Gaming Basics to Keep Your Children Safe | Alyssa Strickland

Gaming Basics to Keep Your Family Playing Safe and Having Fun

When you’ve beaten Netflix and completed every craft project in the book, there’s only one thing left to keep your family from getting bored: play some video games together! Seriously, video games tend to get a bad rap, but enjoying games as a family can be a fun way to stay connected. You can even play games online with family and friends when getting together is not a safe option. Before you get started, however, you’re going to need a few essentials to keep gaming fulfilling, safe and healthy for everyone.

Some Basic Gaming Tech and Equipment 

If it’s been a while since you’ve played video games, you should know that there are a ton of options when it comes to choosing a console. The Nintendo Switch seems to be one of the more popular choices for families, especially when younger kids are playing, but there are also newer consoles from Sega, Sony and Xbox. In fact, the Sega Genesis Mini is only $50 and will have you reliving some of your favorite childhood memories of Ecco the Dolphin and Toejam. If none of these systems sounds appealing, you can also opt for computer games, but you will want to invest in a quality monitor to help family players easily see what’s going on. There are plenty of budget-friendly monitors that include the high resolution and zero frame design features that will enhance your gaming experience, so don’t think you have to spend a fortune. 

A Safe and Fast Internet Connection 

Keep in mind that with so many frightening things going on in the world, digital security is paramount if your kids will be playing games online. That’s because there can be sketchy characters lurking around multiplayer games, and the internet in general. So if you plan on letting your little ones play online with their friends and family, make sure they are safely connected to the internet. Ideally, you also want a connection to be fast and reliable if you don’t want family game time to be interrupted. Consider upgrading to a fiber-optic connection that will give you the lightning-fast speed you need to avoid buffering and lag times during online play. Of course, an internet upgrade can also come in handy when you want to stream movies, podcasts and TV shows. 

Family and  Kid-Friendly Video Games 

Once you have your console or monitor all set up, your kids are going to be begging to play their favorite games! Some consoles come with one or two games to get your family started, but you should pick up a few extra titles to keep everyone from getting bored. Family-friendly games that are all the rage right now include Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch. You can even use these multiplayer games to stay connected to grandparents and other loved ones who may live far away! If your family needs more relaxation than stimulation, online games like Tetris Effect and Donut County can provide some much-needed soothing. You can also keep your kids learning at home with educational and engaging video games like Minecraft 

Healthy Eating and Fitness Routines 

There are definitely more than a few games that can get your family up off the couch and moving, but you may need to take some additional measures to help your kids stay healthy. So try to schedule in more active outdoor activities for your family. Even playing outside with your kids can count as exercise! If you need to stay inside, there are video games that can keep your family active as well. Just be sure to pair these active moments with a balanced diet, and you should have no problem keeping everyone healthy and happy. Need some help getting the hang of planning healthy family meals? Then you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode of Say It Southern for tips on saving time, money and, of course, calories. 

Gaming truly can be good for your family! As long as safety is a top priority and that you plan other activities to keep everyone moving, family game time can be a great way to bond and have fun together. 

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Sarah Smith