You know, I dont have a kid yet (thank god) but when I do I am not gunna just turn him loose on xbox live. God the kid would be eating soap for a week if I did. I remember I was pretty young when I started gaming but before doom, the worst thing was Frogger? running over frogs with cars is the worst thing I could remember. I played wolfenstein 3d and Doom when I was in grade school though but before I was allowed to it was clear I knew the difference between game and reality. I didnt play Doom then run and grab my dad's shotty and go look for pinky demons.
I'll make sure my kid is at the right level of maturity for the content like my Dad did with me before I let him play anything. And we'd play together (that's important). I cant stand the parents that just turn their kid loose on xbox live. I think I only played 1 game where a little kid was talking, and His dad was responding to him in game, because he was playing with him. I want to do that, that's cool.

Ok I'd really strap my kid to a keyboard and make him learn starcraft so he can goto Korea and make dad some money but wifey has a problem with that.

Derigor

@zanzibarlegend:

Hey, that's how it should be done. And Brawl is even better than many of the bloody ones. But be aware...if you keep that line, there will be a day when your child outsmarts you and you'll be just "O.O".

Keep that line. Really...and let him play the more violent games when he's older. ;)

And, IF a parent plays video games (to a certain limit, of course) it's probably just good, as you can do something together with your kids and you also know what games he can play and what not. The game's name & back cover DO NOT tell everything, so an informed parent is a good parent, huh?

Tzibo

This really is a very well thought out article, especially the last point. Most people who are against video games condemn them entirely without considering that they can be good in moderation and when they actually do teach kids certain skills. Prohibition simply doesn't work most of the time, and many people still do not understand that.

n2Depth

@zanzibarlegend: Everything you've said sounds eerily familiar. My son and daughter (4 and 6) even know where to look for the ESRB rating...they know that if it doesn't say 'E', it's probably not even worth asking Dad.

shilmafone

I don't let my girl play violent game, though I don't think she likes them :D

She loves Bomberman Live though (omg! suicide bomber training!),

Hugoku

@Bizdady: You might as well point out that most kids play games these days. Those that don't are gonna be the outcasts, like the kids whose parents wouldn't let them watch TV. >_>

randomnine

Just a few days ago I got into a heated arguement with the ex about our daughter playing ps3 when she was with me. We play hot shots golf together and my kid loves it, but the ex said she didnt want our daughter growing up anti social pathetic looser... I think she was trying to send an insult my way lol I put her in place by letting her know a few facts that gaming can actually help increase problem solving skills, hand eye cordination and that not all gamers are total hermits.

Bizdady

@Gadgetron: Oh don't worry there's plenty of people who do that in the UK as well.

Still, an excellent and positive article on gaming. It's fantastic that parents can turn to stuff like this, and sadly there's nowhere near enough of it.

@zanzibarlegend: Kudos, that is exactly how I think it should be done, and how I was taught as well.

TearsandScreams

I agree, and my parents agreed as well. My older brother and I played numerous NES games and my parents attribute that to helping us with memory and problem solving. As children we both had great memory and still do, we were also both A-B students when it came to math throughout our lives. Oppose this to our parents who aren't big math buffs and my sister who had a disinterest in games and wasn't either.

Could be coincidence, but I don't think it is.

My parents, like the article says, would let us play violent games. Then again, those didn't really come into the spot light until Mortal Kombat. Of course I was also trying very hard to get a copy of Splatter House prior to no avail.

Absent Blue

Snfsnf... It's to late for me then snfsnf! I'm all f***d up with GTA and shooters...sfnsnf. It's not my parent's fault that this didn't came sooner.

DragoManiac

Excellent article Mike. Its a relieve to find some common sense in this bat shit insane world.

AsWater

@zanzibarlegend: You know what, bravo to you. Hell, if more parents thought alongside the same lines as you we would all be better off.

OUberLord

My psychology professor said today that violent videogames don't have any negative psychological effects. This is a good article, though.

InsidiousTuna

@squidboy007:
she looks so tired... must have gamed for like 8+ hours... probably on GTA...

LittlestLamshi

That girl looks like she just blew somebody's head off, haha. thats cool that there's one legit article on this.

squidboy007

Wow, not one games are evil tip. This is a new record!

Blackjack1353

Nice, a report that isn't condemming video games or the use of computers, but showing common sense (although this is forgotten a lot) and an appreciation for the medium.

All in all, a good article, will be passing this on to a few parent friends of mine.

the bishman

@evslin:

It's more likely than you think.

(Well, not really)

Koztah

@AbyssUK: I know. I've been a subject of a report in the Telegraph. It was very, very wrong. Mostly, they suck IMHO.

But this was nice, sensible journalism. Refreshing for a change.

@ShaggE: Yes, oh yes, a thousand times yes. If I hear one more annoying kid on CoD4...

Spoony Bard

i have a 4 yr old who is already a sponge for all things gaming,(the kid was playing new super mario bros on gameboy micro!) he imitates power rangers and ninja turtles, how ever when it comes to games , i call the shots. the only violent game hes played is brawl. and brawl is ok, i mean its cartoony characters so hes pretty calm with that. i restrict him to puzzle and andventure games for the ds, as well as the wii. i have even gone as far as not playing with my ps3 unless he is
a)asleep
b)at school
i mostly play mature rated games like DMC,MGS,etc so i figured,"out of sight, out of mind". i know there will come a day when he wil want to play those games, when i feel he is old enough to discern the world of videoames i will gladly play alongside him to educate him. i didnt have the same guidance but i turned out allright. but i won't take a chance with my son.

zanzibarlegend

Common sense? From the Telegraph! They must have hired a journalist from the Times for the day or something.

AbyssUK

@Spiderbait: People who frequent this site probably are well aware of them. That's probably because many people who frequent this site have common sense and don't have blindly misguided preconceptions about everything like many parents do.

Very cool article though, the guidelines were well thought out and should be distributed with every copy of High School Musical so it'll reach the parents' hands.

NeoAkira

Common sense? On my internets?!

evslin

The same can be said for almost any aspect of your kid's life: know where your kid is, and what they're doing. It's really the only way to be a good parent.

Doomstalk

11. Never allow your child to use headsets. The world will thank you.

But seriously, good article.

ShaggE

that was a decent guide, alas we live in the USA where parents like to use consoles as baby sitters, and will buy a game for a kid no matter what the content is and/or because everyone else is getting it.
10 tips that no real world parent will follow.

Gadgetron

parents - make your kids safe in the world of video games by applying your parenting skills.

GMC

@Spoony Bard: Indeed, I was also thoroughly impressed. Personal Responsibility over scapegoating. It's refreshing to hear it.

mackincheese

Really shows something about the current attitude to gaming when we celebrate hearing an informed opinion. More of these please!

Jekht

Although this is gaming news you would think that those that frequent this site are well aware of these guidelines.

Spiderbait

#1 is by far the most important

TheHun

You're right, Mike. A good article. Really quite a savvy guide.

pylon_trooper

Well, really this is the way it should be. Rather than blaming others, blaming game companies, blaming the media, all we really need to do is BE RESPONSIBLE and BE INVOLVED with our kids. Not just for video games, but for television, music, really everything.

I'm sure Ashcraft and Crecente both do this in their households. It's just common sense.

Spoony Bard

TF2 teaches all three. Long spawn times to build patience, teamwork which improves cooperation, and you get to blow people up!

Dark_Jon

Yeees... parents, avoid it no longer! YOUR CHILD WILL BE ASSIMILATED

rhinestonedarling

sweet, now we can move on to the more *important* discussion which is, when is the earliest possible moment that a child should see the movie Predator?

My opinion? 6 years, 3 months.

deathbunny

Whenever I get kids I'm gonna let them play Settlers. That'll teach them patience for sure :P

Harteex

My head asplode.

I'm currently looking for a link to email the author(s) so that I can verbally fellate them for actually doing proper journalism. Yes, it is unfortunate that we have to be shocked when people do their jobs correctly, but I'm long past lamenting that fact.

Asper

@OUberLord:
@TearsandScreams:
@shilmafone: ha! my when i go to ebgames with my son, he's like "daddy! E for everyone!" he gets happy cause he knows he's walking outa there with a game. :D
@Tzibo:

Thannks Guys [^_^]it is tough being a parent nowadayz, being a parent gamer is even tougher. i hope that i can set an example for current and future parent gamers. games are like other forms of media, we have to be in control about the kids see,hear and play. my wife thinks it is difficult to pull off, but i am very determined.

zanzibarlegend

@GMC: I was thinking the same thing when I read through the article.

The tips are great, but it's obvious with that the parents that need some of these lessons are passive parents. Of course you can't know everything when you have children, but some of these steps have things parents should be doing as parents anyway. For example:

"Pilot schemes in schools have used iPods and Nintendo DSs, so it could be worth talking to teachers about what they're already using in your child's school."

Here it reads that parents just kind of send their kids off to school and are oblivious to what they're learning, which sadly, might be true. You'd think that in the information age, people would like to get information about what should be the most important thing in their lives. Kids don't come with RSS feeds, you gotta actually press them for info as well as be armed with your own.

ForgotMyKeys

Kudos.

StartRunning

exactly.

you dont let your children watch ANY movie. same with games.

joelface

I found out today that my Target (so probably all of them) actually has the register beep and tell the clerk to check for ID if you are buying an M-rated game. The woman turned to look at it and I said, "I'm definitely over 17" and we both kinda LOL and she said a little kid (like 8, by himself) wanted to buy an adult game from her once and she didn't let him.

So if we can just convince the parents not to buy them, we're good.

Evil Tortie's Mom