Safe gaming:
A guide for parents and children

People, and children in particular, have been playing games for as long as we can remember. Playing games promotes the development of various skills: movement (motor skills), vision, strategies and much more. However, learning through play is not only about learning; it should also be fun. Digital games are in no way inferior to other games and sports in this respect. They strengthen human relationships, improve motor skills and are enjoyable.

Players sometimes leave reality behind for minutes or even hours and immerse themselves in a creative gaming world of equal opportunities. A short break from everyday life, so to speak. When the game is going well, the brain releases the happiness hormone dopamine and new neural connections are formed. Controversial action games, of all things, increase abstract thinking skills and also improve concentration. Playing in a global community with people from other countries allows players to gain intercultural experience and practise different foreign languages, especially English.

While e-sports are really big in Asian and Scandinavian countries, this sport is now also becoming very popular in Switzerland. In the Swisscom Hero League, initiated by Swisscom and ESL, individual players, amateur or professional teams compete against each other and battle it out in three different games in tournament mode.

For example, Swisscom and ESL have launched the Swisscom Hero League, a league in which teams or individual players can compete in three different games in tournament mode. Professional e-sports players train according to a set plan and maintain a healthy lifestyle, just like other athletes. For passionate gamers, this opens up the opportunity to turn their hobby into a profession. But beware: efforts to professionalise e-sports are still in their infancy in Switzerland. The Swisscom Hero League aims to support this cause.

As in all sports, the top ranks are becoming increasingly lonely. And small nations like Switzerland still do not play a major role in international competitions.

With its Gaming & E-Sports teaching unit, Swisscom also aims to promote a targeted and multi-faceted discussion in the classroom on the subject of gaming.

One of the most widespread prejudices against online games is that they make players violent. However, this is often completely unfounded, as children and young people naturally draw a line between the gaming world and reality.

German researcher Manfred Spitzer continues to warn the public about the dangers of digital media and games. He believes that computer games increase the propensity for violence and desensitise people to real violence. His statements are controversial among scientists. For Swiss journalist and gaming expert Marc Bodmer, the debate on violence is essentially over. He cites the example of Germany, which has the strictest youth protection rules in international comparison and whose Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) is probably the strictest control body for the testing and age rating of digital games.

Marc Bodmer: "Ten years ago, the USK still intervened massively – manufacturers had to cut games and colour blood green. Today, virtually no games are placed on the index. Where did this change come from? Only a very weak correlation could be proven that depictions of violence in computer games can cause aggressive behaviour in children and young people under certain circumstances."

For gamers, the focus is on the game mechanics, i.e. the way in which the initial situation, game rules and players' actions create the gaming experience. They want to complete their mission, win the competition or play together as a team. The graphics are often not that important. Young people who play first-person shooters as a team sport report that they turn off the special effects because they only distract them from the game.

More information can be found in enter on the topic of eSports

Online gaming forums often serve as a place to make new friends. But beware: caution is advised, as chat forums are sometimes the scene of harassment or even abuse of children.

Parents and teachers should therefore take an interest in their children's or pupils' chat partners – both in games and on social networks. Such networks are particularly popular with paedophile criminals.

3 simple tips for children to deal with this preventively:

• I do not disclose personal information such as my telephone number, address, age, etc. for everyone to see.
• As a rule, I only share clans or Minecraft worlds with girls or boys I know from my neighbourhood, family or school.
• Even if there is an unknown player who has been online for over a year and is always ‘nice’ to me, I do not engage in direct contact. Questions about my school, my age or where I live make me cautious.
  

When talking about games, one must also talk about addiction. Young people spend a lot of time with digital media, and games are highly appealing. According to the JAMES study, more than 70 per cent of all young people play games regularly.

When children and young people spend excessive amounts of time online and gaming, parents are right to be concerned. Digital games use mechanisms to keep players in their world. It takes some effort to resist these temptations.

If children and young people organise their free time in a balanced way, they will be more successful in doing so. However, games are sometimes used as a refuge when something else in life is going wrong. Bullying at school or parents going through a divorce are common examples of this. Anxious, depressed or insecure young people are at greater risk of developing an addiction.

When the differing views of young people and adults clash, it is up to parents to inform themselves and develop their own stance, characterised by interest and openness.

Do not reject computer and online games outright, at least not before you have formed your own opinion. Ask your child to explain the games to you or simply play a round with them. This will help you to better understand what makes a particular game appealing.

Encourage your child to see disappointments experienced while playing as challenges that they can tackle and learn from. Also encourage them to meet up with friends and pursue other leisure activities. Create space for this.

Control begins with the purchase of age-appropriate games – this is especially true for younger children. Note the age rating on the game packaging or look it up at PEGI(opens in new tab). Find out about the type and content of the game before you buy it.

How to promote healthy gaming for your child:

• Ensure good lighting and regular breaks.
• Make sure there is sufficient distance between your child's eyes and the screen.
• Encourage your child to drink enough fluids and take breaks to play outside or do sports.
  

For young people aged 12 and above, role reversal can also be a good approach: for example, you argue why young people should play games that are not approved for their age group. Your child counters with reasons why they should take the age rating into account.

Prohibitions are of little use, as children quickly learn how to get around them. However, you should establish clear rules. For example, your child is only allowed to play once their homework is done. If your child disagrees, explain your reasons.

You can find more information in the dossier ‘Accompanying children in digital worlds’.

In summary:

1. Define playing times together with your child. And stick to them (see also tip 5).
2. Take an interest in the games. Play along and get a feel for why the game is so exciting for your child.
3. Pay attention to the PEGI rating: every game has an age recommendation. This is useful, especially for younger children.
4. If there is an imbalance between online and offline activities: adjust what you offer and look for an attractive alternative (undivided parental time is always well received).
5. ‘Just this level!’ – Allow your child to finish the current action in the game. It will take you two to three minutes, save you arguments and frustration, and show respect for your child's commitment.
   

Over the last three years, the following games have occupied the top spots in the popularity rankings.

Open world games (Minecraft, GTA) clearly top this list. What makes open world games special is the unrestricted freedom of movement and the many possibilities they offer players. Battle royale (Fortnite) and first/third-person shooter games (Call of Duty) are particularly popular subgenres of open world games. The unbridled fascination with football is also reflected in the online world, and FIFA has consistently ranked high on the popularity scale for games for many years.

All of these games can be played with or against each other, i.e. on the same console (multiplayer mode) or in an online game.