What Are Your Children Playing?

By Timothy Wellmann

December 14th, 2012. A day of of tragedy for all of America. In Newtown Connecticut Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook elementary school and shot and killed his mother along with 6 other teachers, and 20 students. It was later revealed that Lanza a (gamer himself) was a big fan of Call Of Duty. Lanza’s attack is not the first crime that has been blamed as the product of  video game violence. People fear that these video games are corrupting the youth of America. Which instead of pointing the finger on the industry itself. Parents need to educate themselves on what their children are playing.

According  to a survey done by  the Pew Internet & American Life project who surveyed 1,102 representatives for children 12-17 over the phone in 2007 found that 97% of the respondents play video games. When the boys who had taken the survey were asked what their favorite games was more than half of the boys who were included in that survey stated that their favorite game was one with an “M” or “AO” rating. Some parents may ask what the “M” or “AO” rating means. A survey done by the website playr2.com asked 1221 parents if they checked the rating of the games their children played. To which 64% of the parents answered they don’t check the ratings on the games their children play. Then of that 64% playr2 went on to explain “ 55%, simply explained that they did not think that age restrictions ‘mattered' on video games.” Parents need to understand that video games are regulated the same as other media such as music or movies. Like movies may be rated “R” or music a get a parental advisory sticker on the cover, video games have the same thing. Thanks to the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) video games have a rating system. The rating system goes from “C” for early childhood, “E” for everybody, “E10+” for children 10 years old and up, “T” for Teen meant for kids 13 and up, “M” For mature meant for people age 17 and up, then “AO” for adults 18 and up. Along with these labels on the box they also place notes alongside stating why the game was given that rating. For instance Blood and Gore, Language, crude humor,sexual content, etc. Just for a reference though. One of the games Adam Lanza was playing at the time was Call Of Duty 4: Advanced Warfare. Which was rated “M” for blood and gore, intense violence, and strong language. So with these ratings parents should not have a problem with getting games appropriate for their children.

(Image taken by Timothy Wellmann)

Another thing parents need to do if they don’t know what their children are playing is to take the time to watch their child play a little. That doesn’t mean for parents should spy on their children, but to spend some time with them. Video games can be an opportunity for them to spend some quality time with their children. Parents should also let their children show them what they are doing in their free time, and even play the game with their children. They shouldn’t view it as a waste of time. Games actually have some health benefits. A study done in 2003 by Daphne Bavelier, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester, New York showed that people who played action video games had on average better reaction times, spacial awareness, and sight than non gamers. Along with those slight benefits parents may actually find the games fun.

The final thing parents should do is talk to their children about the subject matter in video games. Video games could be great conversation piece for teaching children morals. Parents could talk to their children about how they need to separate video games from real life. They can talk to them about how violence is glorified in movies and video games, and how it differs from real life violence. They can talk about how war in games like Call of Duty are fun to play, but how real life war is horrible. They can explain to their children  about how war causes soldiers suffer from PTSD and other injuries. Or they can discuss why the villain is doing bad things, and maybe how he could have found other proper ways to reach the goal they are trying to achieve. Then after talking to their children parents can gauge whether their child is mature enough to play games that may be aimed toward an older audience.

So next time you child asks you to take them to get the newest Mortal Kombat Or Grand Theft Auto don’t put that game in your cart because your child tells you “It’s okay everyone plays it.” Either put it in because you’ve done research on it and your child is mature enough to understand that it is just a game, Or place it back and tell them they are not old enough yet. Because at the end of the day it is your choice.

Work cited

Cox, Kate. "Two-Thirds of Parents Admit They Don't Bother Checking Video Game Age Ratings." Kotaku. N.p., 13 Apr. 2012. Web. 7 Sept. 2015.

Fleming, Nic. "Why Video Games May Be Good for You." BBC. BBC, 26 Aug. 2013. Web. 7 Sept. 2015.

"Survey: Nearly Every American Kid Plays Video Games." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2015. <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=5817835&page=1>.