Do you think video games affect children's behaviour?

[missduff]

I've had a look online but could only find reports which refer to teens and talking about them playing for many hours every day.

My step kids are 5 and 7 and both play on their iPod touches quite a lot. They don't really use them for music much, they have lots of games on them which they love to play on.
Personally I think it's a bit rediculous that such young kids have iPod touches but DP insists that it's just normal for kids of today, well most have Nintendo DS's but they have iPods instead.

We have problems with their behaviour, in particular the 5yo boy, he's very stroppy, moody, aggressive and hits his sister and my DS aaalllllll the time.

They get little discipline at home with their mother but we're trying to tackle their behaviour whilst they're at our house.
I've expressed my concern over the amount of time they're aloud to play on their iPods, there's no limitation to it, if they want it they get it, DSS will play on it for hours but DP doesn't see that there's an issue with it.

I remember seeing a programme on tv where they did a study on kids and the affect of playing video games and it showed an increase in aggression when kids play for too long, even if the games aren't violent

So I was wondering if anybody has found them affecting their children's behaviour?
And how long would you say is a fair amount of time to allow 5&7 yo kids to play on their games?

I only let DS play certain games - he's 3 so at the moment only Sonic, LittleBigPlanet and Eyepet on the playstation and then some games I have on my phone.

I don't think it makes him violent but it definitely hypes him up if he plays too close to bedtime - I've banned any games from 6pm onwards, only TV or playing with physical toys allowed.

Also am considering getting DS an ipod touch rather than a DS when he gets to the age for having things like that, because the games themselves are cheaper.

I'd assume the lack of discipline probably has more effect than the games, I wouldn't let them play for too long though - mainly as it isn't great for their eyesight etc to be staring at a small screen for hours on end. Plus something like the ipod touch hasn't exactly been designed with gaming in mind, nor was it designed for small hands, so too much use could cause them some pain.

I believe the H&S advice is that you should have, at absolute minimum, a 15 min break in every hour.

i think it does affect behaviour yes, with my own boys my dp and i have noticed that after playing on their xbox or ps2 etc they are often quite hyped up etc, i think sometimes they get very engrossed in the games as well and can be stroppy turning them off, but mainly its that i think as they arent always being physical by playing them ie just using their hands, that when they come off they can have a lot of excess energy iyswim?

we limit the amount our 9 and 7 yr olds play, my ds1 is 12 and he is good at limiting himself now.

There's no overriding evidence that this do the case for all kids, although it may affect some children. Best to use your own judgement.

Ah that's an interesting theory 5madthings.

i think when playing and dp feels the same, that often the games get their brains going and they are frantically pushing buttons, so they are stimulated but not using physical energy, anyway my boys def seem to need to burn off energy after playing and as i said they can get stroppy about them being turned off, tho they know that if they are it means they get less time the next time they go on it!

i think they can be fine for children but def in moderation, like anything i guess :)

5madthings - yes I think you are right about the excess energy, I know that my own DS (2 nearly 3) only plays up when we're in the house and not able to run off all his energy. Defo think especially with boys they need to keep active and physical or else that energy comes out as aggression.

Plus I've seen with my brother how computer games can ruin a child, he was a really physical kid, ran everywhere, always played out, was of slim build and then at about 9 he discovered computer games and then stopped playing out, piled on loads of weight and is now an adult who is massively over weight and is still addicted to computer games, he even nearly lost his job because he was skiving off work so he could play World of Warcraft, his relationship broke down because of it too.
I know that is a pretty extreme case but i'm just really not a fan of kids over using technology, I'd much rather they play outside and have fun interacting with each other.