Some games rated by the video game industry as appropriate for everyone still contain potentially harmful content like violence or sexually explicit material. (Anderson & Ferlazzo, 2006) Unlike a movie, a parent cannot entirely screen a video game. A parent cannot watch a video game from beginning to end, merely trust the rating system. At best, the parent can play the game once or twice, which will not give the viewer a complete idea about the full range of the game's content or how it encourages the player to act violently towards imaginary villains. Aware of the negative impact of video games, the Federal Trade Commission has tried to limit the sale of M. For mature rated video games to children. But can you really trust the government to police what's inside the boxes of the approved video games? ("Undercover Shop Finds Decrease in Sales of M-Rated Video Games to Children, FTC website, 2006) Children, especially children whose sense of morality, interests, passions and pursuits of adulthood are still developing, don't need to spend hours training the reflexes of their thumbs and index fingers, while their bodies and minds grow sluggish. Teamwork, a love for the outside world, physical engagement -- all of this could be provided by organized sports. Going to the library, talking to other students about books, learning about new subjects through hands-on hobbies...

These are more worthwhile pursuits than even non-violent video games. And video games that encourage students to shoot, kill, or take delight in winning points by blowing the world into smithereens have an even more dangerous influence upon the child's development. Parents, it's six p.m. -- you may know where your children are, staring at a screen but how many worlds and people have your children destroyed by just clicking a button?
Works Cited

Anderson, Craig & Mike Ferlazzo. "ISU psychologist offers parental advice

On purchasing child's video games." Iowa University Press Release. 26 May 2006. [11 Nov 2006] http://www.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/06/may/games.shtml

Berman, John. "Do Video Games Help Make Kids Smarter?" ABC News

Special Report. 2 Jun 2005. [11 Nov 2006]

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Health/story?id=814080&page=1:

Undercover Shop Finds Decrease in Sales of M-Rated Video Games to Children."

Federal Trade Commission Website. 20 May 2006. [11 Nov 2006] http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/03/videogameshop.htm?

Violence in the Media -- Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects."

American Psychological Association Website. 2006. [11 Nov 2006] http://www.psychologymatters.org/mediaviolence.html