Parents these days commonly frown upon children sitting in a dark room, eyes locked on their screen, backs hunched and thumbs consistently slamming against a clicker playing video games as they believe that it is a waste of time. A sight that would make any parent worried especially when the games promotes cruel behaviour. There are also cases where parents absolutely isolate their children from any sort of violence as they feel like it is a bad influence on their kids, but does the violence in games contribute to youths violence? Although lots of parents disagree with video games, there is always two sides to a story.

As has been mentioned, playing video games do come with a price. Studies have shown that too much gaming can be linked to addiction, depression and more acts of violent behaviour. The players learn to associate violence with pleasure like in the “High-Jinks: Shoot-Out”, winning by shooting people. This undermines moral sensitivity. These games also influence players to behave like a criminal and to intentionally hurt others, as the players practise these violent behaviour hundreds and thousands a time.

Similarly to anything, their are also pros. Yes, video games do have a light at the end of a tunnel. Video games aren’t all that bad for adolescents in fact, it is shown that games can be brain-training tools which can improve skills of critical thinking, problem solving, quick thinking, multi-tasking, collaboration, task switching, accuracy and memory. An example of collaboration and creative thinking is in the “High-Jinks: Shoot-out” by Guy Martin, a group of innovative seniors, with “Walgreens-Issue water pistols”, waited outside of their opponents house, with the help of teamwork, used a cell phone to pretend to be one of his teammates. This was a way for them trick him in coming out of the house so they can shoot him in order to win the game. Unintentionally, when playing games, it is often a frustrating learning experience that requires you to repeatedly problem solve learn new strategies in games. James Paul Gee, an author who wrote about the impact of video games, suggests that you even learn “the scientific method” through the necessary trail and error of figuring out how to meet goals in the game. Believe it or not, even the kind of controller, whether being Wii remote, X-box remote, keyboard or mouse, it helps with multi-tasking and hand-eye coordination. The use of having to keep eyes on the screen while using the remote to control the game with accuracy, helps children learn how to use both hands and eyes cooperatively. It is also said that surgeons were faster and more efficient at an operation- like surgery tests after playing video games. On top of that, studies have shown that video games help improve reflexes and quick thinking as players are repeatedly on a lookout for something attacking them.

Contrary to popular belief violent video games are not the cause of the increase in violence in the world. As a matter of fact, from 1990 to 2008 studies have shown that while violent video games sales increased, violence around the world has decreased. Violent video games make up about 11.7 of the world’s economy, if people were to ban video games, it would put about 32,000 people out of jobs.

Playing games with a friend, may be better then playing alone. The positive from teamwork, is that multiplayer games is likely to counterbalance some of the negative effects of virtual violence. To avoid negative effects cause by gaming from happening, it is advised for children to have a balanced life with real-life face to face interaction with people in a good environment. The violence in games doesn’t have to influence kids, as long as children have a balance of game time and having real life interaction being able to use the positive skills they learn from video games. We don’t want kids to develop a “game brain” where all they associate life with are games. 

Due to the popularity of video games, completely eliminating them from your child’s life might be difficult. However, you can decrease the negative impact that they could have on your child, like knowing the rating of the game, not installing video game equipment in his or hers bedroom and supervising the amount of game time a child spends. 

Banning violent video games as a way to “protect”kids, would not make a difference. Violent videos have actually decreased crime rates and are teaching kids skills such as problem solving. Banning violent video games would put thousands out of work. It may seems like a good idea, but it wouldn’t shield children from violence. Many parents blame the video game manufacturers for violence, but it’s actually the parents responsibility to monitor.

By Elizabeth

Body Image and Teengers

The flush of the toilet and the running of the taps being turned on and off filled the air, as girls amble into the bathroom stalls. Girls gather around the mirror fixing their hair, clothes and makeup. As more and more girls walk in, some of them exchange glances. Some will even cast their eyes up and down over the girls next to them, giving them the once over, judging them. For some girls, in trying to fix their hair, you could tell by the frown upon their faces that they are unhappy by what they see. “Do I look fat?” “Why am I so ugly?” “If only I was skinnier/taller/darker!” I wish I had clear skin!” Sound familiar? Well, these are things that many teenagers say to themselves. For some girls how they look and how they feel about themselves can impact them greatly. Many will lose confidence if they are not happy about their appearances especially for those that really see having the perfect body is of great importance. Their self-esteem suddenly becomes tied to how they look.

Indeed, as teenagers grow they tend to care about more on how they look, which all too often become their main focus.

Girl’s self-esteem begins to decline as early as at 5th grade. In one survey it was found that 59% of 5-12th grade girls were dissatisfied with their body shape and 47% of the same girls, said they wanted to lose weight because of photos they saw in magazines. There have been many studies on the effects of pop culture and social media exposure on body image and self esteem. Many of these studies suggest that they set unrealistic expectations about how they should look through the use of perfect looking models.

Most average teenagers get more than two hours of media exposure daily. Being exposed to so much media makes a huge impact on girls nowadays. Glamorised advertising of the perfect girl/women undermines a teenager’s confidence in and comfort with her own body, leading to anxiety, shame, and difficulty in developing a healthy body image and can impact on their self-esteem. Akanksha Shukla, a grade 8 student, makes a comment about the effects of social media, she says, “It makes girls feel like they aren’t enough and makes them feel like they have to aspire towards being like the female icons in films and magazines, which discourages us and gives us a false idea about what we should look like”. Images of tall, skinny beautiful girls and women are everywhere giving us a mental image of what an “ideal” girl/women should look like. When young teenagers look at these so called ‘role models’ they question why they don’t always look perfect and that leads to low self-esteem.

Teenagers with good self-esteem are often confident about themselves and are positive towards life. Teenagers with low self-esteem may not always feel confidant and like what they look like. They may have a poor sense of self worth and would find it hard to see that they are an important and a capable person. Body image is a major factor in self-esteem. Body image is how you see and feel about your body. Poor body image comes from negative thoughts and feelings about your appearance. Where as a healthy body image is made up of thoughts and feelings that are positive. Body image and self-esteem reflect each other. If you don’t like your body, it’s not easy to feel good about yourself.

It is hard for parents to know how to guide their children in the right direction so that they grow to be confident and secure of who they are and what they look like. Glamorised media exposure has been linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem and major depression or depressed mood, which is the most common mental health problem in girls and women. So what can parents do to ensure that this does not happen?

Parents can help their teenagers develop a positive attitude in a number of ways.

They should limit the amount of social media exposure and time spent looking at the TV and online. They should discuss body image issues and ensure that their children are aware that the images on TV and social media sites are glamorised and not realistic and encourage their child to be healthy by being positive in things that they do well in. Although the media, peers, and pop culture have a big influence on teens, parents are still more important when it comes to having an impact on their child’s developing self-esteem.

Other ways that they can help is not to talk about themselves and complain about their own appearance in front of the children, as they can pick up on these negative comments and subconsciously see them as being important, that having the perfect figure is something to strive towards because parents without knowing, are over emphasising the importance of looking good. Another thing is that parents should not be judgmental on their own children’s appearance as again it sends the wrong message. Instead of focusing on appearances, parents could focus on their efforts and what they have done either in school or in a sporting activity etc.

Although pop culture does glamorise people, teenagers need to be aware that it is very unrealistic and that they should work on developing a healthy attitude in their own life through their hobbies and things they enjoy doing in school and out. Girls need to realise that they are all unique individuals, and don’t have to be like everyone else. What matters is on the inside and not on the outside.'

Written by Elizabeth

Responsibility of Children

It was the morning of the Grade 7 sibu trip. Members of 7MSy were assembled in front of the sports hall ready to board the bus to Sibu, Malaysia. The whole class was ready to board, expect one unfortunate student. She had forgotten to bring her passport. This meant a mad dash with her Mentor Teacher, Mr Spreckley, to retrieve it. She probably felt embarrassed for keeping the whole class waiting.

Students forgot things all the time, so how do you encourage them to remember? Some people believe that responsibility starts at home and believe it or not, getting kids to clean their rooms can contribute in developing the right type of skills for later grown up life. As much as it might make a child groan. making up your bed and putting things in order actually teaches kids to be responsible for their own things.

When Kids are shown how to keep things that they value safe or to mend and repair their things that are in poor condition, it teaches them the abstract concept of responsibility into something that is meaningful to them. According to Georgina Knight-Hassell, mother of student,”Encouraging your child to clean their rooms even if it is just as simple as making your own bed, picking up their dirty laundry and keeping their desk tidy provides an intrinsic value too. There’s a sense of satisfaction in having a tidy room which they have control over”.

Indeed, there is pleasure in taking care of personal things, especially of things that were given and that is valued. It is also reciprocal in that it also shows the giver that the valued item is much appreciated.

Setting a good example for your kids is essential has children these days are more sensitive to what we do than what we say. Parents, or guardians should have a positive attitude towards the daily task of keeping a house clean as a kid will be more responsive towards such behavior. Children who take in what they call their own such as a phone or a pet are more likely to take more care of it.

Successful people are those who can manage people, money and personal belongings. Teaching kids to take responsibility in tidying up regularly, calmly and perhaps without having to be reminded everyday, definitely contributes to mastering one of these skills. Teach kids how to how be organised today and you may be ensuring career success tomorrow.

Written by Elizabeth