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As diverse as the people who play the MMORPG, World of Warcraft, the arguments that surround allowing a child to play this type of game are inciting and exciting. As parents today, we each choose a road that we hope our children will follow. We worry about their socialization skills, we worry about their safety, and yes, we worry about them when they are not under our supervision and what kind of trouble they may be finding.

Speaking to many parents today who have made this game a way to spend time with their children as well as their spouses holds a somewhat delicious morsel for others who know nothing of the game to chomp down on and discuss vehemently. My own parents have asked me why I allow my children to play the game. My answer is really very simple.

"It allows me to spend time with them doing something we all enjoy, while spending very little in the way of money. I know where they are, who they are with, what they are doing and what they are saying every minute that they are in the game."

I have the ability to log their every word with a simple command that Blizzard graciously bestowed upon me. My children are well aware of this, and do follow every rule that I have set down. I do not allow them to spend hours on the game as a permanent babysitter. We spend time outside, we spend time at parks, museums...the list is endless. This is just one more way for me to teach them lessons about money, life, people and manners.

In my opinion, and take that for what you will, as we all know opinions are a dime a dozen, World of Warcraft's benefits far outweigh the minimal risks involved with a game such as this. WoW has enabled us to meet people from all over the world, form friendships, learn about other cultures, much in the same way as the many MMORPG's that came before it. Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, Star Wars Galaxies, Asheron's Call...just a few that have made it possible for us to reach out beyond our limited boundaries and learn to get along with people from many countries.

I do not speak for the parents out there that allow their children to be on their computers for 20 hours out of every day because it keeps them out of their hair. But I am a firm believer in allowing children to play games such as these in a supervised situation. As your child grows and prospers, learns a few lessons about economies, supply vs. demand, and relationships, you will be glad that you decided to take a chance and allow them to play the game they wanted to try.

Learn more about this author, Melanie Winters.
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