What is the proper age for kids to start playing video games?
February 4th, 2009 | by Michael |
Colette asked:
I have a nephew who is just 3 years old. He loves to come over to our home because of my brother’s video games. My brother has serious bloody games and fighting games and my little nephew enjoys playing them. He’s actually quite good at it to be honest. I’m concerned though. Would it affect my little nephew in a bad way if he keeps playing games like this?
LEWIS
I have a nephew who is just 3 years old. He loves to come over to our home because of my brother’s video games. My brother has serious bloody games and fighting games and my little nephew enjoys playing them. He’s actually quite good at it to be honest. I’m concerned though. Would it affect my little nephew in a bad way if he keeps playing games like this?
LEWIS
28 Responses to “What is the proper age for kids to start playing video games?”
By angelo on Feb 6, 2009 | Reply
girls-7
boys-6
By LOVIN IT! on Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
well why in the world would anyone let a 3 yr old play games like that? Be responsible and do not let him. BOTTOM LINE!!
By Lyndsay C on Feb 10, 2009 | Reply
NEVER. they are a major waste of time AND brain cells!
By Mom of 7 on Feb 11, 2009 | Reply
There are toddler systems available now!!!! Leapfrog is one.
By n0sleep on Feb 12, 2009 | Reply
well i think it;s good that kids play games when they are young, but games suited for them like …games that u have to thnk alittle ..u know… something that they can learn something from it
lol not steal cars shoot people and so on 
By James K on Feb 14, 2009 | Reply
No, I have played games like that since I was a little boy. Games don’t kill people, stupid parents do…
By fishpike on Feb 15, 2009 | Reply
When they are 21.
By *LiLy* on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
That’s a good question… I personally don’t think video games are bad, but I do think he’s too young. There are other video games for younger kids, howabout you buy some for his age, there are some very good educational video games out there.
By redkiller on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
it is really good now a days for kids to play vedio games but im talking about the educational ones now the killing and other stuff… 3 years old is kinda good to them but just let them stay out of bloody games and so forth just purshu the educational games…..
By sexiest_badboy on Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
lol!…um yeah if the lil dude is playing games with an age 18 restriction or sumtn its gna affect him..restrictions are there for a reason..
a 3 year old’s brain is young and undeveloped so its prone to anything, the violence and bloodshed might lead to a violent behavious..so it would be wise to let the lil dude play with some things more age appropriate
By Kelly K on Feb 22, 2009 | Reply
uh…that is too young. I would say like 7 and up.
By xenagurl on Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
Get some games for him like ratatouille or spongebob…
He does NOT need to be playing violent games at that age.
He can enjoy them later in life.
My nephew (5) used to play violent games all the time. We then discovered he was getting no sleep; the violent images were replaying in his subconcious.
By mblastguy on Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
I do not feel comfortable allowing a 3 year old to play those violent type of games. they are at a very impressionable age and will take in everything and begin emulating it. They need to have games that reinforce numbers and reading and politeness in order to become healthy well adjusted. They don’t understand that violent behavior in real life is not acceptable and do not have the capacity to make that determination. There is a reason for the M ratings on these games seeing as predomonantly a 17 year old is able to understand that the images are fake and it is just a video game where as a 3 year old can’t and it is the parents responsability (or yours as a supervising adult) to make those choices for him. It doesn’t matter how “good” he is, it is irresponsible to let him play those type of games. Does his mother know you are letting him play those? because ultimately it is her decision not yours. And if my sister or brother was letting my 3 year old play violent games behind my back I would be furious.
By Rachel on Feb 26, 2009 | Reply
We bought my son, who is 4, a V-smile. It’s an educational video game system for kids 3 and up! He learns a lot through it because they use letters and numbers. As far as the more advanced systems, I’d wait until 6 for boys and girls!
By Fiesty K on Feb 27, 2009 | Reply
I know that video games improve eye-hand coordination BUT ultimately impact imagination and creativity. I think as long as the games are appropriate for the child’s age– depending on what kind of video game it is– ARE OK. Some games are developmentally appropriate for children which is okay but you should take your child outside as much as possible and let them explore, use their imagination, and become a bold, innovative individuals. SO my answer is NO violent games to any children under 12—children imitate and role-play what they see. But “learning” games are appropriate.
By lynnguys on Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
IMO, the later, the better! Today, children are way to consumed with video games and the computer. There are thousands of children that are now showing up in doctors offices with scoliosis related to being hunched over games all day. For your little nephew’s sake, I would limit his time on the games and keep some fun character games out for him (like Mario Bros or Sponge Bob). He’s way too young for the more violent stuff and studies have shown that it can harm their psychological development.
By !SoBusy! on Mar 2, 2009 | Reply
Games have ratings (just like movies) for a reason. Although your nephew probably has no idea what all the blood and foul language means, its still something that is inappropriate. My son played a similar game with his uncle and later had nightmares and started saying, “I’m gonna kill you” and things like that. NOT COOL in my opinion. My son got a stern talking to as well as my brother-in-law.
I definitely say stick to the ratings. There are new toddler games and game systems available, although I think those are silly too. Whatever happened to playing outside, playing make-believe, reading stories and acting them out, playing board games, putting puzzles together…..??
It’s probably a good idea to ask his parents what they think about the subject.
By taisha c on Mar 4, 2009 | Reply
At 3 for both girls and boys.
By Jacqueline D on Mar 7, 2009 | Reply
3 seems a little young, but if he enjoys them, why not? However, he shouldn’t be playing adult games or bloody war games! There are age recommendations on those things for a reason! Take the older games off him and give him games like Shrek or Finding Nemo to play. He should also be given a time limit on how long he can play games before he has to do something else.
By ShreekyDaStonerLette 420 on Mar 8, 2009 | Reply
my daughter was 3 when she first played her first video game.i took her to nick jr’s web site and had her play some games and she loved it.now shes 4 and in preschool and at her school they have 2 comps with preschool games on it and she loves playing games at school so my mother in law bought her “spongebob the movie” comp game last week and that child hogs the comp more than anyone now….lol.what i’m trying to say its fine for a child to play video games but make sure its in their age level espelly being under 5yrs old and make sure that you are watching them play it and explaine to them that “games are for play and that you can’t do what they do on there unless you approve of it” and that works for my 4 yr old.if they want to play fighting games like older sibs has or cousins has make sure they are old enough to understand that they can not copy what they do.if they cant understand that don’t let them play those kind of games yet wait until he gets into school..good luck with your nephew.
By AmicaBella on Mar 9, 2009 | Reply
i think its ok for him to play games that young as long as he understands what to do and the games are age appropriate. i dont think a 3 y/o should play violent games. I have a 4 y/o son who plays our old nintendo games all the time. he is very good at basketball, super mario, and a couple others. we dont even let him see the games that are violent. as far as an appropriate age for games in general, thats is up the the parents and the parents only bc they know their child best.
By Hailey S on Mar 12, 2009 | Reply
well if the game effects his actions after he plays the video game because my brother plays video games like that and at first my mom had to take the game away from him because he was hitting me with a sword take my advice you can let him play e for everyone and some t for teen but not m rated games OK by
By WVPV07 on Mar 13, 2009 | Reply
It’s not a good idea to let 3 year olds play violent video games made for older kids. There are non violent games you could get for him to play whenever he is visiting. In all honesty, the nephew is too young to get involved with video games, he should be reading, playing other games.
By the chaining guy on Mar 14, 2009 | Reply
honnestly no because my son has been playing video games since 3 also and its not damaging his life its just fun for them and you just have to keep telling them that its all pretend and not real..he’ll be fine unless his parents don’t like it then you have a whole other problem in its own…good luck
By Fiona D on Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
dont let a 3 year old play games like that he should still have a dummy and cuddly his favorite toy or something - especiaaly if there bloody and stuff !!!
i would say girls start when there 9/10 and boys when there 7/8/9/10
By momof4 on Mar 16, 2009 | Reply
just had to add i’m baffled by people who think video games become appropriate at different ages for boys v. girls???
i say as late as possible, and definitely much later than 3. video games are somewhat addictive, and draw kids away from more developmentally appropriate activities. they’re sedentary, they’re often violent, they require no imagination and no social skills. if an 8-10 year-old plays non-violent video games very occasionally, i’m sure that’s not the end of the world. if a 15-year-old plays somewhat more violent video games occasionally, that’s probably not the end of the world either. nobody needs more than that.
By Debra d on Mar 19, 2009 | Reply
65.
If you want a healthy happy child don’t let them ever start!!
By kazarolla on Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
i held a joystick since i had 4 years