Interactive Violence
Doom', 'Mortal Combat' and laser tag; the 1990's version of cops and robbers. But, in these games, kids actually shoot with guns and score points. Nine year-old Jason describes the excitement of going for the kill in a game of laser tag. "We all tried to kill each other," says Jason. "We went on a rampage the last ten seconds or so and killed anything we could find."
Experts know watching violence can be harmful to kids. Now, experts are tying to determine if fantasy video games that encourage kids to participate in interactive violence will have an even more destructive effect on kids. Child Psychiatrist Dr. Vincent Ho says parents should be cautious and limit a kid's exposure to violent interactive games. "Kids by and large on the whole, I don't think will be affected," says Dr. Ho. "But the kids that are already at risk for bad behaviors and aggressive behaviors, this is just kind of like adding gasoline to the fire."
So how do parents know if interactive violence is having a negative effect on a child? "The number one warning sign is that your child is just overly into it and overly enthusiastic about the kill," says Ho. According to Ho, limited exposure can help. He also says that parents should keep all violent games away from very young children. As kids get older, limit the time they spend playing interactive games. Ho encourages parents to discuss the consequences of real-life violence. "Parents are gonna want to limit the time he spends playing the game," says Ho. "And they're gonna also want to make sure that they have some understanding that the game is fantasy."
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"But the
kids that are already at risk for bad behaviors and aggressive behaviors,
this is just kind of like adding gasoline to the fire."
--Dr. Vincent Ho, Child Psychiatrist |
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*Interactive Violence is violence that is not physically experienced but seen on video games. It often carries a lasting, psychological, subliminal effect on the individual.(American Medical Association, June 1995). *The critical period of exposure to media violence is preadolescent childhood.(American Academy of Pediatrics). *Studies conclude that playing or viewing violent video games or certain programs of violence can increase aggression in children, make them more fearful and less trusting and desensitize them to violent behavior by other people. (National TV Violence Study). |
What Parents Can Do
Set limits. Limit time kids spend playing video games to 1-2 hours each day. Take the time to talk to kids about the violence they see and how it is glamorized.
Make a schedule. If your kids are playing interactive games to excess while you are not at home, make a schedule of when they can play them and for how long, or insist that they only play the games when you are present.
Participate with kids. Review the video games that kids are playing. Use the games as a way to open up a conversation about an important issue or to talk about your feelings on violence.
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Resources
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The Office
of Prevention of Virtual |
For
more information on parenting issues contact us: Connecting with Kids |