Coronavirus lockdown will mean that children and young are likely to be spending more time online while at home. Online games can be a great way for them to keep busy and stay in touch with friends and family but it’s important that children play safely.If you have more than one child in your home, remember that games suitable for one child to play or watch, may not be suitable for another. We’ve got advice to help.

What are online games? 

Gaming is a great way for young people to relax, socialise with their friends and have fun. Children can play on games consoles, apps or websites, mobiles, tablets, PCs, or through smart speakers and virtual reality headsets. They can also chat to other players using messaging platforms for gamers, or watch livestreams of well-known gamers.You can find out more about the different types of games children like to play on Net Aware, in partnership with O2.

Why young people play online games

Some of these reasons young people like to play games online include:

• socialising with friends. When gaming children can play together on the same team, or play against each other.
• games based on location, such as Pokémon Go and Wizards Unite, encourage players to go outside and explore.
• watching videos and livestreams of other people playing, or share tips with other players to develop their own gaming skills.
• games are designed to be entertaining and can be fun and engaging for young people.
• watching their favourite gamers on YouTube or livestreaming on Twitch. They may also want to livestream themselves playing games.

 

To learn more about online gaming & the associated risks, follow this link.