by Thomas Hobson
Child Life Director

Over the past decade, it would seem that there has been a great deal of research done on the impact of video games on children.  So, when I began this series, I started by doing a review of the research in medical journals on the topic.  What I found was that typically video games were lumped together in the concept of media, and the studies looked at the overall impact that media had on children.  Media was typically thought of as television, movies, video games, print, radio, computers, and the Internet.

In an extremely simple summation of the research, children are exposed to a great deal undesirable experiences through media.  For instance, one article, by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stated that in 2001 children were spending an average of 6 hours and 32 minutes a day with media. This is more than any other activity in their day.  So, you can imagine the impact that all of this can have on children.

In the previously mentioned AAP study, it was mentioned that by age 18 most children have viewed over 200,000 acts of violence, and that is only through television. There have been numerous research studies done on the increase of short-term aggressive behaviors in children after exposure to media that includes violence.  I’m sure we’ve all heard about people becoming desensitized to violence or other behaviors.  This research begins to make sense of it.

However, does that mean that there is not a time and a place for these activities?  No.  The fact is that there were some positives seen from various forms of media.  In the arena of video games, there were improvements noted in hand-eye coordination.  Additionally, it was discussed that in certain medical situations video games have been a useful tool in pain management.

The role that parents need to play is both simple and complex: know the media with whom your children are interacting and set limits.  Set up family guidelines on what, were, and when.  This may mean setting rules like the television cannot be turned on until all homework is completed.  It may mean that your child has to meet certain criteria (i.e. grades, behaviors) before being able to play video games.  If there was one repeated theme in most of the research, it was that limits needed to be set by families.

by Thomas Hobson
Child Life Director

It seems like every so often the media brings up the “S” word: spanking.  There is nothing that gets a people fired up like asking about disciplining children.  It quickly dives into what people would do with their own children and then on to their own childhood.  Whether a proponent for or against, it seems that everyone has an opinion.

On April 12, 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a study that examined the impact of spanking on 3-year old children when they were 5-years old. In a nutshell, the study found that children between the ages of 3 and 5 were that were spanked more than twice a month were more likely to show aggressive behaviors at age 5.  The complete article is far more comprehensive than my explanation, and if you would like to read it click here.

This study goes to reinforce what the AAP ‘s Guidance for Effective Discipline.  Instead of focusing on corporal punishment, the recommendations focus on a strong parent-child relationship, positive reinforcement, and removing negative reinforcement or applying punishment focused on stopping the behavior.  The guidelines were originally published in April 1998, and have continued to recommend them over the past 12 years.

The truth is that there has been a great deal of research done on spanking, and other forms of corporal punishment, and most have pointed towards negative impact.  Speaking as a parent, I realize there are times that spanking seems like the right action to take.  It is even more engrained into your parenting style if you were spanked as a child.  However, there is a plethora of research that states that you should do otherwise. 

If you struggle with whether or not to spank your child, I would recommend sitting down and reading both articles.  For that matter, if you’re just curious about what the AAP says read them.  This is a topic that people feel strongly about, but may have not ever read any of the research.  Take the extra time and see what pediatricians are saying, I promise you and your child will be thankful for it.

I was re-reading the American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report on the importance of play in promoting child development the other day and it reminded me of just how important play is to children.  This should be no shock because children and play go together like peanut butter and jelly.  Children have been playing since the dawn of time, and my guess is it will continue to happen for a long time.

Play is important to how children learn social skills (i.e. turn taking), master environments and roles (i.e. playing school and being the teacher), and negotiating skills (i.e. 'let's play with the ball together instead of taking it from each other').  You can literally watch your children develop physically, cognitively, and emotionally through their play. I tend to view play as the serious work of childhood.  Here is an interesting article on development of play from Parent Magazine.

Free play is a great time to be active with your child.  You build your relationship, are helping your child learn, and both of you are being active.  Playing is a natural event, and is tremendously bonding, all you have to do is engage in it. Play along with their made up games, and you'll be surprised what will come from it.  One of my children's favorite game is Sweetie, where I am Sweetie and they are little mommy and little daddy. (I think you capitalize the S.  I'll have to ask them.)  Let them direct the play, and you'll be amazed with what your child can do.  Encourage them when they pretend to be you, or anyone else. 

My one warning:  don't over schedule your child.  Let them be a child, which means playing outside, getting dirt, and probably breaking something.  Children need the free time to grow, develop, and express themselves.

Sneak preview for tomorrow: Why play is important in the hospital.