It’s not just a gameVideogames can have serious consequences so parents need to find out exactly what is in them.
As we head back to the beginning of a new school year, parents once again have to help their kids balance the obligations and joys that come with school, classes, homework, and extracurricular activities. While most of these tasks are familiar to parents, technology has added a new dimension -- thanks to everything from the iPod to videogames and internet surfing. Much as kids might complain when parents monitor their activities, research shows that adolescents clearly want their parents to be involved and assist them when they are trying to juggle school and play. This is because kids know that self-monitoring can be difficult. Recent research has shown that the effects of extreme videogame playing, in particular, can be subtle and, yet, detrimental to youth's classroom productivity, attentiveness, focus, and satisfaction -- something that parents and kids are still not fully aware of. While there are a range of videogames, including some that are educational, fun, and academic, there are also many videogames that are extremely violent, aggressive, and sexually exploitive, much to the surprise of many parents. Negative games, that promote aggressiveness ("points" for killing someone) and depict sexually exploitive images (mostly of females) are pervasive throughout the gaming world, and remain readily available to youngsters. Researchers Craig Anderson and colleagues at Iowa State University have consistently shown that high amounts of video game playing increases hyperactivity, unfortunately, and reduces attentiveness to details and information. Further, research conducted by myself at the University of Maryland with doctoral students Alaina Brenick and Alexandra Henning, has shown that there is a fairly high acceptance of negative stereotypic images in videogames, and particularly by male adolescents. The more frequently adolescents play games, the less likely they are to be critical about the negative images. What are parents to do? There are two important dimensions to consider when determining how to monitor children's videogame playing: (1) time spent playing, and (2) quality of the game. Even for games that are educational and fun (and these do exist!), children and adolescents should limit their time playing (30 minutes a day for children, and one hour a day for adolescents). This is because the time that they are playing these games is time that they are not interacting with peers, getting physical activity, or getting school work done, all essential components for the healthy development of youth. Regarding the quality of the games, parents need to open their eyes and watch the games that their children are playing. They should examine the content of the games, and what's involved. Many of the games involve horrific violence; repeated exposure to this content has short-term and long-term negative consequences. It's not enough to hear that "my friends all play it!" Their friends probably do play the videogames -- but that does not make it a positive experience for American youth. How to approach kids? We recommend that parents engage in a discussion with their children and adolescents about videogame use. Taking an authoritarian stance in which rules are laid down with no explanations usually results in kids sneaking around and playing games outside of the home. Instead, help children to be discerning and discriminating, and educate them indirectly about the content, and the consequences. Ask kids to explain the content, the goals, and the aims of the games. Then, use the opportunity to talk about the content, whether it should be changed, whether there are negative consequences, and how much they believe it influences their own behaviour and attitudes. In a recent study by the University of Maryland, adolescents were asked about the consequences of videogame playing. One adolescent stated that while the violent images were "...bad and not what I'd want my younger brother to see, it's OK for me because I'm not going to go out and kill someone tomorrow." This view reflects a very literal interpretation of what it means to be affected by video game-playing. In fact, studies have shown that videogame playing increases hyperactivity and compulsivity, implicit aspects of behaviour that may not be readily apparent to the player. There are two general guidelines to keep in mind: (1) explicit consequences are not the only negative consequences that can occur; and (2) adolescents know that parental guidelines are helpful. Parents need to find a compromise regarding the amount of time playing, and then provide videogames that are cognitively beneficial rather than socially destructive. The juggling act is soon here; helping adolescents to divide their time efficiently, and to find a balance between school work, play, friends, and physical activity is a challenge but is an important recipe for healthy social and intellectual development. Melanie Killen is a Professor of Education in the Department of Human Development at the College of Education, University of Maryland. |
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joeyanna said...This article is an eyeopener for all parents and adults who have video-game addicts in their homes and vicinity - at office or wherever.
Video gaming has become a necessary activity for most youth and children who have a possibility towards it. I know of persons in my own family, nephews especially, who had a great addiction to video games and violent ones at that.
For the sake of parents who belong to another generation, and are not able to tell the children, it is time to introduce some kind of ethical discernment classes withing school premises it self , maybe within the extra curricular classes.
India | Sunday, 12 August 2007 at 6:33 pm
Pauline Bittman said...Dear Melanie,
Thank you very much for your article. The arguments were presented in a very logical way. I will use them in my own household. It requires constant parental diligence to monitor the constant flow of electronic forms of entertainment.
Sincerely,
Pauline Bittman
mother of 8
Canada | Monday, 13 August 2007 at 12:58 am
Martin Cordi said...Thanks for a very informative article. I would certainly be grateful if you could share a list of good, fun, educational games for children ages 6 through 11 years of age…
Martin Cordi
Father of 6 children
United States | Monday, 13 August 2007 at 11:19 am
Sr Joeyanna said...Dear Mr Martin,
I just happened to read your comment and request. Since we deal with Media in our Pauline Book and MEdia Centres, I can give you the following website,
URL: http://www.aladdinindia.com
which has a variety of “Edutainment’ as they call it. Do check it out.
I think they some agents in the US as well.
For good films for children of the agegroup of your children you can visit our website (click on my name) and order directly from us.
Wish you a happy parenting.
Sr Joeyanna
-- | Monday, 13 August 2007 at 3:50 pm
Greg said...Both of my children are still young (under 6), but my eldest has already played some video games. I’ve seen her develop a certain amount of “3D intelligence” because of it. She understands where objects are in the 3D enviroment of the video game, and her eye-hand coordination has improved too.
While I consider these things to be positive, I’ve also noticed some of the bad side affects the author mentions, and it’s good to see research that reinforces my experience. I limit her to no more than 30 minutes (and only if I’m with her too), for if she plays extensively (say, for 1 hour) then there is usually a difference in her behavior (cranky, always wants to play). I’ve heard the same results from other parents.
Having been a heavy game player when I was young, I’m more familiar with the content. Some video game content is horrendous (the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series), and most of them are intentionally titillating (for example, the Dead of Alive series). Some video games include content that parents would *never* let their children watch, but in a video game you don’t just watch it, you actually get to commit it *yourself* in a virtual environment (for example, in Manhunt you are rewarded for killing people in the most grisly manner possible).
Parents should review what their children watch, read, and play, and video games are no different. If you don’t know what happens in some of the video games, then make the time to watch your children play. If they don’t want you to watch, then there’s probably something wrong with the game (assuming you don’t ask questions every minute).
Just my $.02. Hope it’s worth more. :)
United States | Monday, 13 August 2007 at 11:26 pm
Dan said...Our 11 year old some was becoming frighteningly addicted to these games. He obsessed about them when he wasn’t playing them. My wife and I talked to him openly about our concerns. When he understood what the problem was, and that it was ultimately his problem, he agreed to sell the video game device back to the retailer (who buys them used) and now says he his happier without having the thing in the house. I really believe that if a child is addicted like our son was, the only solution is to rid the house of all video games.
United States | Tuesday, 14 August 2007 at 3:39 am
Phillip Rizk said...Parents, do forgive me for saying this, but I would like to make a defense for video games since there are positive effect of those games on children. One positive effect is that it makes your children sporty. It certainly speeds up reaction times and improves hand to eye co-ordination. And provided children dont play too much, it seems that their academic progress is unlikely to suffer. School children who play a moderate amount of video games are also more likely to do their homework. Playing video games could improve your children’s logical thinking ability, problem solving skills, and in decision making. (Computer games such as age of mythology is a good example).
However, please do take the time into consideration. Do not let your children play for more than an hour, or you’ll sincerely regret it.
Lebanon | Wednesday, 7 November 2007 at 5:04 am
Adam said...I use to be addicted to online gaming
..now I’m more social and use it as a tool to meet new people rather than consume my life.
United Kingdom | Saturday, 9 February 2008 at 7:48 am
joeyanna said...Dear Adam,
I am happy for you. As I have said in my earlier comment, one of my nephews was addicted to these. And it kept getting worse. Now he has control over his addiction.. well I hope so.
Gaming has a lot of positive. But when the purpose of the games itself is violent, it defeats the purpose of Gaming being called healthy entertainment.
India | Saturday, 9 February 2008 at 4:33 pm
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