Family First - Video Games

KIDS WILL PLAY VIDEO GAMES ALL DAY IF YOU LET THEM... ESPECIALLY IN THE COOL AIR CONDITIONING. THATS WHERE PARENTS COME IN. ITS UP TO THEM TO DECIDE WHAT KIDS PLAY, WHEN THEY CAN PLAY, AND FOR HOW LONG. 14 YEAR OLD BARRON JONES IS A SOON-TO-BE FRESHMAN AT CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL. BUT RIGHT NOW - HES OUT FOR THE SUMMER. AND THAT LEAVES A LOT OF TIME, AND BARRON DOES. 80 PERCENT OF KIDS BARRONS AGE PLAY VIDEO GAMES AT LEAST 8 HOURS A WEEK. BARRONS DAD DOESNT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THOSE NUMBERS. HE GREW UP PLAYING ATARI AND SAYS VIDEO GAMES- LIKE MOST THINGS IN LIFE - ARE BEST WHEN USED IN MODERATION. EVANSVILLE PARENTING MAGAZINES NATALIE REIDFORD AGREES, ADDING ITS EVEN BETTER IF PARENTS SET CLEAR GROUND RULES ABOUT VIDEO GAME PLAY... LIKE HOW OFTEN A CHILD PLAYS. REIDFORD ALSO SAYS- WATCH *WHAT YOUR CHILD PLAYS. SOME VIDEO GAMES ARE MADE FOR KIDS. MANY ARE NOT. HALO 2 IS RATED MATURE - AGE 17 AND UP. GAMES SHOULD BE AGE APPROPRIATE. ALSO- WATCH WHERE THEY PLAY. AS FOR STUDIES LINKING VIOLENT GAMES TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR - RICK SAYS THE GAMES DONT AFFECT BARRONS TEMPERAMENT. THAT OBSERVATION MEANS RICK IS DOING THE ONE THING EXPERTS WANT EVERY PARENT TO DO... JUST WATCH YOUR KIDS. EVEN PLAY WITH THEM. AND MAKE THE GAMING SYSTEM A FAMILY AFFAIR. HALO 2 IS NOT THE KIND OF GAME YOU WANT TO CHOOSE FOR THE FAMILY, BUT THERE ARE 980 DIFFERENT GAMES FOR THE X-BOX ALONE. SO THERES LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM. ALSO- REMEMBER ONLINE GAMES. YOU CAN FIND YAHTZEE, SCRABBLE AND MANY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET FOR FAMILY FUN.