Changing CultureChanging Culture

Large family groupsLarge family groups

Unsupervised play time with friendsUnsupervised play time with friends

Conversation replaced by textingConversation replaced by texting

Stay at home parent - daycareStay at home parent - daycare Part of a neighborhood - don’t know neighborsPart of a neighborhood - don’t know neighbors Grow up in one neighborhood - frequent Grow up in one neighborhood - frequent

movesmoves Create fun with imagination – play video gamesCreate fun with imagination – play video games

Did You Know?Did You Know?

hrs/year a child spends at school = 1100hrs/year a child spends at school = 1100 hrs/year a child watches TV = 1500hrs/year a child watches TV = 1500 Number of minutes/week that parents spend in Number of minutes/week that parents spend in

meaningful conversation with their child = 38.5meaningful conversation with their child = 38.5 Percentage of 6-17 year olds who have TV’s in Percentage of 6-17 year olds who have TV’s in

their bedrooms = 50%their bedrooms = 50% 26% of two year olds have TV’s in their bedroom26% of two year olds have TV’s in their bedroom prior to age 18, the average child sees 200,000 prior to age 18, the average child sees 200,000

acts of violence and 18,000 murdersacts of violence and 18,000 murders

You Need to KnowYou Need to Know 1. Violence is a learned skill.1. Violence is a learned skill.

FamilyFamily TV, movies, computer and video gamesTV, movies, computer and video games

2. Your brain becomes what it does.2. Your brain becomes what it does.

3. Media violence impairs brain development3. Media violence impairs brain development

Brain Scan ResearchBrain Scan ResearchIndiana University 2004Indiana University 2004

Group one – normal kidsGroup one – normal kids Group two – disruptive brain disorderGroup two – disruptive brain disorder

Surveyed both groups to see who was high Surveyed both groups to see who was high or low media viewer.or low media viewer.

Used brain imaging to look at the prefrontal Used brain imaging to look at the prefrontal cortex (logical brain) while watching a cortex (logical brain) while watching a video game and during a decision making video game and during a decision making test.test.

Brain Scan ResearchIndiana University School of Medicine

Brain activity while playing a video game.

Brain Scan – continuedBrain Scan – continued

Low media Viewers:Low media Viewers: Used more of the Used more of the

logical part of their logical part of their brainsbrains

High Media Viewers:High Media Viewers:

very little brain activityvery little brain activity

Left Brain Task - Brain ScanLeft Brain Task - Brain Scan

Brain Scan ConclusionBrain Scan Conclusion

Normal kids who were high media viewers Normal kids who were high media viewers had the same reduced brain activity as had the same reduced brain activity as children who were diagnosed with children who were diagnosed with disruptive brain disorder.disruptive brain disorder.

The more violence the child had seen, the The more violence the child had seen, the less brain function. less brain function.

How TV Watching Affects Your BrainHow TV Watching Affects Your BrainPart 1Part 1

Alpha waves are brain activity that Alpha waves are brain activity that increases as brain work decreases.increases as brain work decreases.

Closing your eyes and relaxing increases Closing your eyes and relaxing increases alpha waves.alpha waves.

Dr. T Muholland found that children Dr. T Muholland found that children watching TV had more alpha waves, which watching TV had more alpha waves, which means less brain activity.means less brain activity.

TV and Brain TV and Brain Part 2Part 2

Television fires beams of transmitted light Television fires beams of transmitted light at the viewer at a high rate and unlike the at the viewer at a high rate and unlike the reflected light off the screen at the movie reflected light off the screen at the movie theater, you are the screen. The brain then theater, you are the screen. The brain then responds to the medium, not the content.responds to the medium, not the content.

University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto

Attention Span in ChildrenAttention Span in Children

A study of 7 year olds found that a child A study of 7 year olds found that a child cannot focus on homework for a minimum cannot focus on homework for a minimum of one and a half to three hours after of one and a half to three hours after watching TV.watching TV.

““Turn off that TV and go do your homework!”Turn off that TV and go do your homework!”

The First Two Years of LifeThe First Two Years of Life

Words Build CortexWords Build Cortex

New guidelines advise more activity, less screen time for youngest kids

What about school marks?What about school marks?

A study done by the California Department A study done by the California Department of Education of a half-million school of Education of a half-million school children concluded the following:children concluded the following:

Regardless of the child’s social and Regardless of the child’s social and economic background, study habits, economic background, study habits, lifestyle and IQ, higher time spent lifestyle and IQ, higher time spent watching television was directly watching television was directly proportional to lower test scores.proportional to lower test scores.

Student Media Awareness to Student Media Awareness to Reduce TelevisionReduce Television

S.M.A.R.T.S.M.A.R.T.

The Stanford Prevention Research The Stanford Prevention Research Center developed the S.M.A.R.T. Center developed the S.M.A.R.T. curriculum for 3curriculum for 3rdrd and 4 and 4thth grade grade students to reduce the negative students to reduce the negative effects of excessive TV, videotape effects of excessive TV, videotape and video game use. and video game use.

Effects of Media Reduction On Negative Effects of Media Reduction On Negative Classroom BehaviorClassroom Behavior

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Effects of Media Reduction On Playground Effects of Media Reduction On Playground Aggression Aggression

Average of Eight SchoolsAverage of Eight Schools

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Effects of Media Reduction On Aggressive Effects of Media Reduction On Aggressive BehaviorBehavior

Youth Correctional Center Youth Correctional Center

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Impact of No TV on Impact of No TV on 44thth Grade (Jan. 2005) Grade (Jan. 2005)

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Math Writing

No TVTV

The S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Was The S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Was Proven to:Proven to:

Reduce children’s TV, Videotape, and Reduce children’s TV, Videotape, and Video Game useVideo Game use

Reduce other family member’s viewingReduce other family member’s viewing Reduce obesity and weight gainReduce obesity and weight gain

(reduced body fat and about 1 inch loss in (reduced body fat and about 1 inch loss in waist size growth over 1 year)waist size growth over 1 year) Reduce aggression in the Reduce aggression in the

classroom and playgroundclassroom and playground

Violent Video Game Effect StudyViolent Video Game Effect StudyOxford University 2007Oxford University 2007

Surveyed high school studentsSurveyed high school students Those who had more exposure to violent video games:Those who had more exposure to violent video games:

held more pro-violent attitudesheld more pro-violent attitudes had more hostile personalitieshad more hostile personalities were less forgivingwere less forgiving believed violence to be more typicalbelieved violence to be more typical behaved more aggressively in their everyday livesbehaved more aggressively in their everyday lives there was no difference in video game effect between boys and there was no difference in video game effect between boys and

girlsgirls exposure to violent video games was a better predictor of violent exposure to violent video games was a better predictor of violent

behavior than their gender or own beliefs about violence.behavior than their gender or own beliefs about violence.

Best hate mail from a Gamer to a Best hate mail from a Gamer to a researcher:researcher:

““I’ve played video games for I’ve played video games for years and it had no effect. And years and it had no effect. And if you don’t say so, I’ll come if you don’t say so, I’ll come and beat you up”and beat you up”

From Douglas Gentile,From Douglas Gentile, Professor of PsychologyProfessor of Psychology Iowa State UniversityIowa State University

Media Violence StudiesMedia Violence Studies 381 studies381 studies

130,295 participants130,295 participants

““nails the coffin shut on doubts that violent nails the coffin shut on doubts that violent video games stimulate aggression”video games stimulate aggression”

It doesIt does

Anderson 2010Anderson 2010

THE EVOLUTION OF THE EVOLUTION OF VIDEO GAMESVIDEO GAMES

How video games desensitizeHow video games desensitize

kids to violence kids to violence

EC: Early ChildhodContent may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

EC: Early ChildhdContent may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

VIDEO GAME RATINGSVIDEO GAME RATINGSEC: Early ChildhoodContent may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

E: EveryoneContent may be suitable for persons ages 6 and older. May contain minimal violence and some comic mischief or crude language.

T: TeenContent may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. May contain violent content, mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes.

M: Mature 17+Content may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. May contain mature sexual themes or more intense violence or language.

AO: Adults Only 18+Content suitable only for adults. May include graphic depictions of sex and/or violence. Not intended for persons under the age of 18.

VIDEO GAMESVIDEO GAMES

ProsPros Hand/eye coordinationHand/eye coordination Problem solvingProblem solving Strategy and planningStrategy and planning Decision makingDecision making Team playTeam play Games can have embedded Games can have embedded

curriculum such as mathcurriculum such as math Learning to take turnsLearning to take turns Social skills and being part of a Social skills and being part of a

groupgroup It is an excellent training toolIt is an excellent training tool

ConsCons Physical – eye strain, Physical – eye strain,

headachesheadaches Obsessive behaviorObsessive behavior Reduced capacity for empathyReduced capacity for empathy Increased aggressive behaviorIncreased aggressive behavior Less time outdoors and more Less time outdoors and more

time sitting = more unfit kidstime sitting = more unfit kids Lower marks in schoolLower marks in school Desensitize kids to violenceDesensitize kids to violence Disrupts normal brain Disrupts normal brain

developmentdevelopment Women often portrayed as Women often portrayed as

helpless or sexually helpless or sexually provocativeprovocative

Video GamesVideo GamesViolent - Non ViolentViolent - Non Violent

Researchers had kids play Medal of Honor or Need for Researchers had kids play Medal of Honor or Need for Speed and then used brain imaging (fMRI) to study brain Speed and then used brain imaging (fMRI) to study brain functionfunction

ResultsResults The kids who played the violent game has less activity in The kids who played the violent game has less activity in

the parts of the brain which control inhibition, the parts of the brain which control inhibition, concentration, self-control and emotional arousal.concentration, self-control and emotional arousal.

The kids who played the non violent game had normal The kids who played the non violent game had normal brain function.brain function.

Indiana University School of Medicine 2006Indiana University School of Medicine 2006

Never before in history have we had teen and pre-teen Never before in history have we had teen and pre-teen mass murderersmass murderers

  

Now The Good NewsNow The Good NewsProsocial Video Games Teach Prosocial Prosocial Video Games Teach Prosocial

BehaviourBehaviour

Those who played prosocial gamesThose who played prosocial games::

were more likely to help otherswere more likely to help others were more willing to help in further were more willing to help in further

experimentsexperiments intervened more often when someone was intervened more often when someone was

being harassedbeing harassed

Note: playing violent video games increased Note: playing violent video games increased antisocial behaviour and decreased antisocial behaviour and decreased prosocial behaviourprosocial behaviour

What about TV content?What about TV content?

People who watch prosocial television behaved People who watch prosocial television behaved more positively and had more positive attitudesmore positively and had more positive attitudes

Hearold 1986Hearold 1986

““it is as easy to persuade viewers to be it is as easy to persuade viewers to be pleasant as it is to persuade them to be pleasant as it is to persuade them to be violent”violent”

Mares and Woodard 2005Mares and Woodard 2005

USING VIDEO GAMES TO TEACHUSING VIDEO GAMES TO TEACH“ “ Video games offer excellent conditions for learning to occur: Video games offer excellent conditions for learning to occur:

they simultaneously expose the player to modeling, rehearsal they simultaneously expose the player to modeling, rehearsal and reinforcement of the social behaviour that is involved in the and reinforcement of the social behaviour that is involved in the

games theme”games theme” Anderson 2007Anderson 2007

Researchers conclude that some video Researchers conclude that some video games are able to make kids kinder and games are able to make kids kinder and motivate them to help others instead of motivate them to help others instead of hurting them hurting them

"Taken together, these findings make it clear that "Taken together, these findings make it clear that playing video games is not in itself good or bad playing video games is not in itself good or bad for children. The type of content in the game has for children. The type of content in the game has a bigger impact than the overall amount of time a bigger impact than the overall amount of time spent playing,"spent playing,"

Millville teacher spices up math with Millville teacher spices up math with Wii video games Wii video games

A New York School Teaches Students A New York School Teaches Students Through Videogames Through Videogames

NIU professor teaches engineering NIU professor teaches engineering through video gamesthrough video games

Program teaches students science of video Program teaches students science of video games games

Educational GamesEducational Games

LemmingsLemmings

City CrisisCity Crisis

Zoo VetZoo Vet

Animal crossingAnimal crossing

Super Mario SunshineSuper Mario Sunshine

Emergency MayhemEmergency Mayhem

Glider Pro (non violent)Glider Pro (non violent)

School Based GamesSchool Based Games Little Big PlanetLittle Big Planet

CivilizationCivilization

Oregon TrailOregon Trail

Advice for Parents Keep computers, TV’s and game consuls out of kids

bedrooms If your games controller has a parental control, use it Set time limits and be willing to say “no” Know what’s in the games your kids play Aim for balance in family activities Use the rating system and develop your own standards Choose games that have learning potential and a

positive message Don’t let your kids play violent video games, replace

them with fun games with a better message Watch what your kids watch, play what your kids play

INTERNET RESOURCESINTERNET RESOURCES www.cmch.tv Center on Media and Child Health at www.cmch.tv Center on Media and Child Health at

Boston’s Children’s HospitalBoston’s Children’s Hospital www.sosparents.org Center for Successful Parenting www.sosparents.org Center for Successful Parenting www.mediawise.orgwww.mediawise.org www.turnofftv.orgwww.turnofftv.org www.med.umih.edu/1libr/yourchild/tv.htmwww.med.umih.edu/1libr/yourchild/tv.htm www.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfmwww.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfm www.lionlamb.orgwww.lionlamb.org www.kff.org/entmediawww.kff.org/entmedia www.acmecoalition.orgwww.acmecoalition.org www.youngmedia.org.au/www.youngmedia.org.au/ www.childrennow.org/www.familymediaguide.comwww.childrennow.org/www.familymediaguide.com

Parenthood is a relationship, not a skillParenthood is a relationship, not a skill

Questions?Questions?

Go to the parkGo to the park

GO FISHINGGO FISHING

PLAY IN THE LEAVESPLAY IN THE LEAVES

WINTER IS BETTER OUTSIDEWINTER IS BETTER OUTSIDE

MAKE A NEW FRIENDMAKE A NEW FRIEND

FIND A NEW PETFIND A NEW PET

GO ICE FISHINGGO ICE FISHING

LEARN TO FLYLEARN TO FLY

Go Shovel Some SnowGo Shovel Some Snow

Go on a TripGo on a Trip

Take the dog for a walkTake the dog for a walk

Wash the………??Wash the………??

Play a Trick on a FriendPlay a Trick on a Friend