Children and Video Games: Playing with Violence—

Video gaming (playing video games) has become a popular activity for people of all ages. Many children and adolescents spend large amounts of time playing them. Video gaming is a multibillion-dollar industry – bringing in more money than movies and DVDs. Video games have become very sophisticated and realistic. Some games connect to the Internet, which can allow children and adolescents to play online with unknown adults and peers.

A recent content analysis by the research organization Children Now shows that a majority of video games include violence and about half of the violent incidents would result in serious injuries or death in the "real" world.

While some games have educational content, many of the most popular games emphasize negative themes and promote:

· criminal behavior, disrespect for authority and the law
· foul language, obscenities, and obscene gestures
· racial, sexual, and gender stereotypes
· sexual exploitation and violence toward women
· the killing of people or animals
· the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol

There is growing research on the effects of videogames on children. Some video games may promote learning, problem solving and help with the development of fine motor skills and coordination. However, there are concerns about the effect of violent video games on young people who play videogames excessively.

Studies of children exposed to violence have shown that they can become: “immune” or numb to the horror of violence, imitate the violence they see, and show more aggressive behavior with greater exposure to violence. Some children accept violence as a way to handle problems. Studies have also shown that the more realistic and repeated the exposure to violence, the greater the impact on children. In addition, children with emotional, behavioral and learning problems may be more influenced by violent images.

Violent video games don't teach kids moral consequences. If you shoot somebody in one of these games, you don't go to jail, you don't get penalized in some way — you get extra points! This doesn't mean that your child will go out into the world and shoot someone. But they do use more aggressive language, they do use more aggressive images, they have less ability to control their anger and they externalize things in these violent ways.

Children and adolescents can become overly involved and even obsessed with videogames. Spending large amounts of time playing these games can create problems and lead to:

· aggressive thoughts and behaviors
· exercising less, and becoming overweight
· lower grades and reading less
· poor social skills
· time away from family time, school-work, and other hobbies

Psychologists have found that when parents limit the amount of time as well as the types of games their children play, children are less likely to show aggressive behaviors. Other research suggests that active parental involvement in children's media usage — including discussing the inappropriateness of violent solutions to real life conflicts, reducing time spent on violent media, and generating alternative nonviolent solutions to problems — all can reduce the impact of media violence on children and youth.

If you play video games with your child, alternative activities that allow you to have more interaction with your child, such as playing a board game together or going for a walk and exploring together.

Tips for Parents—

Parents can help their children enjoy these games and avoid problems by:

·playing videogames with their children to experience the game’s content.
·remembering that you are a role model for your children – including video games you play as an adult.
·selecting appropriate games—both in content and level of development.
·setting clear rules about game content and playing time, both in and outside of your home.
·strongly warning children about potential serious dangers of Internet contacts and relationships while playing games online.
·talking with other parents about your family’s video game rules.
·checking the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings to learn about the game’s content.

More Tips for Parents—

· Contact the game makers. If you find material that you think is offensive or inappropriate, let the people who make and sell the games know about it. Likewise, let game makers know if you think that a game provides healthy messages or images. They do care what you think!

· Go online. The ESRB Web site (www.ESRB.com) provides game ratings as well as definitions of the rating system. In addition, you can visit game maker and distributor Web sites to learn more about the contents of a game. Some have reviews that will provide even more information about the game.

· Know your child. Different children handle things differently. If your child becomes aggressive or unsettled after playing violent video games, don't buy such games, regardless of the child's age. Likewise, if your child likes playing games with characters that look like her or him, purchase games with characters that fit the bill.

· Play the games with your child. Know what your child is being exposed to and how they react to different features in the games.

· Put the games in a public space. Just as with the Internet, keep your game consoles and computers in public family space so that you can be aware of the material your child is viewing.

· Read more than the ratings. While the ESRB ratings can be helpful, they do not tell the whole story. Some features that you may consider violent or sexual may not be labeled as such by the ESRB. In addition, the ESRB does not rate games for the positive inclusion of females or characters of color. The language on the packaging may give you a better idea of the amount and significance of violence and sexuality, and the presence of gender and racial diversity or stereotypes in the game.

· Read the ratings. Every video and computer game should be rated for age appropriateness on the front of the packaging. Some games also have labels with content descriptions on the back of the packaging. Be sure to read both of these labels in order to determine whether the game is age appropriate for your child and whether it contains material that you do not wish your child to be exposed to.

· Rent before you buy. Many video rental stores also rent video games and consoles. Take a trial run before you purchase a game. There is no better way to know what kind of material is featured in a game than to play it yourself.

· Set limits. If you are worried that your child spends too much time playing video games, limit the amount of time or specify the times of day that video games can be played.

· Talk about what you see. If your child discovers material that he or she finds disturbing or that you find inappropriate, talk about it. This is a great opportunity to let your child know what your values are as well as to help him or her deal with images that may be troubling.

· Talk to other parents. Find out which games other parents like and dislike as well as which games they let your child play when she or he visits their house. This is a good way to learn about the games that your child enjoys, games that other parents approve of, and to let other parents know which games you do not want your child playing.

Parents should also pay attention to video games' ratings. Following are the guidelines that were established by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board:

·EC is for "early childhood." May be suitable for ages 3 and up. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
·E is for "everyone." May be suitable for ages 6 and up. May contain minimal violence, some comic mischief and/or mild language.
·E10+ is for "everyone 10 and older." May be suitable for ages 10 and up. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.
·T is for "teen." May be suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain violent content, mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes.
·M is for "mature." May be suitable for persons ages 17 and up. May contain mature sexual themes, more intense violence and/or strong language.
·AO is for "adults only." Have content suitable only for adults. May include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence. Adult Only products are not intended for persons under the age of 18.
·RP is for "rating pending." Titles have been submitted and are awaiting final rating.

If parents are concerned that their child is spending too much time playing video games or appears preoccupied or obsessed with aggressive or violent video games, they should first set some limits (for example – playing the games for one hour after all homework is done) and try to encourage the child to participate in other activities. If there is continued concern about their child’s behavior or the effects of videogames, a consultation with a qualified mental health professional may be helpful.

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It is no secret that video games and television programs often depict graphic violence. But now, three new studies show violence causes children, teenagers and young adults to behave more aggressively than those who watch non-violent media.

In addition, there is also a debate swirling in Washington, D.C. on how to shield children from violent TV shows. Some U.S. lawmakers want to sponsor legislation to shield children from TV violence. But Howard Kurtz, a media reporter for The Washington Post newspaper, predicts a fierce fight from the entertainment industry.

The legislation would also prompt a court battle. Caroline Frederickson from the American Civil Liberties Union says, "Congress is going to have to become a bureau of censorship, and I think I'm hopeful that many members of Congress will recognize that that is not the appropriate role for them to play."

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