Debate about children playing computer games

A new study from Oxford suggests that games are not all bad, but parents should pay close attention to the amount of time children play computer games. The study has found that children who play computer games for less than an hour a day are likely to be less aggressive, more sociable, have fewer emotional problems and do better at school than their peers, performing better at school than classmates who never played computer games. However children spending more than three hours a day are likely to be hyperactive and more aggressive. The research, published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media and carried out at the Oxford Internet Institute, studied 200 children aged 12 and 13.
Headteachers of 16 schools in Cheshire issued a statement last weekend saying they would consider reporting parents to social services for neglect if their children were found to be playing games such as Grand Theft Auto, Gears of War and Call of Duty, which are rated for over 18s. The group, which consists of 15 primary schools and one secondary school, said playing these games and accessing websites and apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp could lead to ‘early sexualised behaviour’ and make children vulnerable to ‘extreme violence’. Several parenting groups criticised the statement, arguing that parents should instead be encouraged and helped to communicate with their children about the appropriate use of media. Video game writers argued that age ratings are not always an accurate indicator of whether a media product is appropriate for children, and that there therefore needs to be a more nuanced debate. Others highlighted research finding that parents tend to react more strongly to children watching adult rated movies compared with video games.
Last year FK&Y carried out research for the educational charity Tablets for Schools which found that many under-16s do not think playing adult rated games is a problem.