Why dont you play? (Are Computer and Video Games Harmful to Children?)

Member Name: RPnecroranger

Product:	Are Computer and Video Games Harmful to Children?
Date:	05/11/09 (87 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: active parenting reduces risks

Disadvantages: people just let thier kids get on with it

As it probably blatantly obvious by now (if not check my profile) we have a large number of kids, computers and games!

How damaging a game is is really down to parental control. Now by parental control I don't mean buying a game in the right age range. Real parental control involves some trust, a parent actually playing the game first to assess it and a modicum of common sense.

Just like everything else gaming can be dangerous. Ask your selves this: Would you leave you child to a random stranger? Well like it or not, especially on MMORPGs, this is going to happen.

I'm a active parent - I play Guildwars *with* my children, I've assessed lots of online games and only when I am happy does any game get installed on their computers. Even then the younger ones are not allowed on those games unless either myself or my other half are online there too, or we have time to keep a eye over them. We don't permit computers or games in their bedrooms.

In very essence every game is a privilege and a responsibility to be earned, from both child and parent.

Admittedly our primary interest in games outside of MMO's is the educational value of the games, usually ensuring atleast 2 - 3 clear educational premises before purchasing.

A game, like a knife is always dangerous in the wrong hands or those of someone who pleads innocence to what can be rather nasty.

Better a wary parent than a idiot who shoves their kids infront of the electronic babysitters hoping they don't turn into mindless zombies...

I thought I might add a bit more. We actually got a commendation from my sons psychologist - now I'm going to be quite open and say my ex was violent - and my son had a lot of issues and resentment to work through about his father, however we (my current partner and I) taught him to play Dungeons and Dragons and we played with him in Guildwars and a few other games, and the whole 'ethos' has taught him rather valuble coping mechanisms via role play. Also that violence on a computer does not mean violence in the real world. We hevily promote the ingame "violence" as a replacement for those anger issues as you dont get arrested for killing a dinosaur of pixels.

But these coping mechanisms don't get taught without parental influence and guidance, so yeah, plonking a kid in front of... say GTA for 4 hours on their own will probably influence a kid to hijack a car or murder.

Summary: Play with the kids not just let them play...