Your child plays video games

Keep in mind that video games offer your child the opportunity to:

  • enjoy themselves and have fun.
  • develop new skills.
  • make progress and win.
  • feel valued.
  • play with their friends and classmates.
  • share experiences with others.

Take interest in the content:

  • Before buying a video game, find information online and from other parents.
  • Learn about the content and recommended age at www.pegi.info.
  • Check the duration of the game.
  • Note that in-game purchases are included in some games.

Be aware that your child can play on online gaming platforms that allow them to:

  • chat with people they do not necessarily know in real life.
  • send them messages, pictures and videos.

Teach your child to protect themselves:

  • It is important to protect their personal information and privacy.
  • It is essential to use different passwords, regularly change them and keep them secret.
  • What your child posts (e.g. photos, videos, messages, etc.) remains online permanently and shapes their e-reputation (the way others perceive them).
  • Any personal information they post may be used against them.
  • The people they meet on the Internet can lie. We never know who is hiding behind a screen.
  • Some online content is not appropriate to their age and may shock them.

Make it clear to your child that laws apply to the Internet:

  • Under the law, users are prohibited from:
    • insulting or threatening a person online.
    • damaging a person’s reputation.
    • publishing a photo or video of a person without their consent.
  • If your child finds themselves in one of these situations, they can file a complaint.
  • Your child must also comply with the law: in Switzerland, children can be held criminally liable for their actions from the age of 10.

Set rules:

  • Set a time limit for screen use to make sure that your child can:
    • stay physically active.
    • have enough sleep.
    • enjoy a range of activities.
  • Discuss the rules with your child.
  • Suggest writing down the rules and putting them up where your child can see them.
  • Adapt the rules according to your child’s age.
  • Talk about the consequences of breaking the rules.

To help you maintain a consistent approach:

  • Remember that you set rules and limits for your child’s well-being.
  • Teach your child to manage their emotions when they play and when it’s time for them to stop.
  • Set up parental controls.
  • Use a timer to limit the duration of the game.
  • Reduce your own screen time to set an example.
  • Take the time to watch your child play. Encourage and compliment them.
  • Play video games with them.

You have reasons for concern if your child:

  • spends more and more time playing video games and neglects their other activities.
  • is often angry when they cannot play or when they have to stop playing.
  • often misses school.
  • is getting lower grades.
  • is sleep deprived.
  • becomes aggressive.
  • becomes isolated and withdrawn.