Is your daughter struggling in school? Call 866.828.7043

Boarding Schools for Girls Blog

Read the latest news and information about girls boarding schools, single sex classrooms, and girls learning styles.

When Monitoring Video Games, Don't Rely on Ratings Alone

By now, it should be clear to all parents that video games aren't only for boys. But when deciding what games your daughter (or son) is allowed to play, don't rely on the game's rating system alone to help you make your decision.

Video games, like movies, have their own rating system. The system is meant to help parents decide what games are appropriate for their kids. But, if you rely solely on the ratings, you may expose your child to things you don’t like. Take, for example, the following video game description:

“This video game is a first-person shooter in which players compete in a ‘kill-or-be-killed’-style TV program. The characters are rewarded with notoriety, fame and points for creative kills. Some female characters are depicted in bikinis, low-cut clothing and showgirl costumes that expose a lot of cleavage. A movie set displays a call sheet that details a bedroom scene. Since this scene involves nudity, only the involved actors and the director should be present. Items such as beer and wine bottles, kegs and tequila appear in the game. Players are also able to consume beer.” [Source: Mercury News (CA)]

On a related note, if your child appears to be obsessed with video games, professional intervention may be called for.


 

Labels: computers, video game

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton

Comments:

Kensington on 8/19/2010
At the risk of sounding like an old fogey (I was in high school when Pac-man debuted), I am alarmed by the content of a lot of video games. I think I would find it intimidating to try to assess all the video games my kid might want, but I would owe it to her/him to know what games end up in my house and what affect they have on my child.