*Guest post
Whether
intentional or not, there are always those that find problems with
the simplest of children’s games. In the ongoing debate of whether
a video game or children’s toy leads to danger and corruption, the
media continually shows example after example of how inappropriate
toys are causing senseless violence and the decline of the next
generation’s sense of morality. Just last week, news broke of a
teenage boy killing
his parents because they took away his iPod.
It history is any indication; it is only a matter of time before the
media releases news that this boy spent endless hours playing first
person shooter games.
I
am of the opinion that there’s a direct correlation between how an
individual turns out, based upon how they were raised by their
parents—not which games they played growing up. There is a thin
line between good parenting and bad parenting, and I’m not sure
that “unconventional games” are a determining factor. Being a
good parent means having the ability to determine what is best for
your child. I believe that children, given proper supervision, can
handle any toy or game. Moreover, if taught the difference between
what is right and what is wrong, children will have no interest in
living out fantasies and immoral lifestyles portrayed in games.
While
some games should be closely monitored, others have gotten a bad
reputation because of relentless (and unnecessary) public outcry.
Possibly the most ridiculous was the fight against the board game
Zooloretto. This game, which led to the foundation of Animal
Activists Against Zooloretto (AAAZ) was created with the following
goal:
“In
Zooloretto, each player uses small, large, wild, and exotic animals
and their young to try to attract as many visitors as possible to
their zoo – but be careful! The zoo must be carefully planned as
before you know it, you might have too many animals and no more room
for them. That brings minus points! Luckily, your zoo can expand. A
zoo of a family game in which less is sometimes more...”
The
AAAZ thought this game evil based on the fact that “unwanted
animals are locked up in a dark barn and taken out back and shot if
they can't be traded away like a cheap baseball card.”
Although it was the recipient of awards such as the 2007 Australian
Games Association Game of the Year, the 2007 Golden Geek Best
Children's Board Game Winner, and the 2007 Golden Geek Best Family
Board Game Winner, Zooloretto’s potential was cut short due to the
AAAZ.
In
a recent article, I ran across a list of the “10
most controversial violent video games.”
While the usual suspects were on this list—Mortal Kombat, Doom,
Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty—a surprise to me was a game
titled “Death Race.” This was a game from the late 1970s that had
one, simple goal: gain points by running over “gremlins.”
To
me, both the idea and images I’ve seen of gameplay remind me of a
childhood classic, Frogger. Whether maneuvering through cars, or
using cars to squash enemies, someone being run over is the same end
result for both games. However, Frogger—a game that ultimately
ended in demise—was nowhere to be found on the list. I guess it’s
all how one perceives the gameplay.
Another
genre of games that some parents frown upon is gambling-related
games: poker, blackjack, and dominoes. A
very interesting article published lately named “Would
you encourage your children to play poker?” discuses the
advantages and disadvantages in teaching kids to playing poker. The
author claims that under
proper supervision, poker, unlike violent video games, offers useful
training and techniques that can be used in everyday scenarios. Poker
can teach children statistics, how to bluff (important for anyone
interested in business), and it opens children up to healthy
competition.
Whatever
games you choose for your children to play, it pays to pay close
attention. Some children are more mature and can handle certain age
appropriate games. No matter what the game, if your child spends too
much time playing it, it isn’t healthy. With proper adult
supervision, most “unconventional” games can be enjoyed by all
children.
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