Lead Well

Photo by Cláudio Luiz Castro on Unsplash Since this is coming out on Black Friday, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about one of my passions. Video Games. I’ve been playing since I was a little kid and still play regularly. Also working in NextGen, I’ve seen a lot of kids exposed to games and media way before they’re ready because of their parents' ignorance. It doesn’t have to be this way though. Every game has a rating ranging from E for Everyone to M to Mature. (There is a higher Adult Only rating, but those games are few and far between.) As a parent or pastor knowing what games are going to be fun and appropriate for your kids is important. For this post, I’ll pick three games from each system that are family-friendly and can be played easily with multiple people. I won't make recommendations on consoles, but you can see my buying guide here.   In addition, many of these games are on sale for Black Friday. If you’re looking for Christmas or update the games

Photo by  Kelly Sikkema  on  Unsplash It’s been 3 years since I wrote one of these, but with the new generation of consoles coming out this year, I figured it was time for an update. If you’ve been looking to buy your family a new video game console, the choices can seem endless and confusing. The web is full of unboxing videos, reviews, and tech specs, but unless you’re into computers and gaming many of those are irrelevant at best or nonsensical at worst. (I’m not entirely certain what a teraflop is anyway). The big question I get from parents is, “Which is best for my family? Especially if I want to keep my kids safe from all the garbage online and negative content in games.” The biggest change this time around is the end of the “console wars.” If you even casually gamed as a kid you know there was always a competition to who had the best system, be it Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation, or Sega. This battle has been raging for almost 25 years, but I think we’re coming to the end because

With so many consoles out there and video games becoming a major part of the American childhood experience, many parents are asking which one should I get for my kids? As a lifelong gamer, I know the challenges and the overwhelming amount of information that's out there, so I'm creating this guide to help you make an informed decision for your kids this Christmas. First of all you should know that many console bundles that include a game and accessories are available usually for a reduced price. Also almost all consoles come with the following features: Online Connectivity Parental Controls At least 1 Controller Apps such as Netflix and Hulu 1. Nintendo Switch   Cost: $299.99 Free web: yes Kid Friendly: 5/5 Recommended games: Mario Kart 8 , Super Mario Odyssey , Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild If your kids are under the age of 10, this is the best system for your family.  It has fun, easy, and safe games for your whole family. This is Ninten

With so many consoles out there and video games becoming a major part of the American childhood experience, many parents are asking which one should I get for my kids? gettyimages.com As a lifelong gamer, I know the challenges and the overwhelming amount of information that's out there, so I'm creating this guide to help you make an informed decision for your kids this Christmas. First of all you should know that all consoles come with the following features: Online Connectivity Parental Controls At least 1 Controller At least 1 Game Apps such as Netflix and Hulu 1. Nintendo Wii  Cost: $149.99 Free web: yes Kid Friendly: 5/5 Recommended games: Mario Kart, Wii Sports/Resort, New Super Mario Brothers If your kids are under the age of 10, this is the best system for your family.  It has fun, easy, and safe games for your whole family and it's easy on your wallet at only $149.99 making it the cheapest of all the consoles. Even though the next generation console the Wii U ca