Advice: teacher's guide to video game age ratings

Exergames use video games, which is positive because kids love video games. There needs to be awareness that not all games are suitable for children. Choosing an inappropriate game for exergaming is mentally unhealthy for children and will produce a negative response from some parents. Despite a few high profile games that are considered unsuitable for children, there is a significant number of alternatives. This post is intended to help you when selecting appropriate video games for children related to age groups.

Video games are rated according to age, similar to movies. This rating is typically visible on the outside of the packaging of the video game. There are various styles of age rating scales available -some using numbers and others using letter codes.

The number systems, such as the Pan European Game Information (PEGI), are self explanatory as they provide a number that indicates the lower age limit. Additionally PEGI gives an indication of the type of content on the outside of the package, such as bad language or drugs. The coding systems, such as the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), also include additional information regarding the content of the game, but use letter codes instead of numbers to define an age range. There are additional rating systems, but these are the two main styles you are likely to find.

It is important to implement positive mental practices as well as physical practices during exergame play in physical education. Therefore, paying attention to the video games children bring to class, and considering age rating as an important part of the purchasing criteria for you and the parent is necessary. In practical terms, you will need to decide what the lowest age is during each class, and make sure you are using appropriate video games for all potential users during exergame play.

As an example, to incorporate exergames into a school with children at various age levels, it is essential to avoid using video games designed for older children with children that are below the appropriate age. A game of a low age rating will be a suitable choice that everyone in the school is able to use. Most of the popular sports games have a 3+ age rating; yet, teenagers are also engaged. It is essential that any games with higher age ratings, chosen by older age groups, should be unavailable to younger children.

Allowing your children to bring their own games to class is a great way to get them excited with exergame play. However, if you allow this, simply check the age rating on the package to make sure it fits your standards. And, as we all know how children can be deceivingly smart, make sure the children have not brought an older rated game in by sneaking it into a different package with a younger age rating!

For further reading see http://www.esrb.org and http://www.pegi.info.