PARENT GAMING GUIDE FAQ - STEALTH GAMING

1. What do ESRB and PEGI ratings actually mean for a Parent Gaming Guide?

ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) is used in North America:

- E (Everyone) - Suitable for all ages. Minimal or no violence, no bad language

- E10+ (Everyone 10+) - Mild cartoon or fantasy violence, mild language

- T (Teen 13+) - Moderate violence, suggestive themes, infrequent strong language

- M (Mature 17+) - Intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, strong language

- AO (Adults Only 18+) - Prolonged graphic violence, explicit sexual content

PEGI (Pan European Game Information) is used in UK/Europe:

- PEGI 3 - Suitable for all ages

- PEGI 7 - May contain frightening scenes or sounds

- PEGI 12 - Graphic violence toward fantasy characters, mild bad language

- PEGI 16 - Realistic violence, strong language, sexual references, gambling

- PEGI 18 - Gross violence, glamorized drugs/crime, explicit sexual activity

Important: PEGI ratings are often stricter than ESRB. A Teen (13+) game in the US might be PEGI 16 in the UK.

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2. Can I trust official age ratings, or should I do my own research?

Official ratings are a starting point, not the final word. Here's why:

- Ratings don't account for your child's individual maturity or sensitivity

- They don't cover online interactions (hence "online interactions not rated by ESRB")

- A game rated 12+ might have one intense scene that upsets a sensitive child

- Context matters: fantasy violence vs. realistic violence affects kids differently

What to do: 

- Check the rating AND read the content descriptors (what specifically caused the rating)

- Read parent reviews (like ours at Stealth Gaming)

- Watch gameplay videos together

- Trust your instincts about your own child

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3. My child wants to play Fortnite/Roblox/Minecraft. Are these safe a Parent Gaming Guide?

Fortnite (PEGI 12 / Teen):

- ✅ Cartoon violence, no blood or gore

- ⚠️ Online chat with strangers (can be disabled)

- ⚠️ In-game purchases can add up quickly

- ⚠️ Battle Royale mode more intense than LEGO Fortnite mode

- Our take: Safe for 12+ with parental controls enabled

Roblox (PEGI 7):

- ✅ Creative, social platform

- ⚠️ User-generated content isn't always monitored

- ⚠️ Chat features expose kids to strangers

- ⚠️ Heavy pressure to buy Robux (virtual currency)

- Our take: Safe for 9+ with strict privacy settings and supervision

Minecraft (PEGI 7):

- ✅ Educational, creative, minimal violence

- ✅ Can play offline in single-player

- ⚠️ Online servers may have inappropriate content

- Our take: Excellent for 7+ (Creative Mode for younger kids)

Critical: Enable parental controls for ALL these games before your child plays.

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4. What does "online interactions not rated" mean and why should I care?

This warning means the game has features where players interact with strangers online through:

- Voice chat

- Text chat

- User-created content

- Multiplayer gameplay

Why it matters: Other players can:

- Use inappropriate language

- Share personal information requests

- Bully or harass your child

- Expose them to content not in the base game

What to do:

- Disable voice and text chat (most games allow this)

- Set privacy to "friends only"

- Monitor who your child plays with

- Keep gaming devices in common areas

- Have regular conversations about online stranger danger

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5. How much gaming time is healthy for my child, a Parent Gaming Guide ?

Expert recommendations:

Ages 2-5: Maximum 1 hour per day of high-quality programming

Ages 6-12: 1-2 hours per day

Ages 13-18: 2-3 hours per day, balanced with other activities

Warning signs of too much gaming:

- 🚩 Declining grades or skipping homework

- 🚩 Irritability when asked to stop playing

- 🚩 Loss of interest in other hobbies

- 🚩 Playing late into the night

- 🚩 Lying about gaming time

- 🚩 Physical complaints (headaches, eye strain, wrist pain)

Healthy gaming habits:

- Set clear time limits and stick to them

- No gaming 1 hour before bedtime (blue light affects sleep)

- Require breaks every 45-60 minutes

- Make gaming a reward for completing responsibilities

- Balance gaming with physical activity

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6. Are in-game purchases dangerous? How do I stop my child from spending money?

Why in-game purchases are designed to be tempting:

- Virtual currency obscures real money value (1,000 V-Bucks feels less real than £10)

- Limited-time offers create FOMO (fear of missing out)

- "Battle passes" require ongoing purchases

- Kids see peers with premium items and feel pressure

How to protect against overspending:

✅ Enable purchase restrictions:

- PlayStation: Require password for purchases

- Xbox: Set spending limits in family settings

- Nintendo Switch: Require PIN for purchases

- Mobile: Disable in-app purchases entirely

✅ Talk about virtual vs. real money: Show your child exactly how much real money in-game items cost

✅ Set a budget: Give them a monthly allowance for games and stick to it

✅ Explain these are designed to make you spend: Help them understand marketing tactics

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7. How do I know if a game is too violent for my child?

Types of violence (from least to most concerning):

Slapstick/Cartoon (Ages 6+)

- Characters bounce back, no lasting harm

- Examples: Mario, Sonic, Kirby

Fantasy Violence (Ages 10+)

- Fighting with magic, swords, or lasers

- Minimal blood, enemies disappear

- Examples: Zelda, Pokémon, Splatoon

Realistic Combat (Ages 13+)

- Modern weapons, some blood

- Military or action settings

- Examples: Fortnite, Call of Duty (lighter titles)

Graphic/Intense Violence (Ages 17+)

- Realistic gore, dismemberment

- Brutal finishing moves

- Examples: GTA, Mortal Kombat, mature shooters

Red flags for excessive violence:

- Your child imitating violent behaviors

- Nightmares or fear after playing

- Becoming desensitized or finding violence funny

- Obsessive focus on violent games only

Context matters: A game about historical warfare may include violence but teach valuable lessons. Pure gratuitous violence serves no purpose.

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8. What are the signs my child is being bullied or harassed online?

Behavioral changes to watch for:

- Suddenly anxious or upset after gaming

- Reluctant to talk about who they play with

- Withdrawing from gaming they previously enjoyed

- Deleting messages or clearing chat history

- Being secretive about their devices

- Changes in mood, sleep, or appetite

- Asking to quit a game they loved

What to do if you suspect cyberbullying:

1. Stay calm and create a safe space to talk

2. Ask open-ended questions: "You seem upset after playing, what's happening?"

3. Take screenshots of any abusive messages

4. Block and report the bully on the platform

5. Contact the game's support team

6. Consider taking a break from that game

7. In severe cases, contact school or authorities

Prevention:

- Regular check-ins: "Who did you play with today?"

- Review friend lists together

- Teach them to report and block immediately

- Remind them it's NEVER their fault

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9. Are VR (virtual reality) headsets safe for children?

Age recommendations:

- Meta Quest: 13+ (manufacturer recommendation)

- PlayStation VR: 12+

- Most VR manufacturers: Not recommended under 13

Health concerns:

- Eye development: VR may strain developing eyes (unproven but cautioned)

- Motion sickness: Children more susceptible to VR nausea

- Physical safety: Kids can trip, bump into objects

- Psychological impact: Intense immersion can be overwhelming

If you allow VR for kids:

- ✅ Limit sessions to 20-30 minutes maximum

- ✅ Ensure adequate clear play space

- ✅ Supervise at all times

- ✅ Watch for dizziness, headaches, eye strain

- ✅ Take breaks every 15 minutes

- ✅ Start with gentle, non-scary experiences

- ❌ Never under age 10, even with supervision

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10. My child's friends all play M-rated (18+) games. What do I do?

This is one of the toughest parenting challenges. Here's how to handle it:

Option 1: Stand your ground

- Explain your decision using specific content concerns

- Show them the ESRB rating breakdown (often includes examples)

- Offer age-appropriate alternatives with similar gameplay

- "I understand your friends play this, but in our family, we follow age ratings"

Option 2: Research together

- Watch gameplay videos together

- Read detailed reviews

- Discuss specific scenes that concern you

- Make an informed decision together

Option 3: Compromise

- Allow play only in your presence

- Skip cutscenes with mature content

- Turn off blood/gore in settings (some games allow this)

- Set strict time limits

Option 4: Suggest alternatives

If they want Call of Duty → Try Splatoon 3 or Fortnite (less realistic)

If they want GTA → Try Lego City Undercover (open-world, no mature content)

If they want horror games → Try Luigi's Mansion (spooky but kid-friendly)

Remember: Peer pressure is real, but you know your child best. It's okay to be the "strict parent."

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11. How do I set up parental controls? (Quick start guide)

PlayStation:

1. Settings → Family and Parental Controls → Child Account

2. Set age restrictions for games

3. Limit spending, screen time, communication

Xbox:

1. Settings → Account → Family Settings

2. Create child account with age-appropriate restrictions

3. Set screen time limits, content filters

Nintendo Switch:

1. Download Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app (smartphone)

2. Link to your Switch console

3. Set play time limits, restrict games by age rating

4. Get daily reports of what they played

PC/Steam:

1. Steam → Settings → Family View

2. Set PIN code

3. Choose which games are accessible

Mobile (iOS):

1. Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy

2. Restrict in-app purchases, app downloads

3. Set age ratings for apps/games

Mobile (Android):

1. Google Play Store → Settings → Family → Parental Controls

2. Set content ratings and require authentication for purchases

Pro tip: Set these up BEFORE giving your child the device, and check them monthly—kids are clever!

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12. Are "educational" games actually educational?

Genuinely educational games:

✅ Minecraft - Creativity, problem-solving, basic coding

✅ Portal - Physics, spatial reasoning, logic puzzles

✅ Kerbal Space Program - Physics, engineering, trial and error

✅ Civilization - History, strategy, resource management

✅ Duolingo - Language learning through gaming

✅ DragonBox - Math concepts disguised as gameplay

Questionable "educational" games:

❌ Flashcard apps with game graphics

❌ Basic math drills with cartoon characters

❌ Anything claiming to raise IQ

❌ Pure memorization disguised as fun

What makes a game truly educational:

- Requires critical thinking, not just memorization

- Allows experimentation and failure

- Teaches transferable skills (creativity, logic, collaboration)

- Learning happens naturally through gameplay, not forced quizzes

Balance: Even non-educational games teach skills like hand-eye coordination, quick decision-making, and persistence. Don't feel guilty about "just fun" games!

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13. What should I do if my child accidentally sees something inappropriate in a game?

Follow-up actions:

- Review and tighten parental controls

- Check if it was user-generated content (Roblox, Minecraft servers)

- Report the content to the game platform

- Consider if the game's rating was accurate or misleading

Use it as a teaching moment:

- "The internet has things not meant for kids, just like movies do"

- "If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, always tell me"

- "You won't be in trouble for being honest with me"

Long-term: This builds trust so they'll come to you when problems arise.

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14. How do I talk to my child about gaming without lecturing them?

Instead of: "You're addicted to that game!"

Try: "I've noticed you've been playing a lot lately. What do you like about it?"

Instead of: "That game is too violent!"

Try: "I saw some fighting in that game. How do you feel when you play it?"

Instead of: "Get off that screen right now!"

Try: "I need you to finish up in 10 minutes. Can you save your progress?"

Effective conversation strategies:

✅ Ask open questions: "Who do you play with?" "What's your favorite part?"

✅ Show genuine interest: Watch them play for a few minutes

✅ Play together: Bond over gaming, understand their world

✅ Avoid judgmental language: "I'm concerned about..." vs. "You're wrong"

✅ Set rules together: Kids follow rules they help create

✅ Praise positive behavior: "I love how you handled losing that match calmly"

Make it a conversation, not a confrontation. You'll learn more about their gaming and build trust.

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15. Where can I find trustworthy game reviews for parents?

Reliable parent-focused review sources:

✅ Stealth Gaming Parent Hub (that's us!)

- Detailed content breakdowns

- Age recommendations beyond official ratings

- What parents need to know highlighted

✅ Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org)

- Parent and kid reviews side-by-side

- Detailed content warnings

- Suggested talking points

✅ ESRB.org

- Official ratings with content descriptors

- Rating summaries explain why games got their rating

✅ YouTube gameplay videos

- Watch actual gameplay before buying

- See exactly what your child will experience

- Search "[game name] gameplay no commentary"

❌ Avoid relying solely on:

- Game store descriptions (they're marketing)

- Other kids' opinions (they may have different standards)

- Box art (often misleading)

Best approach: Use multiple sources. Read our Stealth Gaming review, check the official rating, and watch a gameplay video. This gives you the complete picture.

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Still have questions?

Contact Stealth Gaming at: https://www.stealthgaming.net/contact-us

Browse our Parent Hub: https://www.stealthgaming.net/blog/categories/parent-hub

Remember: You're not just managing screen time—you're teaching digital citizenship. Your involvement makes all the difference.