A parent's guide to game store nights
Updated
Game stores are where a lot of teens find their people: card games, roleplaying games and board games, played face to face at a table. A little preparation helps you feel good about it.
What happens at a store event
Most store events are scheduled game nights: players arrive, check in at the counter, and sit down to play in a public room with staff nearby. Some are casual, some are tournaments with rounds and prizes, and some are aimed at beginners. Events can be open to all ages, for teens only, or for adults only, and the event's details say which.
Before the first night
A few things are worth checking together:
- The event's age limit, start and end time, and any entry fee
- Whether it's a beginner-friendly event, if your teen is new to the game
- The store's hours, and where to drop off and pick up
- Who to talk to at the store if something feels wrong
Go along the first time
Visiting the store with your teen once, before or during an event, tells you a lot: how staff greet people, how full the room is, and whether the event feels welcoming. Many parents stay for the first hour and then come back at pickup time.
How LookForParty protects teen accounts
LookForParty accounts are for people 13 and older. A parent approves a teen's account, by paying for the teen's Player Plus or with an ID check, and an account that isn't approved within 14 days is deleted. Teens never see ads.
- Teens can never send or receive direct messages, with anyone
- Teens chat only in event and group chats, which LookForParty can read so reports can be checked, with a stricter filter that blocks contact details
- Teens see store events open to all ages and teen events, never games in someone's home, online games or adults-only events
- Teens see events within 15 miles, and LookForParty keeps only a rough area for them, never an exact location
Talk about safety
The basics are the same as anywhere new: stay in the public part of the store, don't share a home address or phone number with people met there, and tell staff or a parent if anyone makes you uncomfortable. On LookForParty, your teen can also report an event or a person, and block someone.