Are you confused by the sudden onslaught of Pokémon GO players roaming the streets lately? Do you find yourself waxing nostalgic for the days when games were simple and activities wholesome and didn’t require a data plan?

Your reluctance to accept the Pokémon GO phenomenon is understandable, but before you open your window and shout, “Get off my lawn!”, let me make a case for embracing this game.

How To Play

Pokémon GO is a free mobile game you download to your phone. Once you personalize your character, a map of your world appears. Not a fictional computer world – your actual world. You see your streets and local landmarks. But overlaid on that map are icons directing you to PokéStops, gyms, and of course, cute little Pokémon you can catch and add to your Pokédex.

When a Pokémon appears, you simply swipe up to throw a Poké Ball and catch it. At PokéStops you can spin to earn more Poké Balls and other prizes. When you reach level five, you can join a team and battle your Pokémon to gain control of gyms.

Why To Play

Playing Pokémon GO is a great way to spend time with your kids. Get outside, walk around, explore! Suddenly, a trip to the grocery store becomes a chance to catch more Pokémon. A hike becomes a way to hatch eggs!

Once you get outside, you become part of a community of players. Trust me, they’re everywhere. You’ll be surprised whom you might connect with. Pokémon GO is bridging cultural and societal divides, people! It feels pretty amazing.

There’s plenty of time to talk while you look for Pokémon. Let your child be the expert and explain to you why a Psyduck is better than a Drowzee. When we show interest in things our kids like, we’re really telling them they’re interesting, and important, to us.