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.