Understanding Digital Technology & Gaming for Kids
Discover the positive impacts of digital tech, learn when gaming can become harmful, set healthy balance limits, and explore helpful conversation tips.
What are the Positives?
Digital technology can have positive impacts on the lives of children. In fact, digital technology is a great way to communicate with each other, stay connected, and is a useful learning tool. It’s important to know the safe and healthy ways to use digital technology.
It’s also important to know that too much digital technology, including gaming, can lead to problems.
Gaming can help your child develop or improve skills, like:
To keep gaming a good learning experience for your child, think about:
- The content rating of the game and what your child needs to play it.
- The number of players in the game – Is the game played alone? If played with others, do you know who they are?
- The type of game – Is it a competition or do players work together?
Knowing about the games your child plays can help you guide them and lower the risk of problems.
When Does Gaming Become Harmful?
Gaming can become a problem when it harms your child’s mental or physical health, or has unwanted effects on their day-to-day life. This is why it’s important to set limits for the games your child plays online.
Setting Limits on Your Child’s Gaming
The limits you set depend on your child’s age, developmental stage, their needs, and your family preferences. Manage online game time so there is a good balance with other key daily activities.
It’s important that youth spend time on other daily activities, like:
Think about planning parts of the day without screen time. Use this as family time to eat together, read, go for walks, or spend time with pets. Your child learns best by following what you do, so set healthy limits on gaming time for yourself as well.
Ways to set limits:
When to Talk to Your Child About Their Habits
Gaming concerns aren’t only related to time spent; also consider who they’re playing with, game types, and your child’s personality and age. Watch for warning signs like:
Talking Tips
Sample responses and constructive ways to reply when navigating pushback from your child or teen.
Child/Teen says:
“I need more money to buy credits.”
You might say:
“I’m not comfortable giving you money for these games. You’ll have to find one that doesn’t cost money to play.”
Child/Teen says:
“You used to let me play whatever I wanted. Why not now?”
You might say:
“I’m setting limits now because I’m more aware of the risks of too much gaming.”
Child/Teen says:
“Everyone else gets to play this game. It’s not fair.”
You might say:
“It’s hard to feel like you’re missing out on something. Let’s see if we can find other things you can do with your friends.”
Child/Teen says:
“My online friends will be upset. I have to keep playing or we’ll lose!”
You might say:
“I know it’s hard to disconnect, but finding a balance is important to our family. Can we talk about when you can play next and what to tell your friends?”
Child/Teen says:
“Just a bit more time. I’m winning the game and can’t stop now, or I’ll lose all my points!”
You might say:
“We agreed on what time you’d stop playing. If you can’t stop playing at the time we agreed on, you’ll lose your screen time tomorrow.”
Helpful Links for Parents & Caregivers
Need Help and Support?
For help and support with Gaming and Gambling concerns contact the PEI Gambling Support Line at 1-855-255-4255. Help is available 24/7 with Island-based health professionals ready to provide confidential support.
Call 1-855-255-4255Need Help or Have Questions?
Professional counsellors are available 24/7 to talk confidentially whenever you need support.
- PEI Gambling Support Line: 1-855-255-4255
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868