What Experts Say About Ideal Gaming Time For Kids

A Journey Through Gaming Perspectives

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In casual discussions among colleagues, one individual discovered that asking about their peers’ childhood experiences with video games and their parents’ rules on screen time often revealed intriguing perspectives. A notable theme that emerged was the significance of imposing limits on gaming for young children. Without such restrictions, there’s a possibility that these children might mature into outspoken critics of video games rather than merely engaging players.

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It could be indicative of a generational change. Today’s parents appear more willing to set boundaries on their children’s screen time. Interestingly, these same parents are often found participating in gaming sessions themselves, spending hours playing titles like Minecraft or Roblox alongside their kids. This individual frequently mused, “Wouldn’t it be more fun to dive into Borderlands 2 with your dad instead?”

Reflecting on their own childhoods, they couldn’t help but contemplate how their parents managed gaming time. For those who are parents today, how do they strike a balance in this sensitive area?

Morgan Park, a gaming journal staff writer, shares his perspective: “To be honest, my parents didn’t impose many restrictions. While they would naturally insist that I focus on homework before diving into the PS2 for the night, they generally allowed me the freedom to manage my own gaming time. Now that I think about it, if I were to have a child, I’d wrestle with how to handle screen time. Video games today are undeniably more addictive and demanding than they were during my youth, which leads me to consider whether moderation might be the best approach.”

This ongoing dialogue around gaming habits offers a glimpse into how our relationships with video games evolve over generations, shaping not only our experiences but also our perspectives as we navigate the complexities of parenting in a digital age.

Ted Litchfield, Associate Editor at a gaming journal: Growing up as the youngest in my family, I had quite a bit of freedom to explore my interests—at least until my grades began to plummet during my early high school years. At that point, my parents decided it was time for a change and implemented a strict gaming schedule for me: no video games on school nights and only two hours a day on weekends. This was back in the days before smartphones, which meant I had to find ways to engage myself differently. Though we, as game journalists, often advocate for the benefits of gaming, it’s all too easy to lose oneself in it. I truly believe that setting screen time limits for children is essential. Given how young kids are starting to get their hands on tablets these days, it seems like an uphill battle for many parents.

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My own journey has a rather interesting twist, almost like a scene from a Fallout ending slideshow. When my older brother faced similar issues a few years prior, our parents took decisive action by confiscating his PC altogether, effectively derailing his aspirations of making it in the Counter-Strike: Source esports scene. Now, he’s a successful lawyer, which makes me wonder if the lesson here is to be quite drastic in controlling gaming habits unless you want your child to end up in the realm of game journalism.

Imagine a vibrant farm in Stardew Valley, bustling with life. In the centre stands a player character, surrounded by a variety of animals: chickens pecking at the ground, pigs rolling in the mud, sheep grazing peacefully, goats nibbling on grass, and ducks waddling about.

Shaun Prescott, AU Editor: In my household, I’ve established a rule where my kids are allowed to indulge in gaming for about an hour each Saturday and Sunday, though this limit is relaxed during holiday breaks. I’ve opted not to introduce tablets into their lives, and if they do play games, I make sure they’re of high quality—titles like Stardew Valley and Minecraft are favourites—rather than mindless apps filled with distractions. As someone who appreciates gaming, I still maintain that excessive screen time isn’t beneficial for young minds. Even I notice a shift in my mood if I spend more than a couple of hours glued to a screen without taking breaks to step outside or do something active.

Reflecting on my own upbringing, my parents kept a close watch on my screen time when I was little. However, as I transitioned into my teenage years, they loosened the reins, allowing me unrestricted access to the computer. Not that there was much motivation to spend time on it; my ‘90s Pentium lacked an internet connection and offered only a limited selection of shareware games. The allure was minimal at best.

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Chris Livingston, Senior Editor: During my childhood, the allure of pleasant weather and sunny days often drew me outdoors, leaving little room for video gaming at home. Fortunately, I had the freedom to hop on my bike and pedal over to my friends’ houses, where we would immerse ourselves in games for hours on end. It was a blissful escape from the constraints of being indoors. Everything changed with the arrival of our family’s first PC in the late ’80s, which opened up a whole new realm of gaming possibilities right in the comfort of my own home. Interestingly, my parents seemed to perceive console gaming as mere idle television watching—something they frowned upon—while they viewed PC gaming as a constructive use of technology, which was perfectly acceptable.

Lauren Morton, Associate Editor: I can relate to your experience, Chris. My parents had a similar mindset—computer games were viewed as beneficial for learning, whereas console games were dismissed as mere toys. Ironically, I found ways to outsmart them by waking up before school to indulge in The Sims and sneaking in some gameplay before catching the bus. As the eldest sibling, I had to navigate the rules set by my parents, which were sometimes more stringent than those faced by my younger siblings. One significant restriction was that my Game Boy was strictly off-limits inside the house; it was only permitted during car rides. It’s quite a mystery how I managed to complete Pokémon Yellow solely during trips to the grocery store and practices for sports.

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Tyler Wilde, US Editor-in-Chief: Looking back, I realize just how fortunate I was regarding the gaming freedoms I enjoyed as a child, despite my less-than-stellar academic performance and penchant for mischief. It’s comforting to know I’m not alone in this; otherwise, I might feel embarrassed about being so pampered.

I don’t recall ever facing consequences for spending sleepless nights glued to Quake 2 or dedicating an entire summer of my teenage years to EverQuest. Even in my younger days, gaming was a constant presence in my life.

Andy Chalk, News Editor: Reflecting on Chris’s journey, I find myself resonating deeply with his experiences. My parents took a firm stance against having any sort of gaming console in our home; it was simply out of the question. However, they deemed computers to be educational tools, so I was fortunate enough to have one of those instead. Sure, there were games available on it—games that initially piqued my interest—. Still, back in those days before the internet took over and in our small-town setting, gaming wasn’t the cultural phenomenon it is today. Most of my leisure time was spent outdoors, getting into various mischiefs. As a result, my gaming time wasn’t really a concern for my parents; their main worry was about me straining my eyes by sitting too close to the screen or losing my hearing from cranking up the volume on loud rock music. Life felt much simpler then, and looking back, they had a point about rock music!

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Mollie Taylor, Features Producer: Honestly, it’s quite astonishing that I managed to navigate my school years with decent grades, given how lenient my parents were regarding my gaming habits. My mother typically let me be with my beloved PlayStation 2 in the comfort of my room, hardly ever reprimanding me for indulging in my favourite pastime. I do recall moments when my father would discreetly disable the wi-fi router from his bedroom, an attempt to curtail my late-night escapades on whatever social MMO had captured my attention at the time. In retaliation, I often found myself tiptoeing into his room while he slept, trying to re-establish the connection.

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I was definitely that child who would huddle under the covers with my Nintendo DS, softly chatting with my virtual pets from Nintendogs, hastily flipping the device face-down whenever my dad would peek into my room. Aside from ensuring I wasn’t engaged in too many late-night antics, my parents generally granted me a great deal of freedom. The only exception arose when I was feeling unwell. It seems like every gamer can relate to that age-old phrase: “If you’re too sick to go to school, you’re too sick to play video games.” I vividly remember one particular occasion when I was genuinely ill and longed to immerse myself in Final Fantasy 13 on my arcade Xbox 360. To my dismay, I discovered that the hard drive—usually nestled snugly atop the console—had mysteriously vanished and been hidden away somewhere!

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Scott Tanner, a Senior Video Producer, reflects on his childhood and the restrictions that shaped his gaming experiences. His mother, concerned about the potential distractions of a gaming console, firmly believed that it would interfere with his studies. As a result, Scott never had the chance to own one. Even a Gameboy was off-limits for him, which meant that his encounters with Pokémon were limited solely to the trading card game—an oddity, given how central it has been to so many childhoods.

In contrast to the absence of gaming consoles, a personal computer was a constant presence in their home. His father, an electronic design engineer, had a history of programming; he once created a crossword puzzle game for BBC B. Despite this technical prowess, Scott’s dad was not particularly engaged in gaming—Tomb Raider might be the only title he ever finished, and it took him a painstaking year to do so.

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For Scott, his relationship with the family PC began with brief nightly sessions. He recalls his early days of experimenting with DOS, typing out random words as if they held some secret meaning, and enjoying simple artistic endeavours in Sooty Paint. This modest access ignited a spark of curiosity that soon led him to discover the world of actual video games. Titles like Age of Empires, Quake 2, and Flight Simulator 95 became his companions during those precious hour-long slots each evening.

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It wasn’t until he entered secondary school that the necessity of using a computer for homework opened the door to more screen time. Scott negotiated this new privilege with an admirable sense of responsibility: homework always took precedence, leaving gaming as a reward for his diligence. Those formative years were pivotal for him; even now, he has never owned a gaming console, which has resulted in his lack of skill with a controller.

Since 2005, following in his father’s footsteps, Scott has taken an interest in game development. This creative pursuit has allowed him to channel his childhood experiences into something tangible—an endeavor that bridges the gap between his early restrictions and his present-day aspirations.

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