Video games aren’t going away. But with a few smart rules, they don’t have to be a problem
Video games get a bad reputation, but they’re not automatically harmful. The real question is how your child uses them.
Take EndeavorRx. The FDA approved it to treat ADHD in children. It looks like Mario Kart, with one key twist: it shuts off after 25 minutes. The game was built as medicine, and it works like medicine.
Active games like Wii Sports, sometimes called exergames, improve thinking and memory in both kids and adults. But too much gaming, even the good kind, crowds out other activities the brain needs to grow. Reading, socializing, physical play, and creative hobbies all matter.
The catch is that games are designed to be addictive. Every reward, level, and achievement is engineered to keep players hooked. Limiting screen time isn’t easy, but it’s doable.
Setting the Rules
Start by being clear with your child about expectations. If you can, include them in the conversation about what the rules look like. Kids are more likely to follow rules they helped create.
Here are reasonable limits to consider:
• One hour per day for younger children, two hours for teenagers.
• On weekends or school holidays, you can stretch that to one to three hours.
• Pick one or two game-free days each week.
• No games during the hour before bedtime.
• No games during meals.
• Homework and chores come before game time. Use gaming as a reward, not a default.
If your child breaks the rules repeatedly, be ready to confiscate the console for a day or a weekend. Follow through matters more than any written rule.
Your Home Setup
Where you put the screens matters as much as how long your child plays.
• Keep gaming devices in common rooms like the living room, not in bedrooms.
• Remove all screens from your child’s bedroom: TV, tablets, phones, and gaming consoles.
• If your child spends a lot of time home alone, consider restricting internet access through your router settings.
• Know your child’s online passwords and keep an eye on how much they’re playing.
You’re the Role Model
Your child watches what you do. If you’re scrolling your phone during dinner or disappearing into a screen when they’re not allowed to, the mixed message lands hard.
Put the phone away at meals. Don’t play games during the times your child is restricted from playing. And talk to other parents in your circle. Coordinating shared rules across households takes the pressure off any one family and makes the limits feel more normal.
Stay Involved
You don’t have to understand every game your child plays, but you do need to know what’s in them. Check the age ratings. Some online games let your child chat with strangers, including adults you don’t know.
Sit down and play with your child sometimes. Ask them to explain their favorite game and why they love it. That kind of conversation builds trust and opens the door to talking about things like in-game purchases, which can add up quickly.
If your child seems to use gaming to escape stress, anxiety, or difficult feelings, bring it up directly. Not accusingly. Just curious. “I notice you head straight to your game when things feel hard. What’s going on?”
Fill the Space
Cutting back on games only works if something fills the gap. Kids who have nothing else to do will just push back harder against the limits.
• Get outside. Hiking, sports, shooting hoops, taking a bike ride.
• Invite friends over, even to play games together. Social gaming is healthier than solo gaming.
• Do something fun together at least once or twice a week: cook a meal, see a movie, visit somewhere new.
• Encourage a hobby that builds a real-world skill: drawing, music, coding, building.
Praise your child when they finish homework or handle responsibilities before picking up a controller. Positive reinforcement goes further than rules alone.
Not All Games Are Equal
Some games are genuinely better than others. Here are some categories .
Creative and Problem-Solving Games
Minecraft builds creativity and problem-solving. Animal Crossing: New Horizons adds a calming social element.
Cognitive Games
Brain Age and EndeavorRx sharpen memory and attention.
Multiplayer and Social Games
Mario Kart, Splatoon, and Rocket League encourage friendly competition without the toxicity of many online games.
Role-Playing Games
Disney Dreamlight Valley and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure are fun and carry some real educational value.
Active Games (Exergames)
These are among the best-studied games for boosting brain function at any age. They include dance games like Just Dance and Dance Dance Revolution, sports sims like Wii Sports, Wii Fit, and Kinect Sports, and adventure games like Ring Fit Adventure.
Gaming isn’t the enemy. Unmanaged gaming is. With clear boundaries, real alternatives, and your own involvement, you give your child a healthy relationship with screens that lasts well past childhood.
—Chris Aiken, MD
Director, Psych Partners
Editor in Chief, Carlat Psychiatry Report
