Raising Good Gamers publishes white paper on families and gaming: "It's time for parents to get curious and opt in, and our kids say they want that too."

July 23, 2026 - 00:27

A new white paper from the advocacy group Raising Good Gamers is calling on parents to stop treating video games as a babysitter or a battleground. Instead, the report argues, it is time for families to engage with gaming as a shared activity. The central message is clear: kids want their parents to opt in, not tune out.

The research reveals a striking statistic: nearly 60% of young gamers say they wish their parents were more involved in their gaming lives. This runs counter to the common image of a child isolated behind a screen, resenting any adult interruption. According to the report, many children view gaming as a social and creative space they would like to share with their families, not hide from them.

The white paper encourages parents to move beyond simple screen time limits and instead ask questions. What game are you playing? What do you like about it? Who do you play with? The authors argue that genuine curiosity from a parent can open a door to understanding a child's digital world. They suggest that playing together, even for just a few minutes, builds trust and gives parents a real look at the challenges and joys their kids experience online.

The report also addresses common parental fears, such as toxic behavior and online safety. Rather than recommending outright bans, it suggests co-playing as a way to teach resilience and good digital citizenship in real time. The message is that a parent sitting next to a child during a game can offer more protection than any parental control software alone.

the paper frames gaming not as a problem to be solved, but as a part of modern family life that deserves attention and participation. As one young gamer put it in the study, having a parent who tries to understand the game feels a lot better than having one who just yells about it.