Should Parents Ban Violent Video Games ~ Ordinary Life Tips

Should Parents Reprimand Teens from Playing Violent Video Games

Violent video games have long been a hot topic issue among parents and parenting establishments for many years. With the inception and rampant insemination of these video games among today's youth it stands to reason that more and more parents are becoming concerned about these violent games. That being said there is an ongoing debate centering on the banning of and punishment for playing these types of violent games. While each parent is more than welcome to have their opinion on these games, it is important that you understand a few of the studies that are going on today concerning this type of violent games.

This guest post is by Agnes Embile Jimenez. She is a professional blogger and writer who runs her personal blog at www.empressofdrac.com

Separating reality from games

Psychologists and behavioural experts have begun to track the behaviour and brain activity of children that play violent video games over a prolonged period of time. Results indicate that prolonged exposure to these violent games can excite the brain and may potentially increase violent behaviour in children that have trouble separating reality from the games. Though not all children that play violent video games are going to become violent, there is an increased risk in a child becoming violent if exposed to these games for a prolonged period of time. These studies are not conclusive at this time but steps are being taken to collect more conclusive data on the matter.

Who should be responsible

This begs the question should children be banned from playing violent games and if so should they be punished for playing them? The child's mind is not one that understands necessarily why a parent may take away a violent video game or why they are being punished for playing them. That being said it is not the responsibility of the game manufacturer to explain to children and parents why playing these games may be detrimental but rather the duty of the parent to explain to the child why they are opposed to this sort of games.

Banning a game completely does make the child want to play it more. In boardingschools for example students are highly restricted in what they can and cannot do, while this strict structure works wonders for some students, it causes others to act out and do whatever they want despite the consequences. It is important that if you do choose to ban violent video games you explain why to your children rather than relying on your own authority or status within the household.

Do you ban or do you allow children to play violent video games in a controlled environment?

'Must-read' book for anyone concerned about the effects video games have on children!
Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research, and Public Policy

2 comments

menopausal mama01:16
I think it all comes down to parental control---I would not advise violent video games for younger children at all, but once they are an older teen, they are going to play these videos no matter what--if you ban then from it they will just find a friend who has it and play it at their house. My 3 older kids never had much interest in it, but the younger son did. I didn't allow these videos for a long time, and he simply played it elsewhere. So we had to compromise a bit--I let him get SOME of the videos but only ones that were tamer than the really bad violent ones out there. Now he is 17 and pretty much has lost interest in them anyway. We made sure he got involved with stuff at school so there is no time to waste on the games.

Pages

Should Parents Ban Violent Video Games

2 comments