A gaming gift can open the door to a bigger conversation

Christmas is a time for giving, sharing experiences and spending time together. For many families, video games and gaming devices are part of that picture. A console under the tree, a game chosen with care or a device that lets family members play together can become the beginning of a shared interest.

Yet the gift itself is only one part of the experience. A new console may need an account, privacy settings, age-appropriate game choices, spending controls and decisions about online communication. A game may also introduce a child to a new community, creative opportunities, friendships and ways to learn.

Families do not need to know everything about gaming before getting involved. They can start by being curious, asking questions and learning alongside the young person who knows the game best.

This is the thinking behind IFB Gaming’s annual publication series. It is designed to help families, educators and community organisations understand gaming as more than entertainment: it is also a digital environment shaped by access, safety, accessibility, relationships, learning and participation.

The IFB Gaming Guide Series: this year’s edition is out

IFB Gaming’s annual series explores one new theme each year, bringing research and practical questions together to help people understand how gaming shapes digital life.

The 2026 Annual Edition, Understanding Gaming, asks: What does a healthy gaming environment look like? It examines the environment surrounding a game, including the platform, accounts, communities, communication features and digital economies that can shape a player’s experience.

Together, the two guides give families a useful starting point: one helps with practical decisions about gaming, while the annual edition broadens the discussion to the systems and experiences surrounding play.

Both guides are free to access. The series is designed to be useful beyond the home, including in schools, community hubs and other settings where families and young people can learn together.

Visit the IFB Gaming Guide Series page to explore the publications and see the themes planned for future editions.

Before the first game: set up the experience together

If a console, gaming computer, tablet or other gaming device is arriving as a Christmas gift, the festive period can be a good opportunity to set it up together rather than treating setup as a technical task for one adult to complete alone.

A shared setup gives parents and guardians a chance to understand how the device works, while giving children an opportunity to explain what they want to play and why it matters to them.

• Choose games together. Check the age rating and content information before a game is played. Ask the child what interests them about it.
• Review accounts and privacy. Understand which account is being used, what information is visible and who can contact the player.
• Explore communication settings. Check friend requests, voice chat, text chat, blocking and reporting options where these features are available.
• Agree on spending. Discuss in-game purchases, stored payment details and whether purchases require adult approval.
• Explore accessibility. Look at subtitles, control options, audio and visual settings, and any features that could make gaming more comfortable or accessible.
• Agree on family routines. Talk about gaming, sleep, other activities and how to pause or finish a session, taking the child’s views into account.

The aim is not to turn a Christmas gift into a lecture. It is to make the setup part of the shared experience, so everyone understands the choices being made and knows where to turn when questions arise.

The Foundation Guide is a practical place to start, while the 2026 Annual Edition helps families think about the wider gaming environment.

PEGI in 2026: why families should look beyond the number

One of the important topics covered in this year’s series is the 2026 update to PEGI’s age-rating criteria. From June 2026, newly submitted games are assessed under additional criteria that consider certain interactive features as well as the content traditionally associated with age ratings.

These changes include features related to paid random items, in-game purchasing mechanisms, incentives to return to a game and communication features where players cannot adequately block or report others.

This matters because a game’s experience is not shaped by images and language alone. How a game handles communication, purchases and engagement can also be relevant to a family’s decision about whether and how a child should play it.

The new criteria apply to newly submitted games under the updated system. Families should not assume that every game already on a shelf or in a digital library has automatically received a new rating. Check the current rating and available information for the specific game.

PEGI ratings are an important starting point, but they do not replace an understanding of a particular child’s needs, the game’s features or the settings available on the platform.

The 2026 edition of the IFB Gaming Guide explains why the broader environment matters. For official information, visit PEGI’s website .

Show meaningful interest in the games your children play

Adults do not need to become expert players to show that they care. Sometimes the most useful step is to ask a child to explain their favourite game, demonstrate a level or introduce the people they enjoy playing with.

When children are invited to share their interests, families have an opportunity to understand what gaming means to them. A game may be about creativity, competition, teamwork, friendship, exploration or simply having fun.

This kind of interest also creates natural opportunities to discuss online experiences without beginning from suspicion or conflict.

Listening is as important as asking. A conversation works best when a child has room to explain their experience, ask questions and take part in decisions appropriate to their age and circumstances.

Family agreements about privacy, spending, communication and routines are more useful when everyone understands the reasons behind them. They can also be reviewed as children grow and their gaming experiences change.

Make accessibility part of the setup, not an afterthought

A gaming device is only useful if the person receiving it can participate in a way that works for them. Children have different preferences and needs, and some may benefit from accessibility features built into a console or game.

Depending on the platform and game, useful features may include subtitles, adjustable text, colour and contrast options, remappable controls, alternative input methods and audio assistance.

Exploring these features together can help families discover options they might not otherwise know exist. It also reinforces an important principle: accessibility is part of participation, not an optional extra reserved for later.

The Understanding Gaming edition explores accessibility as part of a healthy gaming environment. It encourages families to consider whether people can participate meaningfully, not simply whether a device is switched on and working.

A guide you can keep close at hand

The IFB Gaming Guide Series is designed to be useful beyond a single visit to a website. The guides can be accessed online, and the series offers an installable experience for compatible devices, making it easier to return to the material when questions arise.

That can be particularly useful during the festive period. Families can read a section together, use the guidance while setting up a new device and revisit relevant information as a child’s interests or gaming arrangements change.

The Foundation Guide also provides an option to download the full guide as a PDF. Families, schools and community organisations can explore the available formats from the relevant guide pages.

Follow the installation instructions displayed on the guide or series page for your device. Availability and installation steps may vary by browser and device.

Keep the joy in gaming

Conversations about gaming should not focus exclusively on restrictions and risks. Games can also offer opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, learning and belonging.

A child might enjoy building a world, solving a difficult challenge, learning how a game works or spending time with friends. These experiences are worth understanding alongside the practical questions about privacy, age suitability, accessibility and spending.

The purpose of the IFB Gaming Guide Series is not to tell families that gaming is either wholly good or wholly bad. It is to help them understand the environment, recognise its possibilities and challenges, and make informed choices about how they participate.

This is especially relevant at Christmas, when a new game or device can become a shared family interest. The gift may be wrapped and ready, but the conversations and learning can continue long after the decorations come down.