I didn’t always despise video games.

I didn’t always despise video games.

In fact, I played a lot of games on my Atari 2600, Nintendo NES, and PS One. In fact, when the kids were younger, our whole family played all types of racing games on the PlayStation 2.

But as our kids grew older, I somehow slipped into the thinking that video games are a waste of time and that they will rot your brain. I jumped to conclusions because I saw little to no value in them whatsoever.

I became strict about enforcing time limits. I micromanaged game selection. I ignored concerns over lag time. I even disconnected the monitor and the PS4 while our son was playing. 🤦

In short, I lacked empathy and patience.

Then, one day, humility took its rightful place and I entered into our son’s world to learn and to listen.  What happened next transformed our relationship, our family, and my life forever. I had missed the obvious.

Parenting with trust in a gaming world begins with those two things: empathy and patience. Once we stop judging and humbly enter their world, we can listen to our player’s reasons for enjoying video games. 

We build trust with our players by acknowledging the value they place on gaming. This is done simply by listening to them.

We don’t throw away our concern for them, nor the need for healthy boundaries. What good parent would do that? Not me, I tell ya.

The way those boundaries are set matters. Instead of issuing strict rules, involve your player in the boundary setting process. Take time to discuss why limits are necessary for health, balance, and family time. 

This mutual decision-making reinforces trust, as our players feel respected and part of the conversation rather than controlled, dismissed, or unloved.

Ephesians 4:2 is super helpful here and by being humble, gentle and patient, we are able to work together with our players to create reasonable gaming boundaries.

At Slingshot Esports, our goal is to unlock the potential of gaming while encouraging players to strengthen their relationships, all of which is rooted in Christian principles. By shedding light on the world of video games, we create connections and celebrate the important role gaming holds in the lives of our players.

Make the connection:

• How might we create the time and space to show empathy and patience by creating or reviewing our boundaries around video games?

We are #ForTheGamer and help players play with purpose and win for good.