The TOMMI experts

"Children are naturally curious, inquisitive, and they love to play. Well-designed computer games offer them a way to use this curiosity, discover new things through play, and try out different roles. And if, in addition to having fun, they become interested in a new topic, that's wonderful!"

"I like games that you can understand quickly and that are not too complex, but not too simple either. Just the right level to get the player into a "flow"."

"Start playing! Don't stop playing! And above all: Play with your children! This is not only fun but also ensures that children learn how to handle games responsibly. Hardly anywhere else is educational behavior as much fun as when you drive Mario Kart with the whole family."

"What makes most games fascinating is that you can dive into new worlds that follow their very own rules. And if these rules are designed in such a way that the player understands them intuitively and doesn't feel constrained, then that contributes decisively to the quality of a game."

"Anyone who has played video games like 'What remains of Edith Finch,' 'Batman: Arkham VR,' or 'Transference' will have no doubt that this medium can provide emotionally moving, literary experiences that are on par with books in their impact - rather the opposite."

"Don't be afraid of games. They are not evil, but can also be a lot of fun. Especially in a small round with friends. Then a round of 'Mario Kart' is no different than 'Four Wins.' But at the same time, games are not babysitters."

"Playing should be fun: That applies to electronic toys just as much as to purely digital games. If practical skills are also trained or learning content is taught in the process, this has great potential."

"Video games are interactive narratives, which means you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the worlds described in them and experience things that remain closed to you in real life. A good game should be supported narratively as well as playfully by a good idea, to which all elements of the game are subordinate."

"If we want 14-year-olds to use smartphones and other digital media healthily and responsibly in their everyday lives, we need to consciously start media education with one-year-olds. Because children often copy our own usage behavior. The special "Kindergarten and Preschool" award aims to take this into account. Our goal is to support adult role models such as parents, grandparents and educational professionals in their role. True to the credo: growing up healthy with digital media."

"Good games create a flow that makes the player forget time and space. Particularly good games additionally stimulate the emotional world."

"Digital games are not just an escape from everyday life; they are doors to the imagination through which creativity unfolds on multiple sensory levels. In the shared gaming experience, situations can be lived through, decisions can be made, and problems can be solved, all of which strengthen individual development."

"Not every child who likes to gamble is a gambling addict. Talk to your children, or no even better: play with your children. Let them get involved in the experiment and be infected by their children's enthusiasm."

"Don't leave the child alone with his or her games, but keep glancing at the monitor or TV. Just play along, ask what's interesting at the moment or what's hot among friends at school. Leave the pedagogical forefinger down sometimes and don't rigorously forbid..."

"Good video games tell stories, bring people together, and give kids the opportunity to try out different roles. Of course, there are problems with some games: cyber bullying, data protection gaps, cost traps. But we shouldn't demonize games per se, but accept that they are part of children's everyday lives."

"It's like all media: get smart and interested in the games your kids are playing. Watch them play or play along and ask them to suggest a game they think would suit you."

"Learning will never work without teachers, but digital helpers make learning aha - and fun."