Video games affecting young children?

Question

How does sexuality or violence affect a child? Have any young brothers/sisters/cousins that are somehow affected by video games? positively or negatively.

Answer 1

I think the degree to which a child is influenced by anything can depend on the level of parental supervision. All too often we find that music, movies and video games are being used as a scapegoat, when I really feel that if there had been any level of parental supervision, a negative influence could be avoided in the first place.

Case in point: The Columbine High School shooting. The media has claimed that games like "Doom", movies like "The Basketball Diaries" and music like Rammstein were responsible for influencing Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to go on a shooting spree throughout their high school because of their exposure to violence through these mediums. Nevermind that both boys had a past history of psychiatric problems, had weapons in their possession that were illegally obtained and they regularly made video tapes documenting their arsenal and just how they planned to carry out criminal acts of violence. I understand that this was all hidden from their parents, but there had to be warning signs if their parents had played active roles in their lives. And these boys were both old enough that they should have known better. Should have known the difference between fantasy/fiction and reality.

Steering away from any more examples of where music, movies and video games have been used as a scapegoat, if there is no level of parental supervision in the home then yes, it can have a negative affect on young children. If you place a child in front of a television, hand him/her the controller to a video game and allow that child to do nothing else but play that video game, of course it's going to effect that child. That is all that child will know if the parent does nothing to intefere or does nothing to bring that child back to the real world. That child has not be taught that the game in which he/she is playing is only fantasy and that the real world outside of that video game is very different. Younger children are much more impressionable. If you allow a young child to play violent video games constantly, that child is more likely to be negatively influenced by that game or may believe that what happens in the game is "real", than an older child or a child that does not receive as much exposure. Or any exposure, for that matter.

My parents have always played active roles in my life and the lives of my siblings. We were not allowed to watch certain movies or play certain video games until we were older, and once we reached that age we were monitored and our levels of exposure were moderate. At least in comparison to the exposure that I know some kids have. We learned from a very young age that movies and video games are just that, and things that occur in the real world are much different than how they are portrayed in movies and games.

My brother just turned 16. He's been playing video games that could be considered violent or sexual in nature for a few years, but he knows and has been taught the difference between fantasy/fiction and reality. He doesn't feel compelled to rob or shoot someone after playing GTA- San Andreas, because he knows it is ONLY a game. A child that plays these kind of games constantly, without any supervision or interference by his parents may not realize the difference.

Answer 2

UmM...I`m Not A Parent But I Have A 13 Year 0ld Brother That Plays His Video Games C0NSTANTLY. It Actually Depends 0n What Game He Is Playing. My Brother Is Aloud Playing Any Games he Wants And It Effects Him Very Much! He Turns 0n His Grades, Bad In School, Doesn`t Listen, And Occisanly Talks Back 0r Lies!

Answer 3

I think It doesn't affect them on their behavior but also they become more lonenly persons and day by day are more away from the familly because they are more into the video games than having a good relationship with breothers & sisiters or with parents.. THey usually don't go out side and play like other kids because all they want to do is play video games adn that's bad I believe... !!!! personal opinion !!!

Answer 4

Too much of any activity that a child engages in can potentially be detrimental.
For example: watching too much TV, playing video games- especially violent video games, listening to inappropriate music are just a few.

Parents need to be actively involved and monitoring their children in all their activities.
They need to pay attention to the ratings on video games and movies and not allow their children to see the ones that are rated for older kids.

To answer your question, yes, the violence and sex in video games, music and TV can have a negative influence on young children because they are very impressionable. Often, they are not able to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy.

Take care,
SM, Counselor
Boys Town National Hotline
1-800-448-3000

What s your source?
Www.yourlifeyourvoice.org

Answer 5

well if a five year old hears cussing on the game he prolly will develop that habit younger and violence may make him act more violent because he will think its okay but its not

Answer 6

well my friends brother plays them all the time, and he is unhealthily heavy and only recently got over his obsession with weapons.

Answer 7

if your kids are doing that then ask them how are telling them that and have a chat with there parents