Fun for the whole family
Game consoles for children: These consoles are suitable and parents should be aware of this
Do you want a family-friendly game console? These devices are suitable for children and parents.
© Getty Images
Watch films, go online and gamble – all of this is possible with a game console. When parents want to choose a suitable console for their children, they are spoiled for choice. Here you can find out what options there are and what parents should pay attention to when using them.
Before buying a family-friendly game console for the children, parents are spoiled for choice. There are portable consoles that are ideal for long car journeys, stationary devices and various providers and games. Read here which game consoles and manufacturers are available.
Game consoles for children
A brief overview of the various consoles will help you make a purchase decision.
- Stand consoles: They have their own place and are connected to the television or another screen. This has the advantage that you can keep an eye on your children when they are playing. In addition, these consoles are good for families, because there are several controllers that make gaming together possible.
- Handheld consoles: They are portable devices that can be taken anywhere. They are therefore well suited for long car journeys and bored children. However, parents are less able to control when and how much is played because the consoles can be quickly taken into the children’s room. A joint discussion and the setting of the rules of the game are therefore useful.
- Combination consoles: The Nintendo Switch is a special case. It can be both a stationary device and a handheld console. That makes them flexible and suitable for families.
Which consoles are the most worthwhile?
Which console convinces you personally is purely a matter of taste. Handling and available games essentially determine whether you like a game console. The latest generations of the well-known manufacturers, the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch have the best technology, but also cost more.
Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite
The is suitable for families Nintendo Switch preferably. It is a combination of a stand console and a handheld. The portable screen can be set up, connected to the television and played with two controllers at the same time. Alternatively, a large handheld console can be assembled from the controllers and the screen. Since several generations are united in families, not only the children but also the parents should have joyful feelings of nostalgia when games like “Super Mario Odyssey” and “The Legend of Zelda” flicker across the screen. Please note, however, that you always have to buy the games with the classic game consoles and therefore incur additional costs.
Handheld console: Switch Lite
Nintendo offers with the Switch Lite another version of the popular games console. The Switch Lite is a pure handheld console that comes with preinstalled games such as “New Super Mario Bros. 2”. In general, Nintendo games are considered child-friendly because they can be played together and are free from violence.
Playstation 4 Slim
the Playstation 4 Slim has a long tradition; the first version of the popular game console saw the light of day in the gaming world as early as 1995. Parents and children can easily share the console because there is a large selection of different games. In addition to the countless exciting titles (including exclusive titles such as “Uncharted 4” or “God of War” and “Spider-Man”), there are also numerous games for children. You can choose between the PS4 Slim and the Pro version. The former is cheaper and should be sufficient as a game console for children. There is also the Slim with 500 gigabytes and one terabyte of storage, so you can also choose here. Depending on the game, up to four people can gamble at the same time.
Xbox One S
If you don’t like the game consoles from Nintendo and Sony, Microsoft also offers popular devices. The latest generation includes the Xbox One X and Xbox One S. The One X impresses with its performance and outperforms the Sony models and is therefore particularly suitable for tech-savvy gamers. This is enough as a game console for children Xbox One S completely off. The exclusive title of the Microsoft Xbox “Forza” is a popular racing game and suitable for the whole family. The advantage over the competition is that the Xbox One can play Blu-rays.
Previous consoles
The latest generations of game consoles from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are not cheap, so a quick look at the previous consoles can be worthwhile. There is, for example, the Nintendo Wii as the predecessor of the Nintendo Switch. Titles like “Wii Sports” can even motivate you to move more, because the characters can be controlled by the movements of the player in the real world. The Nintendo 2DS XL trading console is also suitable for children, as games such as “Super Mario Bros 2” or “Animal Crossing” can be played on the go. Parents probably still know him: The Gameboy has enjoyed great popularity for a long time. There are various inexpensive alternatives to the original online that can be used to play mini-games.
Games console for children: this is what parents should be aware of
Not every game is suitable for children and parents should also consider the possibility that children could use a console to access the Internet on their own.
- Age rating: Pay attention to the age rating when playing console games. You can usually find this directly on the packaging. However, if you download games from the manufacturers’ digital stores, you have to pay special attention to this. You can find useful information on this at USK website (Entertainment software self control).
- Internet access: Parents need to be aware that when you provide game consoles, you often provide Internet access, which means that in theory your children can go online, visit websites, or chat on their own. So the risks of the internet also apply to using a console. Often, however, the console games require Internet access, so it is best for parents and their children to establish rules for using the Internet. Particular attention should be paid to handheld consoles that children may take outside and use the Internet access there. Therefore, find out about the game console of your choice and establish common guidelines with your children. You can also consider whether it is possible to block Internet access.
- Playtime: Game consoles entice children to sit in front of them for hours, because the playful occupation is fun and makes time fly by. Of course, daily gaming should not only take place digitally, so it is important that your children know how long they can play on the console. Otherwise 30 minutes can quickly become two hours.
You might also be interested in:
This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.