Guides

How to tell if a game is safe for your child: a 5-minute checklist

Before you hand over the phone, play the game yourself for 5 minutes. This checklist shows what to look for: age rating, ads, purchases, chat and time controls.

Marcos Andrade · Junior's dad and creator of MJ Kids
Published November 13, 2026 · 6 min read

A dad testing a game on his phone before giving it to his 5-year-old son, who waits beside him

Listen to this article2:25 · narrated

A game is safe for a young child when it has an age rating for everyone, shows no ads, sells nothing, has no chat with strangers and lets parents control the time. The fastest way to know is to play it yourself for 5 minutes before you hand over the phone.

Here is the checklist I use at home with my son Junior, who is 4.

1. Check the age rating

In the US, look for ESRB E (Everyone). In the UK and Europe, look for PEGI 3. The rating appears in the app store and on the box.

2. Play 5 minutes and answer

Question	If the answer is yes
Did an ad show up, even for another game?	Your child will see ads in the middle of play.
Is there currency, a chest, a mystery pack or a store?	Expect requests to buy. Paid loot boxes get PEGI 16 in Europe from June 2026.
Can your child talk to other players?	Risk of contact with strangers.
Does any button lead out of the game?	One wrong tap opens the store or a website.
Does it ask for location, camera or microphone for no reason?	Data the game doesn't need.

If any answer is yes, look for another game. For young kids, less is more.

3. See if parents control the time

A good kids' game has an end: either the level finishes or parents can set daily time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends up to 1 hour a day of high-quality content for kids ages 2 to 5. See the guide to screen time by age.

4. Set up the device

Android: Google Family Link to approve installs and limit time.
iPhone and iPad: Screen Time, with in-app purchases blocked.
App store: a password for every purchase.
Airplane mode: for games that work offline, it cuts ads and links.

5. Stay close

For kids ages 3 to 8, playing together in the first days makes a difference. You see how they react and when it is time to stop. New laws push platforms to do more, but they don't replace you. Read what the Online Safety Act means for kids' games.

A game that passes the checklist

The MJ Kids game was made for my own son and passes every item above. And the hero is your child.

No ads, no purchases and no chat
Daily time limit in a password-protected parents' area
Works in airplane mode after the first time
A character that looks like your child and says their name

Create my child's game Play the demo

Frequently asked questions

What age rating is right for a 4-year-old?

ESRB E or PEGI 3. Still check for ads, purchases and chat.

Are paid games always ad-free?

No. The University of Michigan study found ads in 88% of paid apps for young kids.

How do I block purchases on my child's phone?

On Android, use Google Family Link and require a password in the Play Store. On iPhone, use Screen Time and block in-app purchases.

Does airplane mode help?

Yes, for games that work offline: it cuts ads, links and chat.

Sources

About the author

Junior's dad and creator of MJ Kids. He has worked in technology for over 30 years and makes games and stories where the child is the hero, with no ads.

Meet Marcos