Parents, Get Involved!
It's tough being a parent these days, especially when you and your spouse are busting your humps 40-plus hours a week:
In other words, a good portion of America's "latchkey" kids get home before their folks do, and many of those kids have access to video games. In those few hours of solitude, these kids are on their own.
Kid-tested, mother-approved?
Parents can feel helpless. Aside from calling the house and checking on their children, they are nearly powerless to restrict the types of entertainment their children can access, right?
Wrong. There are many things concerned adults can do to foster a healthy environment for their children, and that includes deciding what games are appropriate. But parents must take an active role in their children's interests in order to make a difference.
I've compiled a quick checklist for families to get them started on the road to healthy gaming with their Xbox 360™ or Xbox® video game console. With the parental tools included inside every Xbox 360 and Xbox console, adults have full control over their child's video gaming and DVD watching experiences.
Why You Need to Get Involved
According to the Entertainment Software Association, 83% of the video games sold in America were rated "E" for Everyone or "T" for Teen. That leaves just a scant 17% that fall under "M" for Mature with nothing but scraps left for the dreaded "AO" Adults-Only. Despite those figures, there's a good chance at least one or more "M" rated games is in your library that might contain the following content:
- Blood
- Gore
- Violence
- Sexual Themes
- Nudity
- Strong Language
This is not to say that every game rated "M" is synonymous with watching an R-rated film, but the fact remains that there are games out there that you might not want your children exposed to, especially without you being present.
M-rated games are great … when you're old enough.
Here are some things you can do to educate yourself on video games so you can accurately gauge a title's content before buying it:
- Get a preview: When your child asks you to buy a game for the family Xbox, go online and do some quick research. Independent web sites like GameSpot, GameSpy, IGN, and Console Gameworld review titles—often before they are released—and frequently discuss the appropriateness of a game's content.
- Check the rating: If you're in the store, the Entertainment Software Rating Board rating is predominately displayed on the front and back cover of the box. You can also look up a game's ESRB rating and descriptors online. Simply head over to the ESRB site, type in the game title, and click search.
- Ask a trusted source: Check with a knowledgeable friend or store clerk for information regarding a game's rating and appropriateness for your child. If the particular game you are interested in isn't something you want in your household, ask for an alternative suggestion.
Damage Control
You might be reading this column and thinking to yourself, "Great! If I had known this earlier I could have avoided buying [insert M-rated title here] and gotten my kid something else …" The good news is, even if there are games already in your library that you don't want your child to play, there are a few things you can do with Xbox 360 and Xbox to prevent younger players from being exposed.
- Adjust the Family Settings: Use the Family Settings option on Xbox 360 (or the Parental Controls on the original Xbox) to block M-rated games and R-rated DVDs from being played.
- Set limits: Choose what your child can and can't do online gaming by creating and managing their personal child account.
- Use the V-Chip: The family-friendly technology inside newer televisions and the parental controls found in cable and satellite decoder boxes give you an added level of flexibility in blocking and allowing channels and shows.
Keep out of reach of children.
Contrary to popular belief, it's quite easy to harness these tools, so dig up that dusty instruction guide or use the link above and get reading. If you're still having a hard time, remove those games from your children's reach until you've taken the time to play the game yourself.
I Can Handle It
It's easy for parents to get confused, angered, or upset when sensational news stories are the first things they hear about their children's leisure time activities. Rest assured that games containing extreme content that bear the "AO" Adults-Only rating are not available for use or purchase on any Xbox 360 or original Xbox console. But for those adults looking to unwind after a hard day's work with some Halo® 2 action or Leisure Suit Larry lovage, you still have the option to play "M" rated games (also known as "the good stuff" among Gaming Gurus).
It all boils down to this: Parents should have the choice to buy what they want for themselves to enjoy, and also exercise their power to control what their children play. No politician, teacher, game publisher, or store clerk has the right to make that decision for you or your family.
Educate yourself on the games your kids want to play, sit with them to see what they're playing, and decide if it's appropriate for them. And if you end up confiscating some racy titles from their collection, tuck those bad boys at the bottom of your sock drawer (inside a brown paper bag for effect) for those rare nights when the kids are away at camp. Don't forget to close the blinds.
By Bobby Stein
