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Tips for Parents When your child plays computer every day
Many young people are fascinated by computer games because they offer fun, virtual adventures and the opportunity to try new roles. Children and adolescents consider PC and video games as their "domain", as an area in which they are the professionals and the knowers, such as the self-control entertainment software (USK). Accordingly, parents should take the enthusiasm seriously. Because limits and prohibitions based on prejudice would quickly lead to children feeling misunderstood and unfairly treated, warns the USK.
Children can try new roles
Computer games are popular and exert a strong fascination on many children and adolescents. "Children can act out while playing, in a role that they can not take in everyday life," explains Felix Falk, Managing Director of the USK, the news agency "dpa". Parents should therefore not prohibit children from playing games in general, but it is important that the children observe certain times.
When kids hang out on the PC every day, many parents are at a loss. Picture: sakkmesterke - fotolia As a guideline, the USK recommends for children under the age of seven about 20 to 30 minutes of play time under supervision during the day. Eight to ten year olds could already play for about 60 minutes, ten to twelve years 75 minutes. If the children are older than 12 years, the standard value of the USK is 90 to 120 minutes of daily playing time. While doing so, parents should make sure that your child also takes short breaks while generally recommending 15 minutes per hour of play. Plays a child longer than agreed, but according to the experts, often put no evil intent or deliberate disregard of agreements behind it. Therefore, it is advisable to give the child assistance in controlling the gaming behavior by noting the agreed end of the season in time.
Watch for symptoms of overuse such as headache or nervousness
In general, the USK advises to watch the kids playing computer games in order to know if they might play too much and the playing time has to be limited accordingly. References to this would e.g. Headache, irritability or the neglect of social contacts and domestic duties. The same applies if the child shows lack of motivation and nervousness, gets worse at school or is only concerned with computer and video games.
In the course of the active examination of the media use of the children, playing together can also help prevent problems in family life or solve them. Because this could help "to understand the fascination of your child's current favorite games, to recognize problematic aspects and to convincingly represent their educational standpoint," says Felix Falk in the foreword by the USK's parenting guide on computer games.
USK plates provide guidance in the selection of games
But which game is suitable for which age? In this question, parents can orient themselves on the USK plate, which can be found on the packaging of the game. This has been enshrined in the Youth Protection Act (JuSchG) since 2003, which is why games without age labeling to children and young people can neither be sold nor presented or presented on screens, the USK continues. The accessible games are divided into five levels of clearance, ranging from a white license plate for "from 0", green for "from 12" to red for "from 18 years".
Parents should have no fear of contact
In addition to the age plate, parents can inform themselves by providing further information on the content relevant to the protection of minors, which plays a role in the respective game or app. As a result, it can be recognized in advance how far the child is affected by playing e.g. with violence, eroticism or discrimination. "In a game that is free from age six, for example, creeping atmosphere or pressure to act can be important criteria," explains Falk. Nevertheless, the expert advises to have no fear of contact with the medium. Because "the discussion, what is appropriate for which age, there was also earlier in the television," he says. (No)