How old to start gaming?

[Nebulous]

Children enjoy video games.

How old should a child be before he or she is allowed to play video games?

[killamch89]

I started gaming at 3 years old and I've been gaming for 3 decades now so there's not harm in starting them off with very simple games at that age. I started playing Duck Hunt shooting a duck with the gun accessor...Okay so maybe that's not the best example but you get the point 🤣.

[Withywarlock]

Whenever their parents decide they can, it's none of my business. As a former child myself though I was playing video games at around the age of 3 or 4, playing a rather unhealthy amount of frustrating games from Super Star Wars to the Super Scope's unreliability (it was an early light gun, you can't expect much from it; well, at the time you could because it cost a fortune). I'd like to think that were I to introduce my hypothetical children to video games they'd be at an age where I can get them to play responsibly: a certain distance from the screen with a set amount of time, and looking after the systems they're playing on.

This is the fourth time I've had to ask this morning and I can only hope this helps with your further contributions to the forum @Nebulous, but what age do you think video games are acceptable to play, and why?

[Justin11]

At times parents can't decide for you when they aren't aware of it. My parents didn't tell me when I needed to start playing video games. I did and myself and started at an early age around 4-5 years old. Since then, it's been me and video games, it is hard to skip a single day without playing games unless I'm too occupied. 

[Yaramaki]

3 Years is kinda too young because it's doubtfull a child would even understand what is going on when they would play a videogame. Age 5-6 orso would probably be a more appropriate age, if it was my doing i would introduce gaming to kids with kinect, no controller, no bullshit to deal with, maybe a broken window or two who knows but seriously it has to be said kinect is perfect as a starter platform for kids who have no reading skills yet and no previous experience with gaming. I'm sure most kids would have a blast with some of the various kinect games avaible. Also maybe a table with some fairly simple mobile games. I'd probably hold off until they can play atleast something like crash bandicoot or spyro the dragon lol.

[Heatman]

The moment the child can be able to understand what he or she is doing is a good time to start playing video games once they can be able to appreciate it. With that being said, I believe that from the age of 3 years upwards should be decent enough for any child to stop playing video games. I didn't start playing early enough because my parents were anti-gaming. 

[Justin11]

Hmm, 3 years? Man, I don't think that's possible for anyone to start playing games as a child. A three year old is just starting life, wouldn't know how to play, I can accept for four years and above, because at that age, you can talk very well and understand few things around gaming and other forms of entertainment. 

[Clasher]

I think I was 6 or 7 years old when I got I Started gaming , earlier than that my bro would just let me hold the controller but never really let me play because I wouldn't be able to make a proper move.

At the of 6 I was already pretty much familiar with it and could play without assistance.

[Empire]

Games for all ages and for the kids 😉 Nowdays it's from age of 5 years old and up 🙂 Depends on the family and whatnot. I did not get into gaming PCs or any type of contect games till I was 10 years old 🙂 

[NightmareFarm]

Old enough to be able to pick up a controller and play. So about 4 and up.

[Heatman]

10 hours ago, Empire said:

Games for all ages and for the kids 😉 Nowdays it's from age of 5 years old and up 🙂 Depends on the family and whatnot. I did not get into gaming PCs or any type of contect games till I was 10 years old 🙂 

Some kids grow and develop too fast more than they should. I have seen kids at 2 years that have understood the concept of video games and they play it. 

[Gonassis]

It's fine to let young kids play games with adult supervision I guess, what I don't agree with is letting kids younger than 5 years old have access to the vast toxic online internet world. 🤨😐

[Family sedan]

I was playing handheld games at age 6 or 7.  I'd say the first game a kid should have is the modern equivalent to a handheld game.  If they can deal with the handheld game properly, like not break it, I would possibly see about getting my child a console if I had a child.

[Clasher]

3 hours ago, Family sedan said:

I was playing handheld games at age 6 or 7.  I'd say the first game a kid should have is the modern equivalent to a handheld game.  If they can deal with the handheld game properly, like not break it, I would possibly see about getting my child a console if I had a child.

Same as me, I started with handheld games long before I play with a console and controller and I was about 6 when I was gifted my first Gameboy.

If any of my kids loves gaming as much as I would get them a console or maybe a Nintendo switch for a start since the games on the platform are usually kids friendly and then we could move on to other platforms as they grow older.

[Heatman]

10 hours ago, Gonassis said:

... kids younger than 5 years old have access to the vast toxic online internet world. 🤨😐

Even kids that are 5 years and above shouldn't be allowed to have access to such so much hate and toxic communities when it comes to video games. It's definitely a gonna ruin a big thing in them growing up. 

Parental guidance is very important for kids when it comes to choosing their games.