Parents laud Chinese rules aimed at kids' 'unhealthy' gaming

China has set new rules limiting the amount of time kids can spend playing online games

Li Zhanguo’s two children, aged eight and four, don't have their own smartphones, but like millions of other Chinese children, they are no strangers to online gaming.

“If my children get their hands on our mobile phones or an iPad, and if we don’t closely monitor their screen time, they can play online games for as long as three to four hours each time,” he said.

Not anymore.

Like many other parents, Li is happy with new restrictions imposed on online game companies that took effect early this month. They limit children to just three hours weekly of online games time – an hour between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks.