Written by Laura Gulledge, M.Ed.
Mother, wife, gamer Article
Discussion Forum
It’s 8:30 a.m. and I’ve just finished off the evil
Maester Seymour in a tough boss battle fought on the frozen crest
of Mt. Gagazet. I’ve also managed to level up all of my playable
characters and have gained three new abilities to boot. Now, I’m
looking toward the ominous ruins of Zanarkand to learn more about
the true nature of my main character.
But first, I’ll make my kid breakfast.
Yes, I’m a thirty-something mother and wife, but I also proudly
wear another title—gamer.
“But video games are so awful.” Just like Elvis, rock
music and MTV, huh? I’ve heard the litany of negative accusations
pointed toward the video game industry , but I’m not convinced
it’s time to throw out the console and erase the memory cards
just yet.
Children who grow up without the “influence”
of video games are better off.
For what? I myself am a child of the eighties when Atari and MTV
was all the rage. I might add that we had none of these in our household.
My childhood was filled with backpacking and whitewater rafting
trips, which left me, as an adult, with a healthy appreciation of
nature and a tremendous desire for all things “techy.”
Computers, video games, digital music—I love it all! Should
my family go camping or compete in multi-player mode on SSX3? My
answer is: why not both? There’s room for gaming in any healthy
childhood. It’s up to us to find the balance.
Video games contribute to the growing problem of childhood
_________(insert health ailment here).
I tend to think this accusation may have some merit—if your
child (or anyone for that matter) spends countless hours playing
video games everyday without the benefit of physical activity that
requires more than dexterous thumbs. Just like limiting television,
parents have to find a balance for their children. Will my kid play
hide-and-go-seek outside or will he attack Metalheads on Jak II?
Well, if I’ve made it clear that “game time” is
not an option yet, the choice is obvious. Which would he prefer?
Probably gaming. But like many kids who have tasted the fruits of
fast-food, he would also prefer a Happy Meal to a turkey sandwich
on whole-wheat bread. Again, it’s up to parents to set limits
and, for ourselves, to exercise self-control.
Video games are too violent for kids.
Do you know why? Video games that have lots of blood, gore, killing
and other mature themes aren’t made for kids. The gaming industry
has done an exceptional job of establishing content ratings with
age appropriate guidelines for virtually all games that are released.
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) goes to great lengths
to spell out the details of game content (much better than, say,
the movie industry does). The fact is, if you allow your six-year-old
to play M-rated games like TrueCrime: Streets of LA or Silent Hill,
you’ve only yourself to blame when the nightmares and bedwetting
starts. Content ratings are beautiful things—read them!
Parents who play video games are missing out on quality
time with their children.
“Quality time” is one of those nauseating catch phrases
that I find hard to stomach—mainly since the term means different
things to different parents. Sure, I could take my kid to the pool
or a sports practice and spend “quality time” watching
him adoringly from a folding chair. There’s nothing wrong
with that.
But for me, competing against my child on a simulated racetrack
while discussing our strategies and sharing lots of laughs in the
process is quality time.
As for adults, many of my own peers and colleagues like to chalk
up “grown-up gaming” as simply a means of reliving childhood
or a way to enjoy a delayed adolescence. Tell that to my mother
who, at age 53, is a proud gamer and Playstation owner.
The truth is some of us like to blow off steam by playing a few
rounds of golf; others revel in an afternoon of shopping at the
mall. And for gamers like me, nothing beats a few hours of exquisite
graphics, a compelling storyline and solid gameplay.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some leveling up to do.
Laura Gulledge, M.Ed.
Mother, wife, gamer
Teacher of journalism/media studies at Benjamin Russell High School
in Alexander City, AL
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