How to limit screen time and find a healthy balance for young gamers

At a glance

• Video games are designed around goals, rewards and progress, which can make it hard for kids to stop before a match, quest or level is complete.
• Watch or play a round with your child to learn the game’s natural stopping points, such as “Mission Complete” or “Victory” screens, or by viewing lives counters or quest trackers.
• Set healthier gaming habits by pairing clear screen time limits with offline routines, including physical activity or screen-free time between sessions.

I’ve been playing video games for over three decades and have turned that hobby into a writing career. I remember the clashes I’d have with my own parents back in the day, ranging from how long I could play to what games I could play. Fun fact: They’d keep my consoles plugged into an outlet controlled by a light switch on the wall, so if I wasn’t listening to them, my progress was lost with a single flip.

What I (and my parents) didn’t know then was that there is science to explain what kept me glued to my games — and it can take more than a light switch to overcome that attraction. Yes, game designers use human behavior studies to build games, but the same approach could also help us build daily habits with our kids so we can raise healthy gamers. Once you understand how gaming behavior and habits work together, you can set clear boundaries to help your child find a healthy balance.

Here’s your light switch.

Set gameplay time limits.

There’s no set rule for how much time a child can spend gaming each day — the number will be different for each family. If you’re looking for a place to start, it can help to have a general idea of how much game time they’re currently getting each day. Your baseline can be created with that number in mind.

Try this: If you don’t already know how much time your kids spend gaming per day, consider tracking it. If you need help shutting down games after a certain time each evening, consider using Verizon Family Plus, which can make it easy to set data and Wi-Fi limits.

Get in the game or at least watch some.

The primary strategy here is simply to observe as your child plays their favorite game. Whether they use the living room TV for console gaming or play tablet games sitting with you on the couch, being around your child as they enjoy their favorite games will start to build your knowledge base.

Try this: If you don’t know what to look for, you won’t know when to pull the plug. So, get in the game. Soon you’ll be able to differentiate between games like Candy Crush and Fortnite (if you couldn’t before), and no matter what game your child plays, you’ll notice the flow of a gameplay session.

Learn the signals for when the game session is over.

Games with a multiplayer focus strongly encourage players to keep going once a match is over. The “game over” screen might appear, but the games make it easy to jump right into a new match or quest. Knowing what the game over screens look like will be key in setting boundaries — they’re natural stopping points if you can jump in before your kids start a new match.

Try this: If you see words like “Victory Royale,” “Mission Complete” or “You Placed XXth” flash on the screen, your child’s current session is over. They’ve either reached the end, won the match or been eliminated from the game until they start a new one. Each of these screens is marked with specific visuals and sound effects — particularly for victories — so watch a few sessions and familiarize yourself with the match-ending moments. If you want a kid to stop playing and get their homework done or take a bath, this is an easy moment to step in.

Keep an eye on the quest log or tracker.

Some children don’t play shooter or mobile puzzle games with obvious “match over” screens; instead, they prefer vast open worlds bursting with quests, enemies and unique locations. Some of these games, such as World of Warcraft, don’t have clear endings, so if you’re monitoring your child as they play one of these games, the previous tips won’t apply. Instead, parents can use the open quest log to view what the child has to do.

Try this: Monitor the quest log or tracker that lists all open quests your child has activated. Each one lists the objective your child’s character is currently trying to complete. When your child boots up a game for a new play session, you can use this to track what quests are open at that moment. Choose two or three to complete, and once they’re done, it’s time to save and log off.

For every 60 minutes of gameplay, incorporate 60 minutes of physical activity.

Exercise can actually improve response times in gamers, as well as improve their mood and ability to keep their cool when the games get tense. Is your kid getting enough physical exercise to balance out — or enhance — gameplay?

Try this: Talk together about strategies to keep gameplay in balance with the rest of the daily routine. And if your kid is an aspiring gamer, consider adding 60 minutes of physical activity for every hour they play video games. Research published in BMC Public Health suggests that if children mix screen time and physical activity early in life, they’re more likely to continue the balance as they grow older.

There’s no pretending that supervising your child’s video gaming habits is an easy task, especially if you’ve never played the games yourself. However, the tips here will help you put clear limits on how long your child can play per session. No matter which game they’re playing, these guidelines could help you and your child enjoy their favorite games with safe and healthy boundaries—as long as their homework is done.

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