A recent BBC headline caught my eye.
We have a Playstation and both boys play on it (7 and 4) they have age appropriate games that they play together such as Disney Infinity and my older son will play more complicated games such as FIFA with James. We very rarely let them have any time on it during the week and limit their time at the weekend. They can’t access online forums and I’m happy with their usage at home.

Image courtesy of bulldogza at freedigitalphotos+net

As a teacher I have seen the effects of playing violent games on young children. The extra rough playground games with use of violent language that a 5/6 year old shouldn’t know and gets them into trouble. (I’m a year one teacher) The effects it has on children who are allowed to play games all evening after school till late at night. Making them tired and unable to concentrate and learn the next day.

I want to keep my boys as sheltered as possible for as long as I can. There will be plenty of time for them to play more grown up games when they are older if they choose to. Having studied Psychology at University I am all to aware of the damage that can be done seeing the kind of level of violence and sexual behaviour that is in some of these games. There have been many studies done, showing a link between playing violent video games and increased aggressive behaviour.
Then there is the concern that it teaches your child no morals. You shoot someone, nothing happens, you don’t go to jail, you get extra points. Young teenagers are particularly at risk and playing these types of games at such an impressionable age can have impacts on areas of their life such as self control and relationships. These games glorify gang culture, celebrate brutality and trivialise violence towards women. Not things that I want my boys to think are ok.

Is it neglect letting your child play these games when they are too young? In my eyes yes it is a form of neglect. You are neglecting their social and emotional needs. You are putting them at risk psychologically. You are putting them at risk educationally. Would you take your child to a nightclub? Let them see a fight? Or let them play with weapons?

Should it carry a prison sentence? That I’m unsure of. I’ve seen and reported some awful cases of neglect that I think truly deserve punishment. With this topic I think parents need educating. Educating about the content of these games and the risk they are putting their children at by letting them play it.

Is the School right to send out the letters? Absolutely! Teacher’s and those in a position of care are even more under pressure now, facing prison sentences to make sure they report anything they think is neglect.

Bring back the days when kids were kids playing Tetris, Mario and Kirby’s Dreamland!

What do you think?

Do you ever have a week where you feel like a fantastic really terrible Mum?

I have been flying solo since last Wednesday and my children have been fed, washed and clean clothed. I’ve met the bare minimum requirements needed to keep them alive. However I haven’t managed nightly stories, very much quality time or home cooked, amazingly healthy meals. Here are some of the reasons why;

• Baby girl has been very demanding this week, I don’t know if she has been missing her Daddy. Is that possible for a 5 month old? I can put her down for a couple of minutes before the crying starts and there is only so much you can do when you have a baby in one arm.
• We had tiny visitors. If you follow me on Facebook you will have seen me post about it. I’m not ashamed to admit that both boys had them. Luckily I check their hair regularly and they only had a couple. I treated them and have since combed their hair everyday. If everyone talked about it and treated their kids I wouldn’t have to do it. Anyway rant over. What this meant for my week was nightly, long baths with baby girl usually crying whilst I’m trying to comb through a not very cooperative 4 year old’s head.
• The long baths and a grumpy baby meant that bedtime took ages and I didn’t always get through to the boys before at least one if not both were asleep, meaning no stories.
• I cut baby girls finger when cutting her nails. It bled, she cried, I cried more.
• I locked us all out of the house. To make it worse I only had for some reason a packet of wipes and my wallet with me. No nappies, no phone! James was in America so it’s not like I could wait till he got home. An hour and a half later after borrowing phones, sitting in the village pub for a bit, sheltering in the village shop, a leaking nappy and a 4 year old having a toilet accident. we get back in the house!
• I’ve been ill. I’ve managed to escape all the colds that have gone around our house the last few months. So this one has really hit me. Sore throat, sore ears, sore sinuses, a horrible cough and generally feeling poop. The 4 year old has also been ill meaning he is extra whingey and so has baby girl!
• We have had a plumber in fixing the shower in our en-suite that has been broken for 2 months now. The joy of renting! This means that I have had dust to clean every night and someone in the house coming in and out disturbing a baby trying to sleep and making her more grumpy. (Can you see a recurring theme here)
• Did I mention that I had a grumpy baby, grumpy 4 year old and a grumpy Me? Luckily the 7 year old was fine, most of the time.

Proof that they are alive and happy!

I would like to say thanks to my Mum and Dad for helping out and rescuing us when locked out. Thanks to the village shop for letting me use the phone. My friends for taking Kyle to School one morning and having Finlay for me so I could pick James up. My friends for listening to me moan and generally being there for me and the girls on Twitter for responding to me and making me feel like I wasn’t alone.

James got back yesterday, I managed to eat my dinner and not only that, it was before 9pm. Hopefully next time he goes away we won’t have as many drama’s and I will cope a bit better!