Choosing Safe Apps and Games for Children: A Parent's Guide

Navigating the App Store as a Parent

There are more than 5 million apps available across the major app stores, and thousands of new games and apps are released every week. For parents trying to make informed choices about what their children download, this abundance can feel overwhelming. Age ratings alone are not always a reliable guide, and what appears to be an innocuous children's game may contain features that warrant parental attention.

This guide provides a framework for evaluating apps and games, explains what age ratings actually mean, identifies common features to watch for, and suggests resources that help parents make informed choices.

Understanding Age Rating Systems

Apps and games in different markets use different age rating systems. The most important thing to understand is that these ratings are not always applied consistently, are sometimes set by developers rather than independent reviewers, and focus primarily on content rather than on features like in-app purchases, social interaction, or data collection.

PEGI (Pan European Game Information)

The PEGI rating system is used across most of Europe and is one of the more robust independent systems. PEGI ratings are:

• PEGI 3: Suitable for all ages. No content that would be frightening to young children, no violence beyond very minimal cartoon violence.
• PEGI 7: May contain mild violence or scary scenes that could disturb young children.
• PEGI 12: May contain sexual innuendo, non-realistic violence, or mild language.
• PEGI 16: May contain realistic depictions of violence, sexual activity, or strong language.
• PEGI 18: Adult content, including graphic violence and sexual material.

PEGI also uses content descriptors that explain why a particular rating was applied: violence, fear, gambling, online interaction, and so on. These descriptors are more useful to parents than the age number alone.

ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board)

Used primarily in the United States and Canada, the ESRB uses letter ratings (E for Everyone, E10+, T for Teen, M for Mature, AO for Adults Only) alongside content descriptors. The ESRB also provides interactive element descriptors, including whether a game includes online interaction, user-generated content, or in-app purchases.

App Store Age Ratings

Both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store use their own age ratings, which are largely set by developers and verified after the fact. Apple uses age bands of 4+, 9+, 12+, and 17+. Google Play uses Everyone, Everyone 10+, Teen, and Mature 17+. These ratings are less independently verified than PEGI or ESRB and may not capture all the features of an app that are relevant to parents.

What Age Ratings Do Not Tell You

Age ratings are primarily based on the content of an app or game: the violence, language, sexual content, or scary themes. They are less reliable as guides to other features that parents may find equally or more concerning:

In-App Purchases

Many apps and games rated as suitable for young children contain aggressive monetisation: loot boxes, premium currencies, energy systems, and cosmetic items sold for real money. Children may not understand they are spending real money, and the spending can add up quickly.

Before installing any app, check whether it contains in-app purchases and, if so, what they involve. On both iOS and Android, you can require a password or fingerprint for all purchases. On iOS, you can disable in-app purchases entirely through Screen Time settings.

Social Features and Chat

Many games that carry child-appropriate content ratings include live chat features that allow players to communicate with strangers. This is particularly common in multiplayer games and gaming platforms. Chat features are not consistently reflected in age ratings but present significant safeguarding risks for children.

Look for games and apps that allow you to disable chat features entirely, or choose games where social interaction is limited to playing with a pre-approved friends list.

User-Generated Content

Games that include user-generated content, such as levels, skins, or interactive worlds built by other players, can expose children to content that was not envisaged by the developer and cannot be consistently moderated. This is a known safeguarding risk in popular platforms with large creator communities.

Data Collection

Many apps and games collect significant data about users, including location data, usage patterns, and in some cases communication content. Check the privacy policy of any app before installing it on a child's device, particularly for younger children. Look for apps that are independently certified as child-safe and GDPR/COPPA compliant.

Red Flags to Watch For

When evaluating a specific app or game, certain features should prompt extra scrutiny:

• In-game currency that obscures real spending: Converting real money into coins or gems that are then spent in-game makes it harder to track what is being spent and can encourage children to spend without understanding the real cost.
• Time pressure mechanics: Games that use countdown timers, limited-time offers, or punishments for not logging in daily are deliberately designed to be compulsive. These mechanics can be particularly problematic for children who have difficulty regulating their engagement.
• Loot boxes: Random reward mechanisms that are purchased with real or in-game currency are considered by many researchers and regulators to be a form of gambling. Several countries have moved to restrict or ban loot boxes in games accessible to children.
• Open chat with strangers: Any feature that allows unmoderated communication with unknown adults should be treated as a significant safeguarding concern.
• Requests for personal information: Legitimate children's apps do not ask for name, location, school, or age during gameplay. If an app prompts a child for personal information outside of a registration process, this is a concern.
• Permissions requests that exceed function: An app that requests access to your camera, contacts, location, or microphone for a function that does not obviously require it should be viewed with scepticism.

Finding Quality Digital Content

Beyond avoiding risks, parents can actively seek out high-quality digital content that supports learning, creativity, and healthy play. Resources that can help include:

• Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org): One of the most comprehensive independent review sites for apps, games, films, and television aimed at families. Reviews include age recommendations, content descriptions, and assessment of educational value and positive messages.
• TIGA and BAFTA Young Game Designers: These organisations recognise games that demonstrate quality, creativity, and positive values.
• School recommendations: Many schools maintain lists of recommended educational apps. Ask your child's teacher what they recommend for your child's age and stage.
• Play Together: One of the most reliable guides to whether an app or game is genuinely suitable for your child is to play or use it yourself before they do, or to play it together. Your direct experience of an app is more informative than any rating.

Practical Guidance by Age

Ages 2 to 5

Choose apps that are genuinely educational, developed by reputable publishers such as public broadcasters or established educational organisations, contain no in-app purchases, require no registration, and do not include social features. Use screen time management tools to limit usage and ensure all sessions are supervised or co-viewed.

Ages 6 to 9

Continue choosing apps and games from known publishers. Begin looking at PEGI 7 rated content as appropriate, taking into account the content descriptors. Enable in-app purchase restrictions and parental controls. If your child is beginning to play multiplayer games, choose ones where you can control who they play with, ideally limiting play to friends they know in person.

Ages 10 to 12

At this age, children are often interested in games with social features. Discuss online safety explicitly before allowing access to any game with chat functionality. Review games together before allowing independent access. PEGI 12 content may be appropriate depending on the child, with awareness of the specific content descriptors.

Teenagers

Teenagers increasingly make their own choices about the apps and games they use. The most effective approach at this stage is ongoing dialogue rather than strict control: discussing what they are playing, what they enjoy about it, whether they have encountered anything concerning, and maintaining agreements about spending and screen time.

Having the Conversation With Your Child

Rather than installing apps silently or refusing them without explanation, involve your child in the evaluation process. Look at the rating together, discuss what it means, and if you have concerns about a specific feature, explain them. Children who understand the reasons behind parental decisions are more likely to engage with them and to make safer choices independently as they grow older.