Violent Video Game Content Can Harm Children

Kids

oi-Staff

Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 14:08

Parents often find it difficult to choose which video games to purchase for their kids. Here are some tips that will help you to give your child the best.

Previously, what mattered most about violent games was how realistic and bloody they were. However, now it is important not to choose games with similar rules. In most of the video games you are instructed to harm and kill others' characters in order to advance. Such kind of a games will harm your child's thinking. This may inculcate a sense of aggression in a child.

Experts say that children learn from the content presented in the video games – whether positive or negative.

If a child plays drums, they will get better at drums. If the kids play games where you have to harm others they would use more aggressive tactics in real life. Children learn what they see.

The non-violent pro-social video games can teach kids to be more cooperative and helpful to others.
There are also games that have little positive or negative content, but are simply fun. Most sports games, like simulation games or racing games are fine for children.

Although playing violent video games on an occasional basis is unlikely to produce any long-term harmful consequences, repeated exposure to violent entertainment media of any type is an important risk factor for later aggressiveness. Parents need to carefully examine the content of video games before allowing their children to use them.