Choosing Computer Games for Children

Kids love video games and computer games, but there are many of these programs on the market that are simply not suitable for children. In order to avoid exposure to potentially inappropriate computer games, parents need to take care in choosing the correct game.

The first things parents need to know when selecting computer games is that not all games aimed at young people are appropriate. Your child might come home from a friend's house having played a game they enjoyed greatly and asking for a copy of their own. But that doesn't mean the game is appropriate.

There is a rating system in place to help parents make decisions. Here is a brief overview:

EC is for Early Childhood and is appropriate for even very small children.

E means Everyone and although it might have a little cartoon violence, it will be Roadrunner style.

E10+ means these games are for ages 10 and up. They contain more cartoon or fantasy violence and might have some mild language as well as mildly suggestive scenes.

T is for Teen and these games are supposed to be good for ages 13 and up. They probably contain violence and language, as well as more suggestive scenes.

Anything over these ratings is certainly not appropriate for children. If you have kids who tend to be sensitive to violence and fear themes, it is highly recommended that you review the games they wish to play before you buy it. Many parents will limit the computer games to ones rated E to limit exposure to unnecessarily violent and rude images.

To get a good idea of what your children will be exposed to, it is a good idea to try the game out before you allow your children to play it. A good way to do this without buying computer games only to find out that they are unsuitable for young eyes is to preview the demo. If you do a search online for computer games, hundreds of sites will come back. Stick to the reputable ones to avoid viruses and Spyware. Yahoo Games and the computer games company websites are the best places to find demos that will not damage your computer.

Demos are limited versions. Usually, they allow you to play a full game, but without save options and you will only have a limited amount of time to play, 45-60 minutes is the norm. That is more than enough time for a parent to see if the game is appropriate for children or not. If not, you don't need to waste your money, and if it is a good game, then you know ahead of time.

Whether you let your kids play games with some violence and risqué behavior is entirely up to you. Every family has different standards and those should be respected by both parents and kids.

It can be a bit of a challenge choosing computer games that not only fit your value system, but that will also entertain your children! However, a bit of research ahead of time ensures that all runs smoothly.