Video games are more popular than ever before. With enhanced graphics, interactive game play and a variety of gaming platforms, kids and adults eagerly await the next hot game. All video games are not appropriate for all ages. Make your kids aware of the video game choices that are right for them.

In the beginning, video games were universal. Everyone could play tennis or space invaders. There was nothing sinister there. Nowadays, as the graphics have gotten more complex, so have the subject of the games themselves. To make the choices easier for parents (especially those who know nothing whatsoever about video games) the gaming industry has come up with a rating system for their games and post it on the outside of every game that is sold.

This system is called the ESRB or the Entertainment Software Ratings Board rating system. It rates games from those appropriate for children to those that are only appropriate for adults. The difference between video games is distinct so it is important for parents to be involved in the process and not let their kids purchase any game that they want.

Think of it as similar to how movies are rated. If a kid goes to a theater and asks for a ticket to see an R-rated movie, he is going to get carded unless he is with an adult. Shopkeepers can do the same. If a kid comes in and tries to buy a game that is not appropriate for his age level, they can ask for identification as proof of age.

If you’ve ever seen a mature game or a game that is rated for adults only, you will know why this system is in place. The rating levels are as follows:

• EC (Early Childhood)
• E (Everyone)
• E 10+ (Everyone over 10 years of age)
• T (Teens)
• M (Mature, anyone over 17 years of age)
• AO (Adults only)
• RP (not yet rated)

Most games fall between the E and the M. the main thing that changes is the violence and the language. In an E-rated game, you’ll see things like in Super Mario Bros. the characters will land on monsters or be landed on. Teen games involve more crashed and fighting like Marvel vs. Street Fighter. There will be blood as well.

Mature games are the ones your kids will try to sneak past you in the house. Here you will hear profanity, possible nudity, sexual references and violent killings. Most of the war games, some fantasy and assassination games fall into this category.

As a parent, you want to limit the poor influences on your children as much as you can. If you have to, offer to play video games with your kids to find out what their friends are bringing over. To keep you out of their room and away from their friends, they will comply with the rules.

When Atari first hit the market over twenty years ago, everyone, young and old alike, was into video games. It was something new that the family played for hours. Now, video games have become more sophisticated and are played by younger and younger groups of kids. Eeven though these games are fun, watch out or your kid will morph into the unyielding vegetable known as the couch potato.

You usually gave the man staring blindly at the television this moniker, but it now applies to kids caught up in the video game craze. You’ve weaned them from endless cartoons and cop shows, but they’ve traded them in for a console and controller. It’s not that video games are inherently bad however. They have their redeeming qualities just like television. The name of the game here is moderation.

Even if you don’t know an elf lord from a troll prince you can make sure that that is not the only thing your kid knows about. Video games are a way for your kids to relax, but it shouldn’t be the only way. Engage your children in other activities (preferably outside) to break the couch potato cycle.

Endless video game playing has added to the sedentary lifestyle of today’s youth. Instead of playing outdoors with balls and bats, they are inside sitting comfortably on the couch or one of those gaming chairs and signing on for virtual worlds unknown to most parents. It scares you because you no longer understand the world of video gaming.

Obesity is now an epidemic with our kids. They lack proper daily exercise to keep their weight under control. By exercise, we mean movement of any kind. Walking to and from school or dancing to their iPod tunes helps keep the body active enough to burn excess calories. They don’t even have to play a sport to get what they need to stay healthy, but if they stay seated in front of a computer monitor or tv screen for hours on end, they seldom get that exercise.

Video games are mostly played sitting down. That’s how they were designed. Think of it like an office job. Computers were designed to be used sitting down. It’s a necessary evil, but it doesn’t have to ruin your health.

One solution is a set schedule for their afternoon. When your kids get home from school, let them know the order of the day. First, they can tackle chores. After energizing them again, lead them to the homework table.

What do you know, it’s now time for dinner. After dinner, they have a choice of television, video games or maybe a moderate amount of both. All of the other important things are done so they can relax and unwind. This limits their time to one or at most two hours of gaming a day as their last activity before bed. After all of the other stuff you’ve given them to do, they might just fall into bed early.

Break the couch potato cycle with a limit on video games.

Free time used to be outdoor play time. Now more and more kids are spending their free afternoons indoors playing various video games. The lack of social interaction with others can affect your kids.

How long do your kids play video games? Gaming consoles have replaced the television and social interaction for some kids. They are more at home in the make-believe world of the video game than with others their own age. How can you as a parent change that for your kids?

Growing up is hard for kids even at the best of times. When you hit puberty, you feel like a stranger in your own skin. As an outlet, kids find activities that make them feel less tense. In the world of video games, they can be whoever they want to be. If they make a mistake or take a wrong turn, it can be done over as many times as they need in order to get it right.

The real world is not the same. Video games are a fun distraction but are not meant to replace social interaction with peers. The more time that is devoted to video games, the less time there will be to cultivate those social skills that make kids feel awkward with one another in the first place.

Watch the amount of time that your kids spend playing video games. For boys, it seems that playing video games is a way into the “inner sanctum” of camaraderie. They discuss video game graphics, strategies and scores as a way to begin a conversation and get to know each other. To them, video games are the cool thing to do.

To that end, you can find a happy medium with a daily limit on video game time. Place the gaming console in the family room where it can only be accessed at certain times. You can also monitor the types of video games they are playing especially when their friends bring games over.

Kids need more in their lives than video games. Talking about video games can be a conversation starter but so can other subjects like the latest fashions, the opposite sex (they are at that age) and weekend plans.

How do you know if video games are becoming a problem? Does your kid come home and head straight for the video game system? When their friends come over, would they rather play video games than go outside? Do their friends even come over?

Take stock of your child’s behavior. If they are spending too much time in the world of fast cars, monster aliens and dragons, maybe it’s time to get them to mingle with some real people. Everyone even kids need to share their lives with other people who can talk back to them. Limit video game and encourage more social interaction.

Kids these days are more computer savvy than they have ever been. As early as kindergarten they are in the computer labs at school learning how to use a keyboard. With this trend it won’t be long before younger and younger kids begin to play video games at home on a regular basis. Feed those brain cells with fun games that are also educational.

How do they remember which button moves what in those games? However they do it, it’s easier for a child to learn than an adult. Show them how to use video games to take their education to an all new level.

Start with the PC games. Companies like Leapfrog and Knowledge Adventure have put educational games on the market that are anything but boring. Knowledge Adventure produces JumpStart games for each grade level. They are PC video games that teach kids all about math, science and English through games that interest your kids. The characters in the game talk to them and help them with number problems that need to be solved along the way to win.

Kids are given the chance to learn about the world around them through educational video games. Kids get an opportunity to expand their understanding of animals, plants, science and more. An entirely new world will open up before them on the computer monitor.

The games have continuous action and you can play as many times as you need to in order to win. Teaching kids about video games at an early age helps you to control what types of games they play. In the world of technology, kids grow up way to soon and often know more (about technology) than their parents. Starting early gets you involved and keeps you involved in their lives.

Some people believe that playing video games is a mind-numbing process. All you do is sit and shoot.

With the Leapster, from Leapfrog, kids can take their portable gaming system with them and play educational video games on long car trips, on the plane ride or anytime they need something to do. Leapster uses a stylus pen so it is easier for kids mark their answers on the game screen. The characters sing songs that you can learn along with your kids.

V-Tech has come out with a gaming console for kids to play educational games through the television set. Kids learn their alphabet, phonics and things like colors and shapes with fun games.

Educational video games help to reinforce what is being taught at school. As kids master the games and get smarter, their self-confidence will rise.

Don’t think of video games as the enemy. They can be used for educational purposes to give your kids a firm foundation in school. As they get older, you can introduce them to educational games for higher grade levels to keep the learning going as long as possible.

They say that if you can’t beat them then join them. That sage advice works wonders when it comes to video games. Usually kids are playing with friends or by themselves in their rooms. Get them up and moving with more active video game consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii.

If you let a kid sit in his room and play video games, he will hibernate. He’s not a bear and his body won’t digest the fat to survive. Allowing your kids to play video games is not wrong, but stay involved so that you can keep them from becoming a detriment to his health.

Adults play video games almost as much as kids, so it won’t seem odd to ask them to play a game with you. As much fun as it is sitting cross legged in the floor with a controller, suggest a game that gets them moving around a bit more while they play.

One obvious solution is the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo has attempted to resurrect virtual reality play on a large scale (with great success) for the gamer and those who don’t really play video games that much. Just the fact that you can control the movement of the characters in the games with your body is enough to get anyone into the game.

The more popular games on the Wii game system are ones that allow multiple players. Try out Mario vs. Sonic. It is a series of Olympic competitions played with the characters from both video games. You and your kids can choose your character and compete in swimming relays, running races, field events like the long jump, high jump and others. You’ll laugh at the movements you make in order to get your character to win. Most of all, your family will get some exercise without even knowing it.

Playing video games with your kids does two things. First, it lets you bond with them using the game to spend quality time getting to know them. Secondly, you can see what types of games your kids are interested in playing and make sure they are appropriate for their age group.
There are a lot of things that kids don’t want their parents to do with them and playing video games isn’t one of them. The kids will welcome your competition, and all of the action games will  get the heart pumping and the blood flowing for the both of you.

The Wii gaming system has a huge selection of video games to choose from, and it’s continuously growing. Find one that you both like to play and be sure to have at least two controllers so that family members can challenge each other.

If your kids won’t go outside and play, bring the action to them with an interactive gaming system such as the Nintendo Wii.