My husband and I periodically discussed purchasing a Wii for our three boys.¬† They each have a DS Nintendo already, which they would gleefully play from sunrise to sundown if only we’d let them.¬† But, handily enough, they’re small enough to stow away in one hiding spot or another until their next Happy Hour – Hey boys!¬† Play for thirty minutes, and if you’re good – another thirty for free!¬†

Except for the odd fight that erupts when it’s time to shut them off, we have mutual respect for video game time.¬† Yet, still they want the Wii.¬† The questions my husband and I have to ask are… Why should they get it?¬† Why would we want another reason to argue over game time?¬† Why do they need yet another video game system?¬† That is, another excuse to not read a book, or play outside, or, uh, talk?¬† The latest study, “Pathological Video-Game Use Among Youth Ages 8-18″ has muddled our dilemma even more.

According to the study of 1,178 Americans, 20% of the kids were addicted to video games

According to the study of 1,178 Americans, 20% of the kids were addicted to video games.¬† One in five kids have an addiction?¬† That is a pretty alarming statistic.¬† To determine a child’s addiction, the study measured them against eleven symptoms and only those who exhibited at least six of them were deemed to be pathological gamers. ¬†The most interesting research in the study was the distinction¬†between the two groups:¬† one played just for fun, while the other “incurred damage to several areas of one’s life.”

In comparing video game players with pathological gamers, they learned that among the addicted players  -

• They had been playing for more years, more often, and for more time (two times as much time as non-pathological players at 24 hours per week)
• They knew more of the ratings symbols i.e., M for Mature, T for Teen
• They got lower grades in school
• They were more likely to report having trouble paying attention in school
• They were more than twice as likely to have been diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder
• They were more likely to report feeling addicted to games and having friends they thought were addicted, too
• They were much more likely to be involved in physical fights over the past year
• They were more likely to have a video game system in their bedroom.

Interestingly, becoming addicted to video games had nothing to do with age, race, frequency of using the internet for homework, having a TV in the bedroom, or type of school the child attended.  Children were just as likely to exhibit addiction whether they attended private or public schools, or were home schooled.

The study concluded that video game addiction was definitely a predictor of poor performance in school.  But does the gaming cause bad grades, or is a student who struggles in school just more likely to play more video games?  The study did not know the answer to that.

All my children do very well in school, so perhaps it’s less likely my kids will lean towards addictive behaviour.¬† But is it worth taking the chance?¬† Then again, two of the symptoms of addiction are:

• skipping homework to play video games, or
• skipping chores to play video games.

Heck, as a kid I’d have laid still under my bed for an hour if it meant getting out of chores.¬† Isn’t ‚Äògetting out of work’ in the very¬†definition of Kid?¬† Sometimes, as parents, we just need to be guided by common sense.¬† Would I let my kids play twenty hours of games in a week?¬† Not a chance.¬† At least, I don’t think so.¬† But then, my kids are still young and relatively easy to control (aside from when we’re in the candy aisle of the grocery store.)

I’m not yet convinced we should buy a Wii, either now, or ever.¬† With it, comes a lot of responsibility for both parents and children.¬† As parents, we set the rules.¬† And the kids, unfortunately, have to abide by them – which is just as tough, if you’re looking at it through their tear-filled eyes.

Fortunately, Christmas is still more than six months away.¬† And then there’s the next Christmas, and the one after that.

Susan Boyle is the antithesis to all the stereotyped pressures thrust upon today’s girls… Be blonde, be skinny, be voluptuous (but only in the top half).¬† As humans, we’ve always had a preference for prettiness – an aversion to ugly.¬† That’s just the way we are.¬† But the introduction of mass Barbie merchandising, first the plastic doll, then the playboy doll (which is, ironically, mostly plastic, too) has served to emphasize our reliance on outward appearance in determining a person’s worthiness.¬† Susan Boyle reminds us all that beauty is internal that can only become externalized if¬†given the opportunity.¬†

Our girls need to see more Susan Boyles, less Britney Spears.  How else will they learn to distinguish between real, unique, human talent and contrived, mass-marketed drivel?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

Don’t you just love her?

¬†”I think video games are the most powerful communications tools that have ever been created because I can make you that guy.¬† I can put you in the exact dilemma and situation he was in, and when you have to make those decisions yourself, you will get insight¬† you cannot get from any other means. You will understand that situation on a deeper level.”

 

This is quoted by the president of Atomic Games regarding the video game, Six Days in Fallujah, to be released in 2010.  As its name infers, the video game is meant to replicate the experience of soldiers during one of the bloodiest battles in the Iraq War by creating a documentary-style video game. 

 

 Huh?  Let’s try to picture this.  A guy (girls aren’t prone to play shoot-em up video games) sits on his couch after polishing off a soda and a slice of pizza (maybe lets out a belch or two) then turns on his console and unloads his “gun” on his “enemies.”  At least until his mom calls him for dinner (‘cause the pizza was just a snack.)  

 

The game, no doubt, will do a pretty good job of re-creating the adrenaline rush of killing (fake) enemies in a (virtual) war.  But is it going to humanize the tragedy of war for those who have never fought in one?  If so, would that mean video game junkies will be the world’s leading pacifists in the next ten years?  I wouldn’t count on it. 

 

Here are some starting statistics on the real effects of war, compiled by Huffington Post

• Number of troops who tried to commit suicide or injure themselves increased from 350 in 2002 to 2,100 last year. [US News and World Report, 2/25/08]

• 11.9 % of noncommissioned Army officers reported mental health problems during their first Iraq tour [Los Angeles Times, 3/7/08]

• 27.2 %¬†of noncommissioned Army officers reported mental health problems during their third or fourth Iraq tour [Los Angeles Times, 3/7/08]

Recreating an event that has caused so much pain and continues to fracture the lives of Americans doesn’t make much sense.  And chances are, those people who do understand the horrors of war aren’t the ones running to Best Buy to pick up the newest shoot-em up game. 

 

And finally, what the heck has this got to do with parents and their kids?¬† (This blog is, after all, supposed to relate to parenthood in some way!)¬† Well, this apparent ‚Äúdocumentary‚Äù style video game, as presented by the creators, is just the start of a new and disturbing trend.¬† We can expect to see an increase in life-like violence, like we’ve not seen previously.¬† By marketing these games as documentary-style they will angle the games as beneficial to society, as the term documentary tends to convey.¬† Any sensible-minded person will see this as what it really is – a way to irresponsibly create and market games without accountability for its negative effects on individual lives.¬† Hollywood has done it for years – and succeeded.¬†

 

The game will be rated ‘M’ for mature.  But many parents ignore these ratings either out of ignorance or carelessness.  In my house, war games will be banned.  There are better ways of learning about the horrors of violence in society (like helping the victims, rather than shooting them.)  I’ll be teaching my kids to value real life experiences over the “unreal” experience of sitting on a couch sipping a Coke, killing everyone in sight.  It’s entertainment, I know.  I just don’t get it.    

Parents now have another excuse for not taking their kids to a fast food restaurant (besides the most obvious one – unhealthy, fatty foods).¬† A new ad from the fast food giant, Burger King, features¬†the King, himself, singing a rendition of of Sir Mix-A-Lot‚Äôs 1990‚Äôs hit song, “Baby Got Back‚Äù with the new lyrics, ‚ÄúI like square butts and I cannot lie.‚Äù¬† It’s an effort to market their latest Kids Meal that features Sponge Bob Square Pants to unsuspecting children and their parents.

In it, Britney-Speerified “girls” shimmy their behinds for the camera in red hot pants.¬† Just in case¬†that segment is¬†not inappropriate enough for kids, there’s¬†a shot of a woman wearing a slinky red dress who then turns around to display her backside so that¬†the “King” can measure it with a measuring tape.¬†

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gMZ62PsvRM

Question to Burger King:¬† Did any of the marketing gurus that pulled the ad together have kids themselves?¬† My guess is… No.¬† I admit, my kids love the junk that McDonald’s and Burger King¬†serve (despite my efforts to teach them that it starves their body of everything needed to grow into big healthy boys.)¬† They’re all in primary school – the ideal age group for a kids meal.¬†¬†So how is it that kids under the age of ten need a lesson in¬†the demoralization of women?¬† My kids, thankfully, still believe that all women are like their mother… Strong, smart, respectful, funny and pretty (of course).¬† But thanks to the marketing kings at Burger King,¬†now they can learn¬†practice of checking out asses.¬† Hmmm… how about their teacher’s rear-ends?¬†¬†Or better yet, the small behinds of their young¬†female school mates.¬†

So, thank you Burger King.¬† For giving me another reason to never eat at your “restaurant” again.¬†

I encourage all parents to share their outrage with Burger King and Nickelodeon through the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood’s web site at¬† http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/621/t/6725/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27008.¬† Let’s stop this ad before¬†more kids are exposed to it.¬†

If you’re looking for a funky new addition to your wardrobe, you might want to check out Canada’s newest bag designer.  Her bags are fun, bright, unique and created for the busy mom. 

 

MagZ-BagZ.com. just opened for online business.  Creator Megan Turvolgyi spent the past year working toward her goal to bring her inspiration to fruition while at home with her two young children (on her maternity leave.) 

 

Megan, like so many mothers, wanted to find a better work/life balance.  In 2007 she became pregnant with her second child and that’s when Magz-Bagz first materialized.  During her daily drab commute in and out of the city she noticed a dreadful abundance of black nylon bags.  Boring black.  She decided that year to create an alternative for the commuting mom that better represented the real woman behind all that dull black.  

 

MagZ-BagZ are designed to meet the needs of mothers – whether she’s rushing to sooth baby, or racing to her kids’ piano lessons.  Choose from three retro-inspired designs – sling, messenger, and back pack.  All provide extra pockets and storage for baby bottles, water bottle, snacks, cell phone, lipstick – and whatever else is needed for the day.

 

All MagZ-BagZ are 100% cotton and water-resistant with mildew and UV inhibitors built in.  So spills can be wiped with a damp cloth. 

 

The designs and the manufacturing are 100% Canadian.  This was very important to Megan, as she believes that today’s consumer, like herself, values Canadian made merchandise over products made in overseas factories.   

So, if you’re looking for a little “spring” in your wardrobe.  Check out the new cool kid – MagZ-BagZ.com

¬†It is one of the businesses featured in porridgereport.com’s Mama Marketplace, where moms can check out some of the hottest businesses that cater to working and stay-at-home parents.