When should children be allowed to play video games? This is a difficult question that many parents wrestle with, and it can apply to many forms of technology (eg, TV, computer, cell phones, iPods). These issues will likely become more thorny as technology advances and becomes even more ubiquitous.
As a child, I grew up playing video games, from Pong on up. I have always enjoyed and fascinated them. I even did my thesis research on the effects of video game violence on children. So, I am very knowledgeable on this subject as I am a lifelong gamer, a psychologist who has researched its effects, and now the father of two children.
First of all, video games are not inherently good or bad, they are just a medium, like TV, books, the Internet, etc. They should not be categorically vilified. Just like movies and books, there are games that educate and enlighten, and there are games that indulge our primitive fascination with sex and violence.
There is very little research on the effects of these games on very young children, and that research is correlational, as it would be unethical to randomly assign 2-year-olds to play video games 2 hours per day or not at all. Exposing children to violent video games as part of a research experiment is, of course, out of the question. However, I have heard of very young children, even babies, being exposed to games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Halo. I know for a fact that some kids as young as 3 years old even play those games.
TV, video games and ADD/ADHD
Young children’s brains are developing rapidly, and there is some research to suggest that exposure to highly stimulating media, such as television, could “wire” young children’s brains to become accustomed to intense environments. Such children may become bored and lose focus when in less stimulating (or traditional) settings, such as listening to a teacher lecture in class. Thus, there is a hypothesis (and some correlational research to support it) that children exposed to television at an early age are more likely to be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD when they are older. If you’ve seen any of those Baby Einstein videos, you know what I mean! The correlational finding between early television viewing and ADD/ADHD would likely apply to video games as well.
Do video games have a Brain Booster?
Looking at things from a different perspective, neuroplasticity research indicates that the brain really is like a muscle that can grow in response to stimuli. Video games contain rich environments with many complex cognitive challenges that exercise the brain a lot. There is a growing body of research supporting that playing video games improves cognitive functioning in many areas. Video or computer games are listed as one of 6 known “brain boosters” in the February/March 2009 issue of Scientific American Mind. In fact, Microsoft is researching the educational benefits of typical video games.
On a related note, if I have to choose between my son watching Tom & Jerry or playing Super Mario Galaxy, I encourage him to play a video game because I think it’s a better exercise for his brain than the passive experience of watching TV.
Since I grew up playing computer games, playing video games with my oldest son has been a dream come true in many ways. But it is also a Pandora’s Box. If I left it all up to him, he’d play video games until he passed out from exhaustion. Trying to set boundaries with him in games can sometimes be challenging. My biggest problem now is that his 2-year-old brother wants to join in on the fun and it’s even harder to keep him away from the TV and games. As parents of two or more children know, it’s easier to set boundaries with the first child. Younger siblings always want to do what their older brother or sister does.
Some practical guidelines
There is no clear answer to the question of whether you should allow your children to play video games, but I would say that it is better to err on the safe side with limited exposure to various forms of electronic media at very early ages (under 3 years of age) with gradually more access as children get older. Even then, you should monitor and limit your children’s exposure and check that the content is appropriate. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (esrb.org) is a great resource for that.
I believe that video games, like television, should be seen as a privilege and not a right. Therefore, children can get their limited access to games (and TV) only after other responsibilities (eg, homework, chores) have been fulfilled. Also, you should consider setting an aggregate “media time” limit so that TV, computer (for recreation), and video games all fall under one limit. Within that time limit (for example, one hour per day), children can decide how they want to allocate their time.
Perhaps most importantly, you should try to serve as a good role model for your children. If you’re trying to limit your child’s play time, but you’re always on your laptop, watching a lot of TV or keeping it on to hear background noise, or playing a lot of video games yourself, what do you hope your child wants? ? On the other hand, if you play sports, throw the ball with your children, have many hobbies, read a lot, etc., you will send a powerful message to your children. Children often adopt their parents’ values for better or worse. By being aware of that and setting a good example, you are likely to help your child stay on the path to personal and academic success.