Understanding the Game’s Popularity:
According to Thinkgaming.com, ‘Clash of Clans’ boasts approximately 3.5 million daily players. While it’s challenging to determine how many of these players are under 18, the game has gained significant traction among children, particularly in school settings. In fact, over half of my daughter’s fifth-grade class engaged with it last year, and there were at least six players in my son’s second-grade class.
How Children Engage with the Game:
Many kids are drawn to the strategic gameplay—developing their villages and enhancing their troops—alongside the competitive thrill of battling against other players. The social component, which involves forming or joining clans, further enhances the experience as players often invite friends to join or switch to higher-ranked clans.
Monitoring Your Child’s Activity:
First and foremost, be aware that in-app purchases play a significant role in ‘Clash of Clans’. While it is possible to enjoy the game without spending money, its status as the top-grossing app on iTunes underscores the potential for unexpected charges. Establishing clear limits on spending is advisable.
Secondly, consider the dynamics of your child’s clan. Clans feature an open chat function that cannot be disabled and lacks monitoring, meaning your child could potentially interact with individuals from around the world. Anyone can join a clan, and although some clans have guidelines like “kids only” or “no cursing,” enforcing these rules can be challenging. A safer approach is to encourage your child to create a clan inviting only known friends. In our case, my partner, who is also a dedicated player, joined their clan to help supervise the conversation, while I conduct occasional checks on the chat activity.
Lastly, the global chat tab is a feature I find particularly concerning. It allows players to communicate freely with minimal filters, and while inappropriate posts can be flagged, the consequence is merely a 24-hour ban—far from a suitable deterrent. I have prohibited my children from accessing this chat tab entirely, but monitoring their compliance requires occasional surprise checks.
When to Feel at Ease:
While some parents may have reservations about the game’s combat elements, I perceive it as relatively harmless. The absence of graphic violence, combined with the strategic thinking required for achieving long-term objectives and the teamwork necessary within clans, offers valuable learning experiences. Plus, it can be quite enjoyable.
Concerns for Parents:
Initially, I didn’t thoroughly investigate the game before allowing my children to download it, largely because my partner was already involved. However, it was alarming when my then-10-year-old mentioned a clan member had told her to “leave me alone.” Thankfully, she acted quickly to remove him from the clan, but this incident highlighted my lack of awareness regarding the app’s environment.
After discussing with several other parents, I found that only a handful were cognizant of the chat function and in-app purchase risks. To prevent your child from incurring exorbitant charges (as reported by The Huffington Post about a $3,000 iTunes bill incurred by parents of twins), being vigilant about chat interactions remains crucial.
It’s essential to have conversations with your children about the importance of not sharing personal information in chat rooms, especially here where they might not know who they’re conversing with. This includes information such as age, location, email addresses, social media profiles, and school details. Encourage them to choose usernames and clan names that do not reveal personal information. Reinforcing the idea that anyone they have not met in person is a stranger is equally important, as many children may not recognize this distinction.
Additional Considerations:
Like many games, ‘Clash of Clans’ can be addictive, so establishing playing time limits is wise. Furthermore, while clans do not communicate directly during battles and opponents are randomly selected, younger players may feel discouraged if they are frequently attacked. Ensure your children are having fun and not overly invested in the outcomes.
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Summary:
In summary, while ‘Clash of Clans’ offers engaging gameplay and strategic challenges, parents should remain vigilant about monitoring in-app purchases and chat interactions. Setting boundaries and having ongoing conversations with children about online safety are crucial to ensuring a positive gaming experience.