Mom's Got Game

Forget whatever you think you know about gaming, whether it's from your kids or from your youth. Video games today are far more sophisticated—and come in many more varieties than ever before, for every age and experience level. And moms? They're gaming too, and loving it.

Jean Westcott, author of Digitally Daunted: The Consumer's Guide to Taking Control of the Technology in Your Life, says that video games can be a good way to bond with kids, even when they've reached the age where they may be harder to reach.

"Kids need a way to connect with you," says Westcott. "It's all about keeping the options open."

Westcott also points out that video games are an important part of this generation's culture and they can help you better understand what your kids face in their lives. "You learn a lot about their slang and the way they relate to their friends," says Westcott. Also, it can create an opportunity for a family discussion. If you see that a game they enjoy features misogyny or violence, it can spark a converstion about acceptable behavior.

Game Systems

The days when the Atari 2600 was the only system available are long gone. Today, parents have many options when it comes to buying gaming systems and even more options when it comes to the types of games you can play on them.

Westcott recommends the Nintendo Wii for families who are just starting to play games together. In most cases, the controllers use motion to control the game action, so these games are easier to play than those that have controllers with tiny buttons. That difference can help level the playing field between kids and adults. Games like Wii Sports, which comes with the Wii system, are active and can be played by just about anyone—young or old.

Xbox and Playstation have family-friendly offerings too. They both do double duty as CD or DVD players, which means they can act as the family media center. For more portable gaming, the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS and DSi are a lot of fun too.

Choosing Games

It's not necessary to defer to your kids when it comes to choosing games for the whole family. Games are rated for adult content using a system that's similar to the one used to rate movies. E, for instance, means that a game is suitable for everyone. Heather Snavely, who is a mother of two and a senior spokesperson at Xbox, says that the ratings are a good place to start when choosing games.

"The rating system is great for that top-line cursory review - but parents should know why it's rated that way," says Snavely. For instance, one of her family's favorite games, The Beatles: Rock Band, is rated T for teens due to the content of some of the songs. However, Snavely says that doesn't negatively affect the game's worth for her family. They simply skip over songs that they know have questionable material.

When in doubt, ask a game store employee to help you choose. Westcott suggests paying attention to the best-selling games of the moment and then choosing from those that are appropriate for your family. "They are the best sellers for a reason," she says. "The marketplace for games is very well informed."

Moms Who Game

Both Westcott and Snavely play games with their kids, and they aren't alone. Many moms are picking up the controller and joining in the fun.

Artist Wynne Reynolds says that she enjoys playing with her two sons and that it helps her understand where they're coming from. "I believe it's important to be involved with my children's activities and I enjoy it. Gaming with my sons gives us one more thing to talk about and since I play, I know how it feels to beat the enemy, the frustration of being stuck, and the need to play 'just one more level.' I even look up cheats and help them out when they're stuck," says Reynolds of Colorado.

For Reynold's family, the game system of choice is the Xbox and their favorite games include Kung Fu Panda and Lego: Indiana Jones.

Minnesota Mom of two Kelly Olson admits that she isn't that good at many games, but she enjoys playing anyway. "It provides us not only a great opportunity to do something together, but my kids feel empowered when they're explaining the game rules to me or my husband. And, a little competition is good for them." Her family plays games like Rock Band and Cooking Mama on the Wii.

Setting Rules

Both Westcott and Snavely suggest setting limits on when and how often kids can game -- and how much you game as a family. Snavely, for instance, limits game play to weekends so that it doesn't conflict with school.

In some cases, the game can set the limits for you. The Xbox, for example, allows parents to set limits on how long the system can be used each day or week. There's also a timer to see how much it's being used. A password stops little hands from overriding the system.

"Putting your child in front of a gaming console is just like putting him in front of a computer," says Westcott. "There has to be some reasonable supervision."