Cyber Safety: Tips for Online Gaming

By Madison Police Department Technology Committee

The basics about online games

• Online games can be anything from free flash games to virtual worlds to massive multiplayer online games.

• Many online games—including ones for elementary-aged kids—offer free chat.

• Some require in-game purchases of virtual goods.

• Many offer parental controls.

Online game tips for preschoolers and elementary-aged kids

Guide preschoolers: Sit alongside young kids and explain what the game is asking them to do.

Choose good games: Look for titles that are educational and stimulating.

Establish time limits: Be firm from the beginning about how much time kids can play.

Be aware of multiplayer options: Kids need to develop social skills in the real world before they start practicing these skills in cyberspace. There are plenty of excellent online games that don’t require your child to talk to anyone else.

Online game tips for middle- and high school-aged kids

Review the multiplayer options:  Preteen and teen games often involve more player interaction, multiplayer action or player-generated content that kids can upload and download. But these features can be controlled by the player, so set the controls you’re comfortable with.

Watch the language: Language can get intense when kids are hyped up from the action. If you aren’t comfortable with what you hear, use the parental controls that disable online play.

Be wary of contests, freebies and cheat codes: These things can seriously jam your computers with malware and spyware.

Choose age-appropriate games: Teen games can be incredibly immersive and even addicting—not to mention violent. So make sure that you agree on time limits, and set some rules around which games are appropriate for your kids.

If you need help:

For emergency situations, call 911; for non-emergency situations, contact Sgt. June Groehler at (608) 209-9118 or jgroehler@cityofmadison.com.