The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that ultra-violent video games can be sold to children – without any restrictions – means parents must step up to the task of reviewing and denying access to games that are not age appropriate for their children.
Some parents may wonder why this is so important. After all, these are just games. The answers are pretty apparent.
Numerous studies show that when children play violent video games, aggressive emotions are amplified. Studies have also found that playing these kind of games decreases social skills and increases aggressive behavior. These effects are not identical in all children, but indicate an average of the impact.
The American Medical Association issued a report a few years prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, stressing the “need for parents to monitor and restrict use of video games and the Internet.” It specifically encourages more vigilance in monitoring the content of games played by children 17 years old and younger.
Spending large amounts of time playing these games can lead to other negative consequences as well. They include time away from family, school work and other hobbies, lower grades, less exercise and becoming overweight, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
So how are parents doing in monitoring their children’s gaming choices and habits? A large Harvard study found that two-thirds of boys regularly played one or more M (Mature) rated games. Children who played mature-rated games a lot were more likely to have a game system or computer in their bedroom. According to the entertainment industry, M-rated games are appropriate for ages 17 and older.
Parents who are concerned about the negative consequences of violent video games can take control by making sure they are aware of the rating system, giving the ‘thumbs down’ to purchases meant for older children or adults. They can remove computers and gaming equipment from their child’s bedroom, placing it in a common area of the home where play can be monitored more closely. They can play the games with their children and discuss what is happening, establishing their own family rules and sharing them with other parents. Finally, they can become tone deaf to their child’s complaint that “all the kids are playing this!”
Parents who are concerned their child has become addicted to violent games can also consult their pediatrician.
The Supreme Court may have let our children down, but as parents, we can still decide what is best for them.
