by Wayne Reeves

Created on: February 24, 2008   Last Updated: June 02, 2008

Games and the worlds they have created are so advanced now that young people must sometimes have a hard time distinguishing the real world from the simulated one. This isn't an excuse by any means to give support to the actions of children, but do youngsters get much of a chance to exist in the real world before technology envelops their minds?

Children can use games as a surrogate family, all the skills that once were the preserve of the family unit are given over to the 'virtual babysitter', the game becomes the instruction manual to growing up, the skills of life are taught through the moral judgments of the games they play.

Now herein lies the problem, how can children learn to respect others, make rational choices and become a well-rounded individual by relying on the attitudes of games today? Most games make a mockery of real life, many are violent and dispose of any moral code whatsoever. A child isn't taught what is right or wrong, just what is needed to overcome the obstacle in front of them; normally by whatever means that come to hand.

Many games don't offer anything but a violent answer to a problem, this reinforces the message that violence is the only way to solve anything. This won't be the case in many children's lives, but without proper supervision and interaction of the family, a child could get swept up in the pure fantasy of gaming and the gradual decline in good morals is sure to follow.

If you don't tell a child what is right and wrong enough then they will only refer back to what the games tell them, you must be seen as the role model, and not the game characters. It's hard for a child to realize that games are just entertainment, they're certainly not the meaning to life, but they do offer an escape from the real-world troubles. Growing up can be a painful experience, especially the emotional side, it's easy to see gaming as a timeout from all the world's hurt for them.

Making a connection in fantasy is all well and good, but playing games doesn't solve those issues for you, those characters you love in-game are no where to be seen in school or on the street, and you cannot do anything you did in-game in reality either, this jump from one realm to the other is sometimes why some children find it hard to adjust to the normal way of life.

The only way forward is to limit your child's exposure to violent games; knowing exactly what they're playing helps, and be there for them. Don't let technology be the moral code for your children, let them know you are!

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