If you are a parent or a caregiver, you might be looking for some safe and fun online games for your kids.
Online games can be a great way for kids to have fun, learn new skills, and socialize with their peers. However, not all online games are suitable or safe for children. Some games may contain inappropriate content, such as violence, profanity, or sexual themes. Some games may also expose kids to cyber bullying, hacking, or scams.
As a parent, you want to protect your kids from these risks and help them enjoy online gaming in a healthy and responsible way. How can you ensure that your kids play games appropriate for their age, interest, and skill level? In this blog post, we will share some tips and resources on how to find safe kid games online.
Tips For Finding Safe Kid Games Online
Ensure that your children are playing games that are appropriate for them. Here are some tips for finding safe kid games online.
Research Game Ratings
One of the best ways to find safe kid games online is to research game ratings. Most online games have a rating system that grades the game’s content and age appropriateness.
Game ratings are usually provided by independent organizations or platforms that evaluate the content and suitability of games for different age groups.
For example, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates games based on factors such as violence, language, sexual content, gambling, and drug use. You can search for games by rating on their website or look for the rating icon on the game packaging or online store.
For example, games rated “E” are suitable for everyone, while games rated “M” are only suitable for mature players. Knowing the game’s rating can help you determine if the game is appropriate for your child.
Check Game Reviews
In addition to researching game ratings, you can also check game reviews. Players usually write reviews and can provide valuable insight into the game’s content and tone. While reviews are often subjective, they can still give you an idea of the game from a player’s perspective.
Review sites like Common Sense Media can be used to get advice and recommendations for appropriate kid games. They provide detailed reviews and ratings for different games. They also provide additional information, such as the game’s content type, age-appropriateness, and overall educational value.
Analyze the Content of the Game
Once you’ve researched the game’s rating and read some reviews, analysing the game’s content is a good idea. Take the time to watch videos or look at screenshots to get an idea of what the game is like. Pay attention to any violence, language, or themes that might not be suitable for your child.
Use parental controls and filters
Another way to find safe kid games online is to use parental controls and filters on your devices and browsers. Parental controls and filters allow you to limit or block certain types of content, websites, apps, or games you don’t want your kids to access.
For example, you can set up a password-protected account for your kids on your computer or tablet and restrict the apps or games they can download or play. You can also use filters on your browser or search engine to block websites that contain adult or harmful content.
Some platforms or services also offer parental controls or filters that you can customize according to your preferences. For example, Google Play has a Family section where you can find family-friendly apps and games and set up parental controls to manage your kids’ purchases and downloads.
Where to Find Safe Kid Games Online
There are a few different avenues to explore when it comes to finding safe kid games online. The first is to use search engines that have the ability to filter out inappropriate content.
Popular search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing, offer parental control settings that can be adjusted to help narrow the search results. Age range, content type, and specific keywords can adjust this.
It’s also possible to explore platforms that are specifically dedicated to kid-friendly games. Many of these platforms have curated lists of games that have been pre-screened according to age or content-level appropriateness.
Some of the more mainstream gaming platforms also offer parental control options. These can limit the type of content available to kids and manage the time they spend playing games online. PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch all have parental control settings that can be adjusted and monitored remotely.
Safe Games for Kids
If you are looking for some specific examples of safe games for kids that you can try with your children, here are some suggestions based on different categories:
- Safe card games: Tic Tac Toe, Hangman, Go Fish, Uno, Memory
- Safe coding games: Code Karts, Lightbot, Tynker JR, Scratch, CodeCombat
- Safe adventure games: Jetpack Man, Low’s Adventure, Super Kid Adventure, Lego Tower
- Safe puzzle games: Happy Glass, Find the Difference Games, Jigsaw Games, Cut the Rope, Monument Valley
- Safe sports games: Downhill Ski, Zig Zag, Street Racing, Mario Kart Tour, NBA Jam
Conclusion
Online gaming can be a wonderful experience for kids if they play safely and responsibly. By following these tips, you can help your kids find safe kid games online and enjoy them with peace of mind.
