I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Activision Family Game Summit this week to learn about the latest Activision video games for families.  I learned about some of the games already on my girls’ wishlists--and was able to add a few to those lists with a little more confidence.  I would like to share a few of the things I learned about Activision and video game ratings--and video game benefits with you. I would also love to give you a gift as well.  We are giving away one copy of Activision’s Wipeout 3 for Xbox with Kinect just in time for Christmas, so be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post!

 There are family friendly video games that suit both parents and kids.  There are lots of suitable, family video games available--that the kids actually want.  As parents, we just need to do our homework.  Angry Birds is a collective favorite game for my cellphone.  All three of the girls love it--and it is now available as a video game in Angry Birds Trilogy .  As the mom of three girls, it was once a little difficult to find games geared toward young daughters.  This is no longer the case--games featuring Lalaloopsy and other well known characters make choosing games for girls much easier.  While mature themed games may still make it onto your child’s holiday list--there is likely a number of family friendly video games on those lists as well.  

The ESRB Rating System offers more than just letter ratings.  I think most of us understand the video game rating system and are familiar with the letters.  Those of us with little ones know to look for those games bearing an E for Everyone symbol.   I was not aware that the new ESRB RatingSystem includes a 3-part system that offers a lot of information and insights into a game’s rating.  The Interactive Elements portion of the rating helps parents understand more about information sharing--and that really helps those of us seeking to protect our children’s online presences.   

Research shows benefits of video games.  While I am a proponent of outdoor, face to face playtime for my girls--the occasional video game may not be so bad.  Research presented during the Activision Family Game Summit reminded us that there are benefits to video games--when chosen to suit our personal needs and values and when played as a family.

I learned a lot from the Activision Family Game Summit and I hope that I gave you a few resources as you make your child’s video game purchases this holiday season.  

Time to Enter our Wipeout 3 for Xbox 360 Kinect Video Game Giveaway.


 
Now--how about winning a free video game to get your holiday shopping up and running before Black Friday?  I received a goody bag from Activision for attending the Activision Family Game Summit--and wanted to share a gift with one lucky reader!  We are giving away one copy of the Wipeout 3 for Xbox 360 Kinect video game!!!  Enter via the Rafflecopter entry below and leave us a comment and tell us what gift tops your child’s wishlist this year!  !  The contest ends December 3rd.  Good Luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: The copy of Wipeout 3 was provided by Activision as part of a goody bag that I received when attending the Activision Family Game Summit. This giveaway is listed at Infinite Sweepstakes