Pokémon Go is the new game craze that teenagers — and even adults — are jumping on board. Whether you’ve heard about the game (it’s likely that you have!) or not, it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon. So what’s the big deal? Why should you, as a parent, care about this game? There are plenty of reasons, the most important of which is that being aware of new games that might hit your family helps you be in the know sooner rather than later.
I admit, I didn’t download the game on my iPhone when it came out on Thursday, July 14. In fact, it wasn’t until the Monday following the weekend debut. that I became aware of it. My Facebook feed was filled with people talking about strange sightings of teenagers walking around town glued to their phones.
My 9-year-old son plays the Pokémon Trading Card Game, so I was familiar with some of the characters, but I thought I would download this game to check it out. (I have done this before with a game known as “Five Nights at Freddy” because my children were interested due to a friend’s involvement. Since they have iPods, I wanted to make sure the games we download are suitable. Funny though, when I told my kids, they yelled at me for putting Pokémon Go on my phone.)
The game consists of setting up your profile by using a Google account or the Pokémon Club Account. You create a character, or “trainer,” who is basically you, a person trying to catch these creatures as they appear in the game. The location setting must be on when you play the game, as the point is to walk to places to capture Pokémon characters with a PokéBall, which I equate to the 1984 Ghostbusters film’s ghost trap. Instead of using a proton pack, you throw balls until you hit the right target (I don’t even know how I have done it, really); the balls then open and pull in the creatures. Learn how to find and catch Pokémon by clicking here.
For me, who lives in a suburban area, characters weren’t around. Walking around my neighborhood with my dog (in which I accidentally dropped my iPhone and cracked the screen), I didn’t see any Pokémon appear. Frankly, I felt nervous with the reports of robberies and possibly other people knowing that I was playing. There are teams in this game, which you can form or join, or not. You don’t have to be on a team to play. People can also travel to PokéStops, which are locations where you can gather items such as PokéBalls, Potions and Eggs, according to the game’s glossary. Many are historical landmarks in which a photo pops up on your device. It could be cool when traveling out of town as you can read the unusual markers or learn about the different sites around town.
My suggestion to get the most out of playing Pokémon Go is to stay with a group or do within a family outing, during the day or in a highly populated area. Set a time limit on play, because it can be fun. Stay aware of your surroundings and make sure your eyes are not glued to the phone or device.
For teens, it might be a fun activity. I think whether you have older or younger children, you still have monitor their devices to ensure they are being safe. With any online game or app, it’s important to be aware of how they are using it by having an open dialogue with your kids and checking devices with them. For example, have a family discussion about the app and safety tips such as “do not use while driving” and “make sure you play with friends” by opening the game’s app together. It might even be a good time to review other games or apps your kids might be interested in or are already using. Also, follow up on the conversations to ensure they are being safe.
Regarding the teams, make sure your teens are not playing with anyone they do not know, just as with many social media sites or other apps that allow other players. A family or group of friends can form their own team and have set times to play and “battle” other teams at the “gym.” Learn more about the gyms here.
Finally, there is a store where you can purchase tools to help you catch more characters. If your son or daughter is using your device, you might want to ensure your parental controls on purchasing items are turned on.
For my kids, ages 9 and 7, I feel this game wouldn’t be a good fit. While my plan is to delete this app off my phone, I can see how it can be fun for a group of teens or as a family activity.
