Games – whether on the computer or mobile phone – are very important for our youngest. No matter if you are a girl or a boy, everyone likes to play and sometimes a lot. What games are played and what should parents pay attention to, we have summarized here.
The classics:
- Minecraft
Everything in Minecraft – from the character to the environment – is built out of cubes. The goal of Minecraft is to solve tasks in different game modes, such as creating your own world or hiding from enemy zombies. In addition to the modes, there are now several thousand worlds, which can be – partially charged – downloaded. Minecraft is not only for computers and mobile phones, but also in the form of various merchandising items that are very popular with children.
Clash of Clans
The game, where you build a fictitious village and equipped with war machines and teams to defend it on the one hand and on the other hand attack other villages, has been a fixed part of the game world for many years for elementary school children. You play in online groups (so-called “clans”) and support each other here with resources.
Clash Royale
Clash Royale is a decoupling of Clash of Clans , playing with the same characters. It’s about using cards to summon virtual figures on a digital board at the right time to attack the enemy or counter attacks.
Pixel Type Games
Similar to the “painting by numbers” there are currently many providers that offer child-friendly pixel art templates for independent coloring. Many of these games are free and funded either through advertising or in-app purchases . Especially popular templates are usually charged, which can lead to undesirable additional costs.
- Cooking Games
Also cooking games are regularly represented in the charts of popular games. It’s mostly about cooking a meal by recipe in a certain amount of time. You get points if everything was served correctly and on time. Classical representatives of this genre are Cooking Mama or Cooking in the Kitchen .
Challenges for children at a glance:
Playtime: Many games are designed to last as long as possible. This is usually achieved by getting small digital gifts when you play longer or get rewarded with a new level. Children often can not assess how long they can and can play. They need rules on play time and somebody who shows them alternatives to play!
Contact with strangers: Many games can also be played online against other players, which is why they are usually equipped with a chat in which you can chat with friends, but also strangers. Here, too, it is important to discuss possible dangers and action strategies with the children.
Advertising: Free games are often financed by advertising. It happens that children are confronted with content that is not suitable for them. It is therefore important to develop strategies for dealing with advertising or inappropriate content with the children, or alternatively to search for a paid version of the game that does not show any advertising.
In-App Purchases: In addition to advertising, many games today also finance so-called “in-app purchases”. However, these are not recognized by many children and so it can happen that by accidentally made purchases unwanted additional costs. It is therefore advisable to disable “in-app purchases” using the youth protection settings directly on the smartphone and to prohibit the “purchase on mobile bill” with the network operator.
