If your kids received video games for the holidays, just because they might be playing in a virtual world, doesn’t mean safety is out of your control.

For the Flinton family, working a video game controller is second nature. Eleven-year-old Shelby's game of choice is Disney's Dreamlight Valley.

What You Need To Know

  • Video games were the number one requested holiday gift in 2024, according to data from The Entertainment Software Association

  • Over 60% of Americans play video games every week

  • Each console overs parental controls to keep kids safe

“As a family, we started gaming back during COVID,” said Shelby’s mother Jill Flinton. Flinton says their group habit took off from there and hasn't stopped.

Flinton plays the same game as her daughter on a Nintendo switch.

"We had one switch for three of us, which became interesting,” said Flinton “‘Hey, can I get my hour? Can I get my hour?’”

So now everyone, including Shelby, has their own console.

"There's always a risk of people being online who you really don't want people to have contact with,” said Flinton. “It’s a risk anywhere. You walk outside, you walk in the stores, the same things."

Shelby was gifted in-game currency this holiday season and according to data from the Entertainment Software Association, 76% of kids asked for video games, making it the number one requested holiday gift in 2024.

"Over 60% of Americans play video games every single week and that cuts across all demographics so I think there are a lot of stereotypes that are busted when we share this research about who is a gamer who is playing games regularly,” said Aubrey Quinn, senior vice president of the Entertainment Software Association.

With so many people playing across all ages, how can we play safely together?

Quinn represents the video game industry, tracking trends and helping adults utilize the features that will keep their kids safe.

She says the top two concerns are content and screen time.

"Virtually every device you can play video games on has parental controls and these are tools built into the consoles and devices that let you put limits around how your kids play,” said Quinn. “You can set time limits, you can control the time of day, how much time they get to spend playing. You can also limit or block any in-game spend. You can also limit or block them from communicating with other people online. You can essentially turn a multiplayer game into a single-player game or just make sure your kids are playing with approved friends, people you know in real life."

Those parental controls allow Flinton to set screen time limits and approve a little extra when Shelby gets her homework done or during school vacations.

Flinton and her husband keep a close eye on Shelby and an open ear when she’s playing. Flinton says when it comes to kids being safe online, healthy communication is their family's cheat code.

"She's very open about what they're talking about and what her friendships are like and we have conversations about, ‘well, you know what? If you don't like what they're saying, you know, you just mute them or you get out of the game with them or you just unfriend them.’”

Quinn also recommends paying close attention to age ratings.

"I think there's a lot of social value,” said Quinn. “We see great communities and spaces. So depending on where you are or maturity perspective, you know, it can be a really great and powerful place to meet people [and] to have communities."

And Flinton agrees, saying the benefits for Shelby have gone far beyond entertainment.

"It's given us a chance to communicate on a different level and it helps with giving her focus, too,” said Flinton. “It keeps her regulated and it keeps her going forward with her day."