With the Christmas season fast approaching, video games top many kids' Christmas wish lists. Various games are available on many gaming consoles like Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo or on a personalized computer (PC).
But for parents navigating modern gaming, understanding what's in those games can feel overwhelming.
Jordan Chamblee, staff writer for American Family Association (AFA)'s "The Stand Magazine," commented on American Family Radio (AFR)'s "The Stand Radio" program on the best way to approach buying a video game.
"I think that the rating is really, really good for a surface level at-a-glance view of what to expect from the game. But it's in no way a replacement for your own discernment because what the ratings don't tell you is what the story is about," Chamblee says.
Chamblee explains that video game companies will send their games to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating system, where they will review the content and categorized. If it is rated E, then it is for everyone. As the ratings go up, such as E-10 (10 and up), T (Teen) and Mature (M), the content will get edgier and more for older audiences.
While ESRB rating system offers a solid starting point, Chamblee said today's games also introduce online interactions, microtransactions and user-generated content that ratings alone won't capture.
"If you're looking for games that you want to reinforce positive things for your child, look for games that encourage creativity. Look for games that encourage your child to create something or to use their imagination in some way," Chamblee says.
When it comes to staying actively involved in what kids are playing at home, Chamblee said the best approach isn't suspicion — it's genuine curiosity and spending time playing alongside them.
"I think the best thing to do would be to sit down and play it with them, to pick up the controller and be like, 'Look, I'm not familiar with this, please teach me.' And I can tell you that, right now, just speaking from experience, children love that," Chamblee says.
