How To Teach Your Kids To Safely Play Pokémon GO
Pokémon Go gets kids off the couch and outside playing. This Pokémon phenomenon started in early July, and has since grabbed more daily active users than Twitter and Facebook.
So what is Pokémon Go? If you’re a parent and you don’t have a clue, you most certainly should. This new interactive gaming app played using a smartphone lets users take gaming to the streets, parks, and to some not so child friendly places.
In many ways, this app has done the impossible, getting kids outside again. Pokémon Go is exciting and even the whole family can get in on the action. You might find spending time with your kids capturing Pokémon characters fun.
Kids venturing outside and away from your watchful eye, however, may raise some parenting concerns. Pokémon Go can be used as a parenting tool for teaching safety, and this makes it an ally. Take this unique opportunity and teach your kids to safely play Pokémon Go.
Keep Your Kids Safe by Teaching them the Importance of Staying in Reality
Pokémon Go is an interactive gaming app that combines the gaming world with reality. This is how the app has pulled your kids away from the sofa and their gaming consoles.
The app, however, pulls them in a dangerous direction. Kids may forget they are walking and existing in reality. There have been reports of Pokémon Go users running into street signs, and even traffic. Injuries have become a side effect of the game.
Emphasize to your kids the utter importance of staying aware of their surroundings while playing. This can be a great parenting lesson for kids with smartphones in general.
They need to understand the importance of taking Pokémon breaks. Allowing them to look up at the real world in front of them to see possible dangers, and cars zipping by.
Teach Your Kids How to Play Pokémon Go Safely by Joining Them
Like most words of parenting wisdom, leading by example is vital. If you don’t know what Pokémon Go is, how can you give those wise little anecdotes to your kids? Join them on a few Pokémon hunts and give safety pointers on the go.
You could even secretly download the gaming app and take it for a test drive before having the next Pokémon Go family safety briefing. This will not only let you see the dangers in real time, but also create a way for you to connect with your kids in a fun and meaningful way. You can also set boundaries for when your kids are playing solo too.
You might even enjoy playing it yourself. Kids are most certainly wandering the great outdoors searching for Pokémon characters. However, there are a lot of adults playing as well. In fact, 52 percent of users are between the ages of 18 and 34, according to digital survey agency Slice Intelligence.
Emphasize the Reality of Danger and Steering Clear of Strangers
Kids are vulnerable to all sorts of dangers, and Pokémon Go may be a catalyst. There have been a few reports of child predators using the app. They may be using it as a tool to earn the trust of children.
Some Pokémon hunts have even led kids to dangerous places, or unsavory experiences. Setting up real life boundaries for your kids’ virtual play is a great way to keep them within a safe distance of your home. You also don’t want your kids wandering into places of remembrance, like the Arlington cemetery for example.
Pokémon Go has teamed up with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to keep kids safe while playing. Callahan Walsh, a spokesman for the organization said the app could be used as a parenting tool to teach, and touch on those basic safety tips.
Taking advantage of new app trends like Pokémon Go to get your kids to listen up when it comes to safety is great. Most kids have their smartphones permanently attached to them. And as a parent, keeping up with the apps they are downloading is essential. Make Pokémon Go a safe and fun experience for your kids by joining in.