Video Games or Not

Do you think children should play video games?

I'm not sure I do... I know my son isn't old enough yet but I don't think they are all that good... considering some of the violence and the lack of energy to even want to go outside and play etc.... or home work... I think it makes more of a problem... what do you think?

Mera...

I have to say no for the most part... I have known of people using them as babysitters and I firmly disagree with this. Just like anything though, too much tv, too much time on the computer, etc. is not healthy for children, or adults for that matter. I think they can become very addictive.

I think as a reward or as a set amount of time, they would be ok... such as, you clean your room or do these chores and you get to play video games for one hour (or something like that).

All things in moderation!:)

I agree with the all things in moderation 100%, but... but...

... I was one of those who said "NO" for years. Then one day, I gave in (constant begging by my x-step-son) and got a PS2. *I* played.

As a parent, you have the ability to pick and choose what games your kids have access to... you can choose educational games. Games that improve hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills. Games that improve attention skills. Games that are exciting and intriguing to the young minds...

My son has Asperger's. He has gross/fine motor skills issues, albiet mild ones. Playing video games has SIGNIFICANTLY improved his hand/eye coordination for other things (using tools adeptly, writing, etc.) as he is more interested and engaged in the game play. If it's interesting and fits what he likes, he will play and play and play. He has attention problems, but doing activities like this improve them significantly.

We also have the dance mat. GREAT exercise on coooold winter days. FUN, too. Excellent for improving overall gross motor skills AND exercise, which kids greatly need.

They are also SANITY savers for parents. You go to the store, choose a game you find education or engaging, bring it home and while you're doing laundry, washing dishes, folding clothes, running the vacuum, etc., etc., your kids are inside, engaging their little minds.

When you're all done, you can turn it off, go outside and play and engage them in human interaction.

There are some EXCELLENT games out there. Super Monkey Ball is incredibly challanging, even for adults. Ico is unbelievably beautiful and an AWESOME puzzle... sure you run around with a stick bashing ghosts. Big whoop. Not what I consider violence. After all, its the hero trying to save the feeble ghostly woman! Final Fantasy X was like being IN a book and watching a movie at the same time. No blood or guts and its a great love story.

Letting you kids play video games all day long without supervision is irresponsible parenting.

Moderate, compitent, responsible parents can USE the video games as a way to bond (play with them), educate, amuse and entertain.

I have three game systems. Right now, my kids are watching Harry Potter. Neither one of them has asked to play a game in days. (shrug)

~phosphorescent

I'm so afraid of the fighting games I don't think they are appropriate for any age unless your and adult....

I already have a computer for Dennis LOL

Well, we have DOA2 which you can change the appropriate "age" level in and it's basically just a kickboxing/karate kind of game. My son has no interest in it, but my step-son loved it and together we would beat the hell out of each other (in the game, of course) and laugh and laugh and laugh.

In DOA2, no one dies (obviously not real), no one really gets hurt, there is no blood. LOL.

There ARE bloody, gorrey games. You just don't get them for the kids. I feel pretty safe with ANY E labeled game (everyone) and most T rated games for my 9 year old son. Anything labeled M I might buy is for me and Litical and stays out of sight of the kids.

There are some seriously bloody games for the PC, too. ;)

~phos

LOL MrsHH. I grew up in the world without video games... (until late teens, that is, LOL) and guess what my brother did? Oh, set the entire creek on fire across the street at age 6. Blew up a toilet with a bottle rocket. Started a fire in the trash can and almost burned the house down. LOL! And those are only a FEW of the things he did.

My son blows stuff up on the computer or on video games. His worst offense in 9 years was curiously setting the cigar lighter to the monitor at my folks house? Hey, that's pretty good! My Uncle, as a kid, took a hammer to a bullet. :o Still has scars from that... if you can imagine.

Yeah... violent shoot-em up, blow it up kinds of games can serve as an outlet for typical male curiosity and aggression, without the nasty expense of litigation costs and property damage. LOL!

~phosphorescent

When I grew up we had the good 'ol games like Mario Brothers and Tetris.....I would be fine with video games of that nature, in moderation of course. But today, the games are so violent that I don't think I would allow those kind. I have seen 'C's son play soccer and bike riding video games and they seem pretty harmless. Video game playing would have to be a 'once in awhile' thing too; homework, chores, and reading would come first.

Kids are gonna do what they wanna do...simple as that lol...if you dont let them play games they can always just go over to a friend house and play them there....i grew up playing all kinds of games...mostly games with alot of blood and guts and stuff yeah...i turned out sane for the most part too! plus a person who blames there kids actions on a video game is pitiful....its not the fault of a video game for the way a child acts...its the fault of the MOTHER OR FATHER....thats just an excuse to get them off the hook...no d*** video game can make a kid hurt other people or just act out.....if a kid grows up in a good home he will know right from wrong and know that that is only a video game not real and what u do on there isnt what u do in real life....oh yeah same stuff applies to movies and TV...kids go out and kill people in there highschool then everyone turns around and blames a movie? kid shoots a cop turns around blames it on a tupac song? lol...just excuses to get the mother or father off the hook so people dont see how much of a sh*** parent they truly were...but hey not all of it is a mother or father fault...some kids are just bad....and u cant change that...but for the most part... look at the home life...never look at the video game or tv screen to blame for the actions of a person...a kid brought up right shown right from wrong will be able to handle playing a game with blood and guts and walk away from it and be perfectly fine with no thoughts of "I MUST GO KILL EVERYONE NOW!!!" honestly do you feel that way after seeing a bloody movie? or have u ever after playing a game as a kid or after a movie? i sure as h*** havent....so i believe not allowing a child to play a video game for fear of them seeing blood and guts...which are FAKE and dont even look real...because your scared they will act up...thats totally flawed...

Well... if violent video games caused violent behavior, we would be subjects of a reign of terror, ruled by pencil-necked geeks who rip the spine out of anyone who opposes them.

Aside from everyone's comments, I'd like to point out that not all 'teen/adult' range video games are violent. Personally, I don't play much of the shooting/fighting games simply because I find them boring in doses much larger than 30 minutes at a time. Instead, though, I could sit down all evening in front of a Civlization-type game.

From personal experience, I'd recommend exposing kids to real-time or turn-based strategy games. Just from the nature of the gameplay, they teach multitasking skills, pattern recognition, cause-and-effect analysis, and (especially in the case of some of the turn-based games) some basic economics.

i like all kinds of games...mostly RPG'S i guess....Fable good game...to short tho need to hurry up with fable 2...Ummm...wasnt big fan of the james bond games.. i mean golden eye for 64 was cool back in the day lol...Ummm...play some MMORPG's sometimes too..like EQ(EverQuest) or WoW(World of Warcraft)....those are basically all hack and slash games you know...but still fun...if my mom ever gave me a game about reading or math as a child? i'd prolly be pissed....very mad....LOL..but hey thats me...i mean when they are very little sure thats all good but once they hit around 9+ they are gonna wanna play games with more action....

Yeah 1 more thing...NEVER buy your kids a MMORPG...cuz that will get them stuck infront of comp all day long...lol few out on PS2...but anyways MMORPG's are games you play you log into a server and your playing with thousands of other players in the same world...i mean i've lost hours playing EQOA and WoW doing a simple quest and felt like 30 minutes....those things are...BAD!!!! you will get hooked...they call EverQuest EverCrack...you will get hooked within few days of playing stay away from those games and i doubt the kids will get "hooked" on a game...

I agree with what Phos said, and the everything in moderation theory.

My kids have all three game systems between the three of them, because my real downfall as a parent is giving them about everything they ask for which is NOT a good thing, and there have been times I thought they played too much.

My kids did play the Final Fantasy series, and it was so interesting I used to sit and just WATCH. Right now my daughter really enjoys playing the Sims (btw, addictive even for parents). A lot of times as a family we will all sit down and play a silly game like MarioKart. And Jake really loves racing games, and plays after he gets home from school.

We don't have the dance pad, but after hearing Phos talk about it, I think I should check it out. Chelsea has always really liked that "Dance Dance Revolution" game at the arcades.

I think at times in the past I have let their usage get excessive though, and obviously not all games are for all age groups.

When we first got the original Sims the kids got really involved, and would get upset in real life if something happened to their Sim people. In the game Jake's baby got taken by the SRS because it kept crying, and he got very upset in real life and cried.....(btw..my Sim got killed in a fire!!! LOL). It hadn't occurred to me when we got the game that it could cause real life anxiety or getting upset.

Sooo, yeah, appropriate games for appropriate ages, and everything in moderation!!!!

Well.. if Jake likes racing games, DEFINITELY check out Rumble Racing. OMG, such an under rated game... it was the first game we got and the only one that has seen continuous play for over three years!!! Simply awesome fun to be had by all. I'm such a RR addict. LOL.

And I agree, Golden, on the real-time games. Fable was really cool... but, TOO easy. You never died (I didn't) and so much they were hyping to do with it was not done, as they had to push it through... in fact, it kind of irked me for that simplicity. Kingdom Hearts was INCREDIBLE.

And yes, I play every game my kids get their hands on. USUALLY before they play, I check it out and make sure I find it acceptable.

And DH... I don't know of any "math" games for a game console. LOL. There are educational ones for little kids like Dora and Spongebob, which are educational and fun at the same time.

But, I find video games to be a useful TOOL. Not a babysitter or an excuse for their rare bad behaviors or anything like that. I felt SO differently before I got a game system...

... and like DH said, kids will just go where the game system is. Not having one means once your kid is old enough, you won't see them anymore as they will be at their friends instead of at your house. I'd rather have all my kids friends over here, where I can listen to what they are saying to each other and BE a good parent. ;)

~phos

P.S. Dance Dance Revolution is a BLAST. Especially with the eye toy!!

Another reason that I think video games are a good idea; the "allowance" method of money management.

Games, whether for console or computer, are pretty expensive -- new ones are easily $50-60 US, and apparently prices are going to go up in the next year or two. For a kid given even $20/wk as an allowance, which is the most mine ever got growing up, buying a game is not trivial -- especially if things like clothes also get bought out of allowance money.

Having "luxury goods" that I wanted cost more than a single allowance was a better inspiration to save money than anything else I can think of. Plus, as parents, it gives the freedom to say "Okay, you can have the game, but you'll have to pay for it yourself," versus simply buying it for the relevant kid.

I know every situation is different since every child is different. My brother had a bad case of ADHD, and when he was young he played video games where there was fighting and violence. He would then turn around and beat me up or try to immitate the moves of the fighters in the game on my Mother. There were just certain things that my brother couldn't 'handle' that other kids are fine with.
You just need to be in touch with your child and notice any negative changes if there are any at all. :-) You can not put all children in one basket - so to speak.

DH.... I'm sorry but its not ALWAYS the mother and father.... when they grow up... sometimes it is sometimes it isn't.... but it's not that cut and dry..... Why do you think the young girls are wanting to be more sexy and older... Look at britney spears... I'm not saying we don't controlw hat they were HOWEVER they do leave the house when they are a little older and you can't watch their every move...

Parents do the very best they can and Pray for the best.... as a Mother I know I'm trying even though it's early... but I'm always teaching him....

On the video subject......My girlfriends son had PS2 gameboys etc... and he NEVER wanted to leave the house.. all he wanted to do was play those games..... I do think the educational ones are good though....

I want that new vsmile video game system..... kinda like leapfrog.......

I don't like gun games.... at all.. no matter what the age... I know its just me and in 15 years I may change my mind LOL.... but I think moderation and supervision is the key :)

Bella like always I totally agree with you!

supposely i had ADHD as a child...but i didnt go around beating up my sister cause i was playing a fighting game...I DID MY BROTHER! lol j/k...i beat him up for fun not cause of the games....cant say i ever beat someone up because i seen it on a game or because i seen it in a movie...ADHD doesnt mean your going to do what you see on a game...ADHD is just your overly hyper cant focus as well as most and have a bad memory in lot of cases...sure i was hyper but what kid wasnt? lol...and as a child doubtful your going to focus on 1 thing for very long anyways...kids will see something on a game movie TV etc...think its cool but you know what? at that point its the parents time to step in explain to them right from wrong explain its a game movie or w/e and to know its made up not real.... and chances if a kid is runnning around hitting you and has ADHD? he is doing it because he thinks people will pay him mind...keep in mind ADHD you want attention good or bad doesnt matter so they will run around beat people act mean do whatever it takes to have all eyes on them....so you can blame the hitting on ADHD sure...but please dont on a video game...cause the game didnt say "ok go out and punch people please" and didnt let you think it was ok to do so...it was a game nothing more...


also Fos4...Yeah fable was kinda easy way to short to... i mean got all my stats maxed got that d*** sword outta the stone went evil killed guards till i passed out did my quests beat jack...if you let the credits run btw you can continue to play your char after you've killed jack...i mean i did everything in that game...was way to short...and just to give you an idea of how easy it was.. i would sit in bowerstone south just punching the crap outta guards breaking down doors and beating up the children at the school...all while maybe 6 guards chopping away at me and never died....they need to make that game harder add more land more quest....more towns too hated all those towns in the game...but all the hype was about how the NPC's react to your toon for all the choices he makes thru out the game....become good or bad go into a town and have people crawl into the corner when you walk into their shops...(yeah you guessed it my guy was pure evil horns,red aura the works :) ) But they are working on a fable 2..and also someday you should be able to download content from xbox live to fable...quests,items,land etc... but yeah i was really hyped about this game as was ALOT of people...and for the most part was a pretty big disappointment...not measuring up to the hype....

Originally posted by DarkestHour5
supposely i had ADHD as a child...but i didnt go around beating up my sister cause i was playing a fighting game...I DID MY BROTHER! lol j/k...i beat him up for fun not cause of the games....cant say i ever beat someone up because i seen it on a game or because i seen it in a movie...ADHD doesnt mean your going to do what you see on a game...ADHD is just your overly hyper cant focus as well as most and have a bad memory in lot of cases...sure i was hyper but what kid wasnt? lol...and as a child doubtful your going to focus on 1 thing for very long anyways...kids will see something on a game movie TV etc...think its cool but you know what? at that point its the parents time to step in explain to them right from wrong explain its a game movie or w/e and to know its made up not real.... and chances if a kid is runnning around hitting you and has ADHD? he is doing it because he thinks people will pay him mind...keep in mind ADHD you want attention good or bad doesnt matter so they will run around beat people act mean do whatever it takes to have all eyes on them....so you can blame the hitting on ADHD sure...but please dont on a video game...cause the game didnt say "ok go out and punch people please" and didnt let you think it was ok to do so...it was a game nothing more...




I am so glad that you could handle the video game thing, my brother clearly could not......and I am not blaming it on ADHD, how silly would that be?! But my brother did struggle with many things & it IS possible that the ADHD contributed to it......every case is unique and different so just because you had ADHD and you were o.k. & could handle things doesn't mean others are the same.It's a known fact that kids are constantly being influenced by many outside sources such as the media, movies, and even video games; some positive, some negative. Just like Mer stated earlier, look at all the young girls out there who try to look and act like little miss Britney Spears! Kids are always influenced.........and it is our job as parents to guide them and teach them the best possible way we can. :-)

I agree with you, Bella... on some points, for sure. But, you can guide and influence your kids with the choices of games you allow them to play (and movies and TV, too)... and DON'T allow them to play (by telling them why you are censoring it and think it's wrong!).

My brother, BTW, was VERY ADHD. Heavy on the H, too. He never once hit me. EVER. He did other stupid, idiotic things... but, he never, ever hit me. Not in jest, not in violence. I guess it's no wonder I look up to him and think the world of him!!!

DH: I ended up having a freakin' HALO, even though I beat myself into divorce from the witch, Grey. LOL! Eww... didn't like being married to HER, when I had a GOOD wife who thought I was "norty" as all get out. ;) But, yeah... halo on my head!

~phos

i had a wife in each town WOOT imma player now? no wait it was on a game so that means im still sad :( lol...yeah but whats cool about that is if you are nice to ur wives on that game and dont marry golddiggers they give u gifts tricky to find a wife in each town... i ended up for the good half the time i was playing married to women who were drunk coming outta traverns most the time LOL....but certain marriages give certain amounts of money and stuff to so that was cool...they had a frying pan in that game to made to beat the crap outta ur wife w/o having her split with u...that i thought was a bit much and the sex was so funny in that game screen goes black and u hear a girl in background...they were thinking of letting ur char be able to have kids in that game too but got rid of that idea! oh hey everytime you train u get older right...well if you donate enough gold it makes you younger...that is if you do at that good temple over by that sword in the stone..but yeah i just went around killing all the NPC's i seen lol see my brother went out killed undead to get points for training i went into towns and beat on townfolk and guards for that worked fines up to 100k+ :)



oh and hey bella thats true...as you said its a parents job to show the kid right from wrong...but when you have a child with ADHD spanking them or anything like that wont work...best bet would be to put them in time out inna room alone for a little bit...and yes all kids are diff no doubt...but even with ADHD a kid can be shown right from wrong and understand that... i mean i was a little punk when i was younger lol i wasnt close to being a angel...but i didnt do that because of a game or movie i watched... i did it because i thought it was fun to do...bein mean when i was younger was better to me then anything else for some odd reason....guess i was just a little a** lol...but i grew out of that for the most part... kids with ADHD can grow out of it to...just its not something that happens with every child with ADHD....if im able to type this up w/o going "OOO LOOK A SHINY PENNY LEMME GO PLAY WITH THAT!!!" im pretty sure i can focus on something...lol tho my mind does jump around alot and i do still get hyper at times...but we all do :) but yeah a child with ADHD is just a kid wanting attention and is going to act out or do whatever it takes in order to get it...and some kids just like to be mean too...but think i been typing for to long and i need to go back to sleep cause im about to pass out over this keyboard...so GOODNIGHT!