locked in one residence that does triple duty as a home, a school and a workplace. With kids getting more screen time than ever, would stressed parents adopt a “do what you want” attitude?

Parents are taking charge in the home when it comes to video games, screen time, and online communication.

In fact, our survey found just the opposite: Parents are taking charge in the home when it comes to video games, screen time, and online communication. The numbers paint a positive picture of how parents set and enforce household rules in the age of COVID-19 restrictions and beyond.

Our study revealed three key trends surrounding how parents stay in control of their kids’ experiences with video games:

Trend: Families Set and Enforce Household Rules

The overwhelming majority of parents have household rules in place to manage their children’s video game use. As with any other adult-imposed restrictions, these rules can be formal and informal, and enforcement varies from firm to flexible.

Understandably, parents are most concerned about any activity that results in kids spending money. Some games allow players to purchase items using real-world money. And 90% of parents require permission before allowing their kids to make any in-game purchases with real money. While laying down the law is important, so is enforcement, and 74% of parents say there is no flexibility with this rule.

Parents also very much want to be in the know about what specific games their kids are playing. The survey shows that 83% of parents require that their kids get permission before they play any game, and that 62% of parents say there is no flexibility when enforcing this rule.

A large majority of parents (78%) say they have specific screen time rules for their kids. These can take the form of either specific times during the day that kids can play, or a maximum daily limit. Some 84% say that tasks like homework must be completed before kids can play their games. Interestingly, 61% of parents concede that they’re willing to be flexible on the screen-time rule. This could be an acknowledgement by parents that the 2020 lockdown impels them to be less rigid.

83% of parents require that their kids get permission before they play any game.

To reinforce this assumption, according to a recent poll from the First Five Years Fund, parents are allowing their kids to have more screen time as they continue to juggle work and parenting through the pandemic. The poll, also conducted by Hart Research Associates, found that 64% of parents allowed their children to have more screen time than they otherwise would have.

Finally, 77% of parents say their kids need to get their permission to communicate with other players when playing online, and 66% say this rule is not up for discussion.

Nine in 10 parents who use these various rules say that their child always or usually follows each rule, including majorities who say the child always does so. This is a strong endorsement for those parents who have not yet had a meaningful discussion with their child about establishing household rules.

Although it’s clear from the research that most parents trust their children to follow the household rules, many of them use parental controls as a backstop for enforcing their household rules.

Trend: More Parents Are Using Parental Controls

When parents can’t be there, many of them rely on parental controls to help enforce their rules. A combination of good parenting, parental controls, and dialogue between kids and adults give parents peace of mind.

A large majority of parents (82%) say they use parental controls on at least one of their kids’ game devices, including phones and tablets, consoles, and PCs.

Of parents who are aware of parental controls and have kids who play games on consoles:

• 82% (always/frequently) use them to limit or block spending real money on games.
• 76% (always/frequently) use them to block games based on age rating.
• 73% (always/frequently) use them to limit or prevent online communication with other players.
• 72% (always/frequently) use them to set limits on when their child can play or for how long.

Trend: Parents Find All Three Parts of the ESRB Rating System Important

The vast majority of parents across the board say they use ESRB ratings as their first line of defense for determining the appropriateness of a game for their kids and they consider each part of the ESRB rating system to be very important.

• Rating Categories: 84% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”
• Content Descriptors: 87% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”
• Interactive Elements: 81% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”

Of parents who buy physical video games for their kids, 86% are aware of ESRB ratings. Meanwhile, 76% of parents say they check the age rating before buying a game “every time” or “most of the time”.

In a period of uncertainty, it’s comforting to know that parents are on top of managing what their kids play, when and with whom. The majority of parents have shown that a combination of household rules, parental controls, and taking advantage of ESRB ratings help them to ensure their children’s experiences playing video games are both appropriate and fun.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

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