Why it's worth a quick check
Two games can look alike in an app store and be very different to live with. A few questions before your child starts can save arguments, unexpected bills and worries later.
Ads and in-app purchases
Many free children's games make money from ads or purchases inside the game. Ads interrupt play and can lead children to other apps or sites; purchases can be confusing for children who don't understand real money.
- Check the store listing for "contains ads" and "in-app purchases".
- Look for games that are free with no ads, or paid once with nothing extra to buy.
- Turn on purchase approval in your device's family settings either way.
Chat and contact with strangers
Games with open chat or messaging let children talk to people they don't know. For young children, it's simplest to choose games with no chat at all. A leaderboard showing usernames and scores is much lower risk than chat.
Is it right for their age?
Look at the suggested age, but also try the game yourself for a few minutes. Can your child play it without reading, if they can't read yet? Does it have easy levels to start with, and harder ones to grow into?
Does it teach something?
Games don't have to be educational, but it's a bonus when they practise a real skill: memory, attention, planning, reading, maths or creativity. Good learning games make the skill the game, rather than putting a quiz between bits of fun.
How long does a game take?
Games with short rounds or natural stopping points make it easier to agree on when to stop. Endless games with no breaks make "just one more" much harder.
Play together sometimes
Playing alongside your child shows you what the game is really like, and children love showing off what they can do. It also turns screen time into time together.
How Wizzymoon fits
Wizzymoon was built around this checklist: every game is free, with no ads, no in-app purchases and no chat. Each one trains a real skill, has easier and harder levels, and plays in a web browser with nothing to install. Each game's page lists its ages and what it teaches, so you can decide before your child plays.
