The rise of the gaming family

Move over, family movie night. A new study on kids and gaming conducted by media research firm Magid shows that more parents and their kids are gaming together—signaling a big shift in digital behavior. The study of 1,500 kids and parents uncovered that it’s not just a trend among families with parents who already love gaming. Parents who never played before are jumping in as well so they can spend time with their kids.

Parents and kids: Gaming together

“This is the first generation where the majority of parents grew up gaming and are comfortable with a game controller in their hands,” says Matt Bertz, Vice President of Games, Magid.

One-third of kids ages 10 to 12 and over one-quarter of kids ages 13 to 17 consider parents their top reason for getting into family gaming. And more than half of kids ages 10 to 15 consider their parents a “very important” part of how they got into video games.

“This is a new paradigm that stands in stark contrast to when older generations grew up and gaming was this mysterious hobby that parents knew little or nothing about,” Bertz says. “Not only do parents know how to navigate these online spaces, they influence the types of games their children get exposed to.”

But it’s not just gamer parents. Even non-gamer parents are embracing family gaming as a way to connect with their kids.

“We’ve spoken to many parents who weren’t originally gamers themselves but learned more about it as a way to bond,” Bertz says. “One mother told us that being informed about the big things in her children’s lives was extremely important to her, so she took the time to learn how to play Fortnite and is now considered the ‘cool mom.’”

How to level up gaming with your kids

Whether you’re a long-time player or new to gaming, consider the following:

• Set some house rules on gaming at home. Talk together about how to deal with toxic behavior in gaming, and teach kids how to play it safe.

• Start at the same level. If their favorite game is too intimidating for you to learn, suggest one where both of you will feel comfortable playing.     

• Make the gaming experience a parenting experience. Look for games that explore broader social and emotional issues, giving you a chance to connect on topics that may be difficult to broach naturally.

• Share the life lessons you’ve learned from gaming. Games that offer challenges and complexities can help you use your own gaming skills to provide teachable moments while gaming with your kid.

Still looking for a reason to try gaming with your kid? Consider this:

“Gaming is a powerful form of bonding because it’s one we can hold onto once our children grow up and move away,” says Bertz. “Getting them on the phone is tough. Sending them a Fortnite game invite might be the better bet to catch up in the future.”

Set game time limits and turn off Wi-Fi from one app on your phone—with Smart Family.