With the availability of many media devices; TV, computer, videogame consoles, mp3 players and so on, it’s become a part of our everyday life to be connected to an electronic device. Here I sit, at my computer typing this article while simultaneously listening to the news on TV.
According to the 2006 MediaWise® Video Game Report card, kids report playing video games a weekly average of 9 hours (13 for boys, 6 for girls). When asked the same question, parents report a mere average of 5 hours per week. Nearly two-thirds of surveyed parents claimed to have rules limiting the amount of video game time their children have, and only one-third of those children claimed to have those rules.
So, how much is too much for the kiddos? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one to two hours a day of all media; TV, computer, DVD and video games. Does anyone actually abide by these recommendations?
Watching a single DVD family movie puts kids at the daily limit, they’re typically an hour and a half to two hours long. Since I’m already policing the content of the cartoons, shows, movies, video and computer games, and radio music being absorbed, I’ll admit time is not necessarily a priority. I’m much more concerned with what they’re watching/playing/listening to. The lines between PG and PG-13 continue to blur and the TV-rating system still leaves me asking, who makes these decisions? Even some commercials and show previews can impart too much information to kids.
Obviously, the more time spent playing video games, computer games, watching TV or otherwise absorbed in electronic media has negative effects on children’s weight, attention span, school work, and can even have social implications. Violent video games have been proven to cause aggression in children and in response to criticism, the industry has continued to improve on educating parents, as well as prohibiting the underage sale of Mature or M-rated, and Adults-only games.
There is a loop-hole to preventative measures put in place. As MediaWise® reports, specialty stores don’t enforce the age restrictions consistently and online retailers are only reading a credit card number.
The key element in all media when it comes to kids is the content. Parents cannot rely solely on the rating systems in place. Watching your kids play their favorite video games, even playing them yourself keeps you grounded in their world and opens up avenues of dialogue to discuss real world issues, including rules and limitations. The amount of time spent engaging or vegging, as the case may be, should be limited. Striving towards a balance of media intake will pay off in the long run, benefiting the whole family.
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