To help protect your children at home, talk to them about the dangers of online gaming, be ready to listen if they seem upset about something that happened while they were on the computer, and encourage them to use wisdom when deciding what types of online games to play.
You can help keep your child’s gaming experiences safe, age-appropriate, friendly, fun, and even educational by educating yourself about the gaming community, game ratings, and how to use the privacy and safety tools built into the games. Check out the safety features and parental controls offered by all the major gaming consoles.
Teach your child to:
- Beware of strangers. While there are both safe and dangerous strangers, they are still strangers. We advise that younger gamers, under 15, only play with people they know in person and that are parent-approved.
- Use suitable screen names – don’t use your actual name
- Be aware of cyberbullies
- Never give out personal information about him/herself or that of another player.
- Kick out any players that make them feel uncomfortable (ignore/block), and tell a trusted adult.
- Report abusive or inappropriate behaviour in the reporting area of the game.
Build an atmosphere of trust with your child regarding all of his/her online activities. Have regular ongoing conversations with your child about the games they are playing, their gaming experiences (both good and bad), and who they are talking to. Use these opportunities to keep the safety conversation current and ongoing.