TL;DR: Sony has finally made it easy to manage your kid's digital life without having to wrestle the controller out of their hands. Download the PlayStation App on your phone, set yourself as the "Family Manager," and you can instantly cap spending, set hard "lights out" times for gaming, and filter out the M-rated chaos.
If you're looking for games that won't melt their brains, start with Astro's Playroom (Ages 6+), Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Ages 7+), or Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Ages 10+).
For many families, the PlayStation 5 is the "graduation" console. They’ve moved past the handheld Nintendo Switch and want the high-fidelity graphics of Spider-Man 2 or the competitive social scene of Fortnite.
But here’s the thing: PlayStation is built for "gamers" first and "families" second. Out of the box, it’s a wide-open door to the internet, voice chat with strangers, and an endless digital storefront. If you don't set the guardrails, your kid is one accidental click away from a $100 V-Bucks
spree or a voice chat filled with "Ohio" memes and much, much worse.
The good news? Sony’s newest mobile tools are actually quite good. You no longer have to navigate the labyrinth of the PS5's internal menus while your kid hovers over your shoulder. You can do it all from your phone while you're waiting in the carpool line.
The "Cheat Code" is the mobile app. Most parents think it’s just for buying games or looking at trophies, but it’s actually the most powerful parenting tool in the Sony ecosystem.
Once you’ve set up a "Family Management" account (which you should do on a computer or the console first), the app becomes your dashboard. You can see exactly what they are playing, how long they’ve been on, and—most importantly—you can change their permissions in real-time.
Playtime Management (The Peacekeeper)
We’ve all been there: "Five more minutes!" turning into forty-five more minutes because they’re in a "ranked match."
With the PlayStation App, you can:
- Set a Hard Stop: You can choose to either notify them when time is up or literally log them out of the console.
- Schedule by Day: Give them more time on Saturdays for Minecraft and a strict 1-hour limit on school nights.
- Real-time Extensions: If they’ve been particularly helpful with the dishes, you can "gift" them an extra 30 minutes directly from your phone without touching the console.
Learn more about setting healthy gaming boundaries
Spending Limits (The Bank Guard)
PlayStation doesn't use "allowances" in the way a chore chart does; it uses a "Monthly Spending Limit." By default, a child's account is set to $0.00. Keep it that way.
If they want to buy a skin in Roblox or a new player pack in EA Sports FC 25, they have to "request" the purchase. You’ll get a notification on your phone, you can see exactly what they want to buy (and if it's a predatory microtransaction), and you can approve or deny it instantly.
PlayStation is a social hub. Between the built-in party chat and the integration of Discord, your kid can talk to anyone. For younger kids (Ages 6-12), this is the highest-risk area.
In the Family Management settings, you can:
- Restrict Voice Chat: You can set it so they can only chat with "Friends" rather than "Anyone." This is the single best move you can make to avoid the toxic side of gaming culture.
- Filter User-Generated Content: Games like Roblox and Fortnite are full of player-made worlds. You can set age filters so they can't enter "horror" maps or rooms that haven't been rated for their age group.
If you're tired of seeing Grand Theft Auto V on their wishlist, here are the "good" alternatives that take advantage of the PS5's power without the "brain rot" or extreme violence.
Ages 6+ This comes pre-installed on every PS5. It’s a masterpiece of game design. It’s basically a playable history of PlayStation, it’s adorable, and it’s completely free of the "dark patterns" found in mobile games. It’s pure joy.
Ages 7+ This is the ultimate "co-op" game. You can play it with them. It’s a 3D platformer that’s challenging but fair, and it doesn't have the stressful competitive vibe of shooters.
Ages 10+ If your kid wants a "real" action game, this is it. It looks like a Pixar movie come to life. There’s "cartoon violence" (blasters and robots exploding), but it’s heartfelt, funny, and incredibly polished.
Ages 12+ The gold standard for teen gaming. It deals with real-world responsibility, friendship, and loss. Yes, there is combat, but it’s focused on being a "friendly neighborhood" hero. It’s a great conversation starter about what it means to have power.
The PlayStation isn't just for games. It’s also a high-powered streaming box. Most kids use it to watch YouTube, Netflix, and Twitch.
The Catch: Your PlayStation playtime limits include time spent watching YouTube. If you give them 2 hours of "PlayStation time," and they spend 90 minutes watching MrBeast, they only have 30 minutes left for Minecraft.
You can also set age ratings for movies and TV shows within the Family Management settings. This ensures they can't jump from a G-rated game to an MA-rated show on the same console.
Setting up these controls shouldn't feel like a "gotcha." The best way to approach it is as a "Digital Driver’s License."
Try saying: "The PlayStation is a really powerful tool, and just like a car, we’re going to start with some safety features on. As you show me you can handle the social side and the time management side, we can talk about loosening the limits."
This moves the conversation from "I'm spying on you" to "I'm coaching you."
Sony has given us the tools; we just have to use them. The "battle" over screen time usually happens because the boundaries are invisible or inconsistent. By using the PlayStation App to set clear, automated limits, you remove yourself as the "bad guy" and let the system handle the enforcement.
- Audit the Account: Check if your kid is using an "Adult" account with a fake birthdate. If they are, they’re bypassing all these tools. You’ll need to create a proper Child Account and link it to yours.
- Download the App: Get the PlayStation App and log in as the Family Manager.
- Set the Spending Limit to $0: Do this today.
- Pick a "Co-op" Night: Grab a second controller and play Sackboy: A Big Adventure with them. The best digital wellness strategy is being involved in their digital world.
Check out our full guide to video game ratings and what they actually mean