Influences that Video Games Can Have On Our Children

The debate has been going on for years as to the effects that video games have on our children, and will probably continue for many years to come.  I know that many of us allow are children to use video games as a way of keeping them entertained.  There are many great games avilable and there is no doubt in my mind that many of them improve eye hand coordination, teach children to read, spell or do mathematics, and the lastest games actually help our children to stay active.  However, I think that it is important as parents to know the types of games our children are playing.  I believe that playing violent video games can increase the amount of violent behavior that a child engages in. The level of violence and realism associated with these games can desensitize our children to violent acts. 

In addition, a case can be made for video games teaching our children the skills that they need to fire a gun.  At a conference I attended several years ago, the speaker described a shooting that took place in a convenience store.  A boy who had never fired a gun before walked into the store, his face glazed over and he shot seven people right between the eyes.  This was a feat that sharp shooters could not successfully reenact.  It was reported that the only connection that this boy had to guns was video gaming. 

The rating system for video games provides parents with some means of regulating children's gaming.  In addition, I would like to suggest you preview the games that your child wants to play.  For younger children, introducing the game by playing it with them will ensure that your views on the activities engaged in during the game will be heard.  This would be great to do with older children as well, but getting them to agree to this may be more of a headache then the benefits obtained.