Des Moines Kids Are Wild About Pokémon Go

Des Moines Kids Are Wild About Pokémon Go

Have your kiddos (or you) jumped on the latest gaming craze, Pokémon Go?   Pokémon Go is the latest gaming app that has kids and adults addicted to their screens and heading outdoors to places like the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.  Who knew a game could do that?! Parents and kiddos alike are trying to be the best Pokémon trainer ever. 

Des Moines Kids are Wild About Pokemon Go - dsm4kids.comWhat is Pokémon Go?

It starts out like any other game. Listen to a quick intro about how to play, choose your character and start playing. But Pokémon Go’s mission involves trekking across parks, towns — even your neighborhood. That’s where this game breaks tradition with other “digital” games.

When you first play Pokémon Go, you’ll get to customize the look of your Trainer, choosing apparel and accessories to give him or her a cool look. Your customized character will appear as you move around on a map, as well as on your profile page.

The goal as a Trainer in Pokémon Go, is to catch Pokémon and move up levels.  Higher levels allow you to catch more powerful Pokémon and also gives you access to items, such as Great Balls, to give you a better shot at catching Pokémon.

Des Moines Kids Are Wild Abut Pokemon Go - dsm4kids.comHow do you play Pokémon Go?

Once you’ve completed the introduction you start walking.  You catch Pokémon by using your smart phone’s GPS to detect where the little critters are.  As you head down your neighborhood street, stroll through town, or hike through a park or trail, Pokémon will start to “appear”. The “catching” process is simple enough, you launch balls at the Pokémon with a swipe of your finger. You can also turn the camera feature on and take a photo of the little buggers that you’ve found.

Pokémon Go is undeniably a hit!  It recently surpassed Twitter in active users and is one of the most downloaded gaming apps.  You can’t help but see Trainers trolling local attractions, businesses and neighborhoods.  As with any type of technology, our kids use, parents need to know the risks involved in using it.

Is Pokémon Go safe for kids to play?

When you open the Pokémon Go app it warns you to, “Remember to be alert at all times. Stay aware of your surroundings.” Pokémon Go is a lot like texting. It can be distracting, even though you’re paying attention to your surroundings, you’re doing so by looking at your phone’s screen, spotting and catching Pokémon all around you. Crossing the street into traffic or walking into a tree are both distinct possibilities with this game. Getting lost is a risk too.

There are also reports of Pokémon Go users getting robbed. There’s also the possibility of pedafiles using it to find unsuspecting children and users playing while driving.  Niantic, the game developer that runs Pokémon Go, has also faced criticism for giving itself too much access to information on your phone that you probably want to keep private.

Many businesses have also started cracking down on gamers coming in to find Pokémon and are only allowing “paying” customers. Some are embracing it and using it as a marketing ploy. Individuals are also being cited for trespassing on church and government properties when these places are closed to the public.

Common Sense Media has released a review of Pokémon Go that all parents should read and sums up the game eloquently.

“Sadly, the experience has a range of poor design choices, technical issues, and security risks. … Add to these issues a string of incidents around violence, private property, and security issues, and it’s difficult to recommend the app without some serious caveats and cautions … Still, there’s something magical about the social phenomenon and immediate point of connection with other players: Everywhere you go — in libraries, at the grocery store, on the street — people are playing Pokémon GO and approaching each other, smiling and talking enthusiastically about their collections, strategies, and levels. This positive reception indicates players’ willingness to overlook the game’s imperfections, as well as the stories of distracted players getting hurt, lost, or robbed.”

Should you let your kids play Pokémon Go?

We’ve really enjoyed playing Pokémon Go as a family and have had several positive outings playing the game. If I ask the kids if they want to walk the dog, I get a resounding NO.  If I ask them if they want to find Pokémon, I get a HECK YES!  The other evening my son even asked if we could walk a 5K so he could get something to hatch?!  I think my head almost exploded!  Another plus, for me, is that kids tend to be collectors and the game fulfills their need to collect things without stuff coming into the house.

If you decide to let your kids play, you should consider playing the game with them.  At minimum, you should ask about how to play the game and be aware of where your kids are going to play it.  You should also remind them to be aware of their surroundings and to be respectful of other people’s property and not to trespass.

Like any fad the novelty of the game will probably wear off soon enough (until the next one comes out).  But, while the kids are still interested in Pokémon Go, parents can monitor their play and enjoy it as a fun family activity.

 

 

Let us know what you think! Are your kids getting into the Pokémon Go craze?

1 Comment

  1. Thanks for finally explaining this in a way I understand. I’ve basically just been pretending to know what it is

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