For many young people, gaming can be creative, social, exciting and meaningful. It’s a place to build friendships, express themselves creatively and spend time in communities that matter to them.

Recent research from the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) found that 89 per cent of players aged 18-34 reported playing video games to improve their mental health, while 94 per cent said they play to de-stress.

As conversations around youth mental health continue, there is growing interest in how teachers and caregivers can encourage healthy digital habits and create positive online environments for their children.

Here are three practical ways to support positive gaming experiences for young people:

1. Taking an interest in the games young people play

Taking an interest in the games young people play can help understand how they connect with others, explore new interests and build skills that carry into other parts of life. Certain games also promote prosocial behaviours such as helping, sharing and collaborating.

Dr Elizabeth Milovidov, Senior Director of Global Parental Advocacy at Roblox, believes caregivers should consider the quality of children’s online experiences alongside the amount of time they spend playing.

“As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how interactive gaming environments can do so much more than just entertain. These environments can help build essential social skills, reduce feelings of loneliness, and ease social anxiety by giving kids a low-pressure way to connect, collaborate, and explore new passions. I always encourage caregivers to get curious about what children are playing – ask them to show you their virtual worlds, which is one of the best ways to open up meaningful conversations about digital citizenship while supporting their interests and growth.”

2. Understand what draws them to gaming

Whether young people are playing to socialise, relax or challenge themselves, understanding what draws them to gaming can help parents better support positive gaming experiences. Kids might turn to games for enjoyment, accomplishment, social connection, stress relief or escapism.

“Games provide young people opportunities to challenge themselves, build skills, work towards goals and connect with others,” said Dr Daniel Reidenberg, Founder of Safe Online Standards and affiliated faculty at The Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention.

“Games also create competition which can bring moments of frustration and teach resilience. Experiences like this help players learn how to manage setbacks, take a break when needed and come back with a fresh perspective and new coping skills that provide benefits on and offline.”

3. Building healthy habits around play

Many gaming platforms provide tools to help manage notifications, screen time, and online visibility and interactions, making it easier to set boundaries that enable healthy digital experiences. These habits can be reinforced through simple strategies such as setting time limits before play begins, taking breaks when frustration builds, and making space for activities, relationships and routines away from the screen.

“Stepping away from a game is part of healthy play,” added Milovidov. “When young people build the habit of noticing when they need a break and actually taking one, they’re developing self-regulation skills that matter far beyond gaming. Small, intentional pauses throughout the day can make a real difference to how balanced and in control a young person feels

INTERFACE October 2026