Yes, PlayStation Can Be a Great Fit for 12 Year Olds
As an avid gamer and content creator focused on the latest releases and news in gaming, I firmly believe PlayStation, whether the PS4 or new PS5, can absolutely be a safe, fun and even educational gaming option for 12 year olds under proper parental oversight.
Cognitive, Social and Creative Benefits of Gaming for Tweens
Study after study demonstrates various developmental upsides of video game play for children when balanced as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
Cognitive Benefits
Gaming can improve:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Reaction time
- Logical thinking and problem-solving
- Focus and concentration
- Spatial visualization abilities
- Multitasking capabilities
Social Benefits
Gaming facilitates:
- Bonding through shared interests and experiences
- Teamwork, communication and collaboration skills
- Opportunities for leadership and compromise
- Friendships spanning age groups and geographies
Creative Benefits
Gaming allows kids to:
- Express imagination by designing games, mods and virtual worlds
- Craft narratives and stories with customizable characters
- Learn programming fundamentals through creation tools
Furthermore, researchers have found gaming improves self-confidence and self-esteem in some children by providing a realm to independently solve problems and achieve mastery.
The ESRB Rating System for Guiding Game Choices
All video games released in the United States receive a rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board indicating appropriate age groups and content.
| Rating | Age Guide | Description |
|---|---|---|
| EC | Early Childhood (ages 3+) | Minimal animated violence and mild language |
| E | Everyone (ages 6+) | May contain minimal cartoon/fantasy action or violence |
| E10+ | Everyone 10+ | May contain more cartoon/fantasy/mild violence |
| T | Teen (ages 13+) | May contain violence, crude humor, mild language and/or suggestive themes |
| M | Mature (ages 17+) | May contain intense violence, blood/gore, sexual content and/or strong language |
For a 12 year old, E, E10+ and some T games offer age-appropriate content, while the M rating signifies games better suited for older teens or adults.
Customizing Gaming for Your Child with PS Parental Controls
All PlayStation consoles allow guardians to easily set up parental controls tied to a child account to determine:
- Restricted/permitted games by rating
- Playtime schedules and limits
- Access to chat features
- Spending allowances
Using these customization tools, you can filter mature content and restrict online interactions while still allowing age-appropriate single player and family co-op gaming.
Great PlayStation Games for 12 Year Olds in 2024
Family/Party
- Just Dance 2023
- Mario Party Superstars
- Crash Team Racing
- Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Action/Adventure
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure
- Psychonauts 2
Platformers
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Spyro Reignited Trilogy
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- Unravel Two
Sports/Racing
- Gran Turismo 7
- NBA 2k23
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Tony Hawk‘s Pro Skater 1+2
Tween Gaming Statistics and Trends
As gaming has grown mainstream, recent ESA surveys found the average American gamer is now 34 years old. A 2022 Nielsen report revealed:
- 58% of US tweens age 9-12 play console games
- Kids age 6-12 averaged 8.7 hrs/wk of total gaming in Q1 2022
- Mario Kart 8, Minecraft and NBA 2K were most popular with boys 9-12 years old
So gaming is certainly common among 12 year olds today. With involved parenting to set parameters, it can be a fun way to bond and develop new skills together!
At the end of the day, understanding your child‘s maturity and ensuring gaming doesn‘t interfere with a balanced, healthy schedule is key to a safe, enriching PlayStation experience for 12 year old gamers.
