Leadership

Benefit: Younger people usually don’t have the opportunity to lead others in the real world, so the games provide a way for them to take charge and develop leadership skills. Parents and guardians should use these scenarios to open up broader discussions about social skills and applying leadership skills in real life projects and groups.

Risk: Adult players may be unnecessarily harsh on children who make mistakes because the age of the child is not known to other players. Parents and guardians should monitor their children and provide guidance for working with others and resolving conflicts to minimize the likelihood of these situations.

Friends

Benefit: It’s easier to approach and open up to someone in an online game than in real life. Friendships develop quickly in the game because of the dramatic, tension-filled situations the game puts players in.

Risk: Anonymity makes it easier to idealize the other person – people are literally knights in shining armor. Parents and guardians should remind their children that how they feel about someone they meet online is likely due to the technology rather than the other person.
 
Time

Benefit: As players progress through the game, they gain access to more powerful items and abilities. Having social status and prestige is appealing to many players and may help self-esteem. Parents and guardians can leverage the game context to better understand their children’s personalities and motivations and guide them towards compatible activities and roles in real life.

Risk: Acquiring those items and abilities requires a significant time investment. Some players may lose interest in other activities and lose contact with their friends while spending more and more time playing the online game. Parents and guardians should be proactive in setting clear expectations and limits in terms of time spent online.