Choose a Site
There are free and fee-based online gaming sites. Most of these sites offer games from several categories and that are compatible with PCs or consoles. Search the web and decide which games you enjoy most. We’ve rated a bunch of cool sites that offer the hottest games.

Update Your Browser
To participate in games online, you want the latest version. By choosing “About” from the Help menu, a screen will pop up and you can learn what browser and version you’re currently using. Netscape and Internet Explorer have browser updates you can download free of charge. Be careful with file sharing. When you download files, the people you are sharing them with can look at your other files and send you tainted files as a trusted sharer. You have to be very careful about who you choose to share files with.

Stimulate Your Mind
There are a lot of videogames that require problem-solving skills, puzzles, a large vocabulary, and alertness. These games can improve memory, analytical, and spatial skills. Engaging games are also a good way to escape momentarily from everyday life. Being able to play against other people as opposed to a computer (artificial intelligence) can make games more exciting. You have an element of social interaction and the games are unpredictable. After playing against a computer, you begin to anticipate each other’s moves.

Enjoy Other Activities
While games can stimulate your mind, there are those that can also pollute your mind. Most parents aren’t too excited about the “shoot-‘em-up” games – they promote violence and have explicit graphics. Also, people are known to become addicted to games – spending hours or entire days in their rooms, offices, or basements. Gaming fanatics are known to go days without showering, going to school or human contact. Here are some alternatives to online gaming:

• Change environments. Take a day trip or spend the night in a nearby city or quaint town with interesting, fun, cultural things to do.
• Be outdoors. Plan a hiking, skiing, fishing or boating trip. Visit a local beach or park. Gather some friends and play a game of basketball, volleyball or tennis. Go jogging or take a leisurely walk. The fresh air will clear the mind and refresh a person.
• Take up a hobby. If you don’t already have one, get involved with extracurricular activities in school. Taking some type of music, dance, art, creative writing, foreign language classes, etc. outside of school can be fun as well.
• Improve your computer skills. While you are connected online, why not learn new programs and freshen up on skills. There are so many great things to do on the computer.
• Enjoy some face-to-face time. Spend with family and friends (not your online gaming friends). Maybe you have family that you have not seen in a while. Take a family trip to visit or go by yourself for a weekend or longer. There are so many other family activities that you can enjoy together like visiting museums, going to see a play, renting a movie or volunteering together. Getting a job is not a bad idea either – you could use the extra money and it would give you something to do besides play games.

Be Safe Online
Online games take the place of exercise, watching TV or movies, doing outdoor activities, shopping, reading, and even dating. Some even have found romantic partnerships through online gaming. While only a small percent (7%) of teens report engaging in offline friendships or relationships, this is a dangerous practice. You don’t know who you are talking to and if you agree to meet them, you aren’t sure what their intensions are. Online predators are everywhere so be safe – don’t give out your personal information to anyone.