Janey

Isn't there an Age Advisory on it? or a parental advisory? Just invoke that. And stand by it, as a rule. Who cares what thier friends get to do, you aren't their friends parents.

there's a reason for the rating system. I thought Halo 2 came with a 17 yr or older warning.

meembo

http://www.mediafamily.org/mediawise/index.shtml

the violence is pointless, and its very presence is confusing to kids who are (hopefully) being nurtured with every kind of gentleness we can provide.

adults can enjoy the violence, as cathartic or vicarious release of tension, etc. There is just no context for that for kids, and no reason to force the harshness of the world on them at the age of 4

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less I say, smarter I am

meembo

http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_effect.shtml

more info

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less I say, smarter I am

analog

Wah, wah, death and violence in the media.

That being said, I think there is a serious lack of "i'm going to teach my children right from wrong, about morality and being a good person". If you set the proper foundation, expectations, and values, then a mere videogame, tv show, etc., will not have as "devastating" an impact on the psychological developement of a child.

Of course, each child is different, and some will be the way they are no matter what you do. I think some parents refuse to believe that, and would rather blame outside influences.

FngKestrel

You mean, people refusing personal responsibility? Say it isn't so!

bigdaddy19

I would like to point out the difference between violence on TV and movies and violence in the video games. While playing the video game, you have control over the character and in essence, are the one pulling the trigger as opposed to sitting there and watching it happen. My kids (9 and 6) have an X-box, but we limit playing time and the games they can play. There is no way I would let my kids play a violent shoot 'em up game at this age. There are plenty of other games out there.

billyball2

"That being said, I think there is a serious lack of "i'm going to teach my children right from wrong, about morality and being a good person"

I think part of that is not exposing them to toys, movies, or TV shows that contradict what you're teaching, and simply reinforce the opposite. I'm far from being a prude, but I won't bring an X-Box (or similar system) into the house until my kids are teenagers, if at all. My 4 1/2 year old LOVES the Hooked on Phonica program he's been working on. He loves the Leap Pad that he has. Why on earth would we give him video games? He would see me working on the computer and showed an interest, so I built a system for the kids, and he and his younger sister(s) no whave Dr. Seuss, reader Rabbit, etc, etc.

Kids are sponges and will soak up and master anything you put in front of them. If the only things you expose them to are innocent and (gasp) educational, then X-Box delimas can be addressed later. By that time kids should have too much homework and too many extra curricular activities to become video game zombies.

pattycakes

as ong as you reinforce that video games are not real then nothing will come of it. Saying i stole this car because of gta is an easy copout. where as saying i stole this because i was high or pissed off at my parents

i play video games and i have since 8bit nintendo. i was about maybe 5 or 6. the thing is everygamehas violence in it.....what about supermario brothers? did we forget that we kill things in that
1.supermario brothers
2.donkey kong
3.duck hunt
4.solar jetman
5.willow
6.wwf wresteling
7.back to the future
(keep in mind this is only 8bit nintendo)

point in case i was playing violent games since i was 5 or 6 and i didnt kill anyone, haven stolen a car... or shot anyone. Everyperson \ child is different, 90% can tell the difference between videogames and realife... its that 10% that screw it up for the rest of us.

and if i was hit by a random snowball i would probably say i would find them and kill em. does that mean i will??? no

and when you give kidsa survey they arnt themselves they answer differently

edit: this reminds me of when my girlfriend and i were trying to teach her 4 year old nephew how to play halo, and all he did was stand there and look around.

Has he killed anyone? No
he does say my daddy will shoot it with his shotgun.... but he has been saying that since he had nightmares and his dad told him if he saw a monster under the bed he would shoot it.

does he know the difference between right and wrong? yes.

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pattycakes

building a pc for your kids is the same thing as having an xbox ect.

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cheeterbo

my kids (now 6, 5, 3 & 1) have their own pc. it is hooked up to the internet and has many different learning games installed.

they bounce between the pc & xbox equally.

i don't filter the internet yet, they have no idea. pc is monitored all the time.

when i see my 6 year old girl and 5 year old boy playing shrek 2, mad dash, shrek, barbie thug2. together on xbox it is phenomenal! a childs laughter is wicked, especially when you are the parent. they work together to accomplish the tasks. i can and do play with them.

my three year old tries, but she opts for the pc more because of the controller size.

i am going to slowly let them play halo2 now. i am not going to urge, but if they want, i am going to play it with them and continue to teach them about the fantasy of it all.

i am with pattycakes. i grew up and still play video games of all types, and i have been successfull in not killing anyone.

billyball2

"building a pc for your kids is the same thing as having an xbox ect."

Yes and no. While it's still a "video game" setup, the type of software that I purchase for my kids is VASTLY different than anything that I've ever seen for x-box. Reader Rabbit, Dr. Seuess' Reading, Arthur's Math Games, etc. get the kids familiar with the mouse, keyboard, and computer, while reinforcing things they'll learn in school. My options for keeping the computer as an "educational" tool are greater than the x-box, which is strictly entertainment...

I had an Atari and Colecovision system in my house as a kid, and I spent every waking hour from the time school ended until my parents got home at 5:30 on the damn thing. Looking back I wish I had spent a fraction of that time reading a book or doing homework. My kids won't fall into the same trap. Partly because thay won't be latch-key kids, but mainly because I know better (my parents didn't) and I'll limit what comes into the house...

Xell101

I think it's a poor decision to expose kids so young to such mindless games. For years as developmentally important as those, I think TV and computer/video games ultimately prove detrimental. I know I would've been far better off had I not been plopped in front of and encouraged to watch TV.

edit: An exception to my general declaration are quality educational games. There are quite a few solid options for those.