Digital Media at Home

There have been studies done recently that look into parents perception of digital media within their home. It amazed me to find out that most parents still prefer reading a book or watching TV with their kids over playing video games with them. Video games have almost taken over the ability for children to be socially and physically active. In recent years, children would rather sit in their room alone and play video games instead of going outside and playing football or something like that. This article shows something different though. It shows that there are parents who haven’t jumped on board with the video game era. These parents are still semi old fashioned and I appreciate that.

There has to be a reason why the parents aren’t supportive of the internet and video games. The article said that parents are scared that they harbor a sedentary lifestyle and this could endanger their child’s privacy or ignorance. The main thing parents are worried about is what their kid is being exposed to. This is baffling to me. These parents are worried about what they see, but they have no problem with watching TV with their kid’s. Maybe it’s just me, but half of the things I see on TV are vulgar and not appropriate. This is almost hypocritical by the parents, how are you worried about what you child sees but watching TV is fine?

The thing that throws me for the biggest loop is that the parents don’t prefer video games, but they think that help foster students abilities that help in academic development. This is ridiculous. Video games do not promote anyone to be social being. Instead they keep people inside of their homes away from other people. The closest thing it does to being social is some games allow for communication between other “gamers”. I think it is important to realize that it may do that, but who are they talking to? They are talking to someone else who is in their room alone, in front of the TV. Maybe I am just old school, but what happened to the days of getting a group up to go shoot ball, swim, or even walk through the woods. I find it ridiculous that kids nowadays are so convinced that sitting inside the house is the way to do things, and even more ridiculous that parents support it.