It’s no surprise that 2020 looks very different, with many parents and kids locked in one residence that does triple duty as a home, a school and a workplace. With kids getting more screen time than ever, would stressed parents adopt a “do what you want” attitude?

Parents are taking charge in the home when it comes to video games, screen time, and online communication.

In fact, our survey found just the opposite: Parents are taking charge in the home when it comes to video games, screen time, and online communication. The numbers paint a positive picture of how parents set and enforce household rules in the age of COVID-19 restrictions and beyond.

Our study revealed three key trends surrounding how parents stay in control of their kids’ experiences with video games:

Trend: Families Set and Enforce Household Rules

The overwhelming majority of parents have household rules in place to manage their children’s video game use. As with any other adult-imposed restrictions, these rules can be formal and informal, and enforcement varies from firm to flexible.

Understandably, parents are most concerned about any activity that results in kids spending money. Some games allow players to purchase items using real-world money. And 90% of parents require permission before allowing their kids to make any in-game purchases with real money. While laying down the law is important, so is enforcement, and 74% of parents say there is no flexibility with this rule.

Parents also very much want to be in the know about what specific games their kids are playing. The survey shows that 83% of parents require that their kids get permission before they play any game, and that 62% of parents say there is no flexibility when enforcing this rule.

A large majority of parents (78%) say they have specific screen time rules for their kids. These can take the form of either specific times during the day that kids can play, or a maximum daily limit. Some 84% say that tasks like homework must be completed before kids can play their games. Interestingly, 61% of parents concede that they’re willing to be flexible on the screen-time rule. This could be an acknowledgement by parents that the 2020 lockdown impels them to be less rigid.

83% of parents require that their kids get permission before they play any game.

To reinforce this assumption, according to a recent poll from the First Five Years Fund, parents are allowing their kids to have more screen time as they continue to juggle work and parenting through the pandemic. The poll, also conducted by Hart Research Associates, found that 64% of parents allowed their children to have more screen time than they otherwise would have.

Finally, 77% of parents say their kids need to get their permission to communicate with other players when playing online, and 66% say this rule is not up for discussion.

Nine in 10 parents who use these various rules say that their child always or usually follows each rule, including majorities who say the child always does so. This is a strong endorsement for those parents who have not yet had a meaningful discussion with their child about establishing household rules.

Although it’s clear from the research that most parents trust their children to follow the household rules, many of them use parental controls as a backstop for enforcing their household rules.

Trend: More Parents Are Using Parental Controls

When parents can’t be there, many of them rely on parental controls to help enforce their rules. A combination of good parenting, parental controls, and dialogue between kids and adults give parents peace of mind.

A large majority of parents (82%) say they use parental controls on at least one of their kids’ game devices, including phones and tablets, consoles, and PCs.

Of parents who are aware of parental controls and have kids who play games on consoles:

• 82% (always/frequently) use them to limit or block spending real money on games.
• 76% (always/frequently) use them to block games based on age rating.
• 73% (always/frequently) use them to limit or prevent online communication with other players.
• 72% (always/frequently) use them to set limits on when their child can play or for how long.

Trend: Parents Find All Three Parts of the ESRB Rating System Important

The vast majority of parents across the board say they use ESRB ratings as their first line of defense for determining the appropriateness of a game for their kids and they consider each part of the ESRB rating system to be very important.

• Rating Categories: 84% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”
• Content Descriptors: 87% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”
• Interactive Elements: 81% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”

Of parents who buy physical video games for their kids, 86% are aware of ESRB ratings. Meanwhile, 76% of parents say they check the age rating before buying a game “every time” or “most of the time”.

In a period of uncertainty, it’s comforting to know that parents are on top of managing what their kids play, when and with whom. The majority of parents have shown that a combination of household rules, parental controls, and taking advantage of ESRB ratings help them to ensure their children’s experiences playing video games are both appropriate and fun.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post When it Comes to Kids and Video Games, Parents Remain the “Final Boss” appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

It’s no surprise that 2020 looks very different, with many parents and kids locked in one residence that does triple duty as a home, a school and a workplace. With kids getting more screen time than ever, would stressed parents adopt a “do what you want” attitude?

Parents are taking charge in the home when it comes to video games, screen time, and online communication.

In fact, our survey found just the opposite: Parents are taking charge in the home when it comes to video games, screen time, and online communication. The numbers paint a positive picture of how parents set and enforce household rules in the age of COVID-19 restrictions and beyond.

Our study revealed three key trends surrounding how parents stay in control of their kids’ experiences with video games:

Trend: Families Set and Enforce Household Rules

The overwhelming majority of parents have household rules in place to manage their children’s video game use. As with any other adult-imposed restrictions, these rules can be formal and informal, and enforcement varies from firm to flexible.

Understandably, parents are most concerned about any activity that results in kids spending money. Some games allow players to purchase items using real-world money. And 90% of parents require permission before allowing their kids to make any in-game purchases with real money. While laying down the law is important, so is enforcement, and 74% of parents say there is no flexibility with this rule.

Parents also very much want to be in the know about what specific games their kids are playing. The survey shows that 83% of parents require that their kids get permission before they play any game, and that 62% of parents say there is no flexibility when enforcing this rule.

A large majority of parents (78%) say they have specific screen time rules for their kids. These can take the form of either specific times during the day that kids can play, or a maximum daily limit. Some 84% say that tasks like homework must be completed before kids can play their games. Interestingly, 61% of parents concede that they’re willing to be flexible on the screen-time rule. This could be an acknowledgement by parents that the 2020 lockdown impels them to be less rigid.

83% of parents require that their kids get permission before they play any game.

To reinforce this assumption, according to a recent poll from the First Five Years Fund, parents are allowing their kids to have more screen time as they continue to juggle work and parenting through the pandemic. The poll, also conducted by Hart Research Associates, found that 64% of parents allowed their children to have more screen time than they otherwise would have.

Finally, 77% of parents say their kids need to get their permission to communicate with other players when playing online, and 66% say this rule is not up for discussion.

Nine in 10 parents who use these various rules say that their child always or usually follows each rule, including majorities who say the child always does so. This is a strong endorsement for those parents who have not yet had a meaningful discussion with their child about establishing household rules.

Although it’s clear from the research that most parents trust their children to follow the household rules, many of them use parental controls as a backstop for enforcing their household rules.

Trend: More Parents Are Using Parental Controls

When parents can’t be there, many of them rely on parental controls to help enforce their rules. A combination of good parenting, parental controls, and dialogue between kids and adults give parents peace of mind.

A large majority of parents (82%) say they use parental controls on at least one of their kids’ game devices, including phones and tablets, consoles, and PCs.

Of parents who are aware of parental controls and have kids who play games on consoles:

• 82% (always/frequently) use them to limit or block spending real money on games.
• 76% (always/frequently) use them to block games based on age rating.
• 73% (always/frequently) use them to limit or prevent online communication with other players.
• 72% (always/frequently) use them to set limits on when their child can play or for how long.

Trend: Parents Find All Three Parts of the ESRB Rating System Important

The vast majority of parents across the board say they use ESRB ratings as their first line of defense for determining the appropriateness of a game for their kids and they consider each part of the ESRB rating system to be very important.

• Rating Categories: 84% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”
• Content Descriptors: 87% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”
• Interactive Elements: 81% of parents say they are “extremely” or “very important”

Of parents who buy physical video games for their kids, 86% are aware of ESRB ratings. Meanwhile, 76% of parents say they check the age rating before buying a game “every time” or “most of the time”.

In a period of uncertainty, it’s comforting to know that parents are on top of managing what their kids play, when and with whom. The majority of parents have shown that a combination of household rules, parental controls, and taking advantage of ESRB ratings help them to ensure their children’s experiences playing video games are both appropriate and fun.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post When it Comes to Kids and Video Games, Parents Remain the “Final Boss” appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Exercise is essential for stress reduction, improving mental health, helping to keep quarantined weight off, and improving sleep.

Since exercise is no longer a part of your child’s school curriculum and gyms are closed down, there’s another option already available in your home. It will not only motivate you to keep up your exercise regimen, but also encourage the whole family to join in with you.

Families are finding “gamercising” to be a fun solution to exercise together, all under the guise of playing video games. Gamercising makes exercising more fun and interactive. During the heat of the challenge, you often forget that you’re running, jumping, and golfing in your own family room.

There are a number of different gamercising video games that have come out through the years. Here are some different ideas to help your family get started gamercising as a family.

Dance, Dance, Dance

The most popular dance video game of all-time is Ubisoft’s Just Dance franchise (Everyone to Everyone 10+). First debuting in 2009, Ubisoft has put out a new version every year.

Dance games like Just Dance, Dance Central (Teen 13+), Dance Dance Revolution (Everyone to Everyone 10+), and others help gamers learn new moves to favorite songs by copying the moves of an on-screen dancer in their choreographed routine. Sometimes the dancer(s) look normal, but most of the time they are wearing very imaginative and colorful outfits and sometimes they look like fun animals!

Best yet, using the PlayStation 4 camera/Move, Xbox’s Kinect, or the Wii/Wii U/Nintendo Switch, multiple family members can play at one time, with points being racked up individually for score. Yes, in any good video game there’s always got to be a sense of competition!

Families can choose individual songs, a song set, or even an exercise set to keep players moving. Better have a fan close by, players will get hot.

Dance games can keep you active!

The filmed video takes at the end of the games is so fun to watch and laugh at together, enhancing family gamercising moments.

One other added benefit of these dance games is the opportunity to share each other’s music. Dance games often use multi-generational songs in each year’s release. Dancing them together gives parents and kids a chance to appreciate each other’s musical tastes.

Sports, Anyone?

There is no shortage of sports games available for gamercising. Baseball, football, Olympic games, golf, tennis, table tennis, skiing, skateboarding, rafting, carting…you name it, it’s available. Oh yeah, there’s even darts!

Games like Sports Party (Everyone), Mario Party (Everyone), Sports Champions (Everyone 10+), Wii Sports Club (Everyone 10+), Kinect Sports (Everyone to Everyone 10+), Wii Play (Everyone to Everyone 10+), Steep (Teen 13+), Wipeout (Everyone 10 +) and even Carnival Games (Everyone to Everyone 10+) are all fun games involving a little family fun competition. Sports games are fun for younger kids too, and they will love the cause-and-effect these video games offer.

This is the perfect time to introduce your kids to new sports.

Sports video games offer bursts of exercise, certainly enough to get your heart rate up, dependent upon the game you play. Best yet, they will get everyone off the couch and swing into action.

A Harvard study found that kids who played sports games were more likely to play sports in real life.

This is the perfect time to introduce your kids to new sports, teaching them how to play, what the rules are, and how to improve. They will understand the sport and basic skills now so when they go out and play once school starts up again, they will have more confidence.

One, Two, Three

If you’re looking for a more traditional way to exercise, there are plenty of video games available to help you motivate and train you and your family.

Ninja Warrior (Everyone), Wii Fit U (Everyone), Zumba Fitness (Everyone to Everyone 10+), Your Shape: Fitness Evolved (Everyone to Everyone 10+), Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout (Everyone), EA Sports Active (Everyone), Fitness Boxing (Teen 13+), are just a sampling of video games, new and older, available for fitness training.

The beauty of the gaming console camera systems is that they can see if your positions are correct when conducting certain exercises and poses. It’s like having a personal trainer in your living room.

There are plenty of gamercise games available for all gaming consoles

Although these games are less game-like and more exercise-like, they do keep your stats for you and some even help you keep on schedule. They motivate you by progressing to further levels while tracking your times.

Fitness games like these are more for individuals in families. They are perfect for family members who used to work out in gyms as well as for teens and college student-athletes. Keeping up with routines in these video games will help family members to maintain their stamina until they can return to their previous normal routines.

There are plenty of gamercise games available – from yesteryear to today – for all gaming consoles. You probably already have some in your video game library. To ensure games are  fit for your whole family, be sure to check out esrb.org for age-appropriateness first.

Lori Cunningham is an ESRB Parent Ambassador and lifetime lover of video games. From her endless quests to find the golden egg in Atari’s Adventure to building dreamscapes in Minecraft with her son, Lori shares her video game and technology finds with her readers at Well Connected Mom as its Editor and Founder. Lori also created and runs a maker space for students at a local K-8 school. She can be found on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Facebook.

The post Now is the Time to Gamercise with Your Family! appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

E (Everyone)

In 2018, 42% of all physical and console downloadable games were rated E for Everyone. This means more than 1,160 games in 2018 were (and are) suitable for the whole family!

E10+ (Everyone 10+)

The Everyone 10 + rating was assigned to 19% of the games in 2018. Your 10-year-old was age appropriate for almost 1,690 games last year!

T (Teen)

30% of games were assigned the T for Teen rating in 2018. Combined with E and E10+, 91% of physical and console downloadable games in 2018 are appropriate for your teenager!

M (Mature 17+)

M (Mature 17+) was the least common rating assignment in 2018, with 9%.

But remember, every kid is different and it’s up to you to make the final decisions about which video games are appropriate for your children. After all, you do know them best!

If you find that you need more information about a game, take a look at the rating summary available on ESRB.org and our free rating search app. You can also use our step-by-step parental control guides to make sure you kids’ video game experiences stay age appropriate. Even if you’re not around!

Want to learn more about ESRB ratings? Visit our Ratings Guide, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or Contact Us with more specific questions!

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