Like it or not my kids are gamers and enjoy plenty of time in front of various screens playing them. I am the MEAN mom who says no to many games that I feel are violent or not appropriate for them. Each family has their own set of rules to what their kids can play as well as for what time allowances are given to screen play.
This week I sat down with my boys and we cam up with our Summer screen time rules to help avoid this mom going into her “No More Screen Time outrage”. While searching around for screen time rule ideas I cam across this great article from Huffington post titled “10 Most Violent Video Games” and thought I would share it with you as well.
10 Most Violent Video Games
By Jinny Gudmundsen, Common Sense Media editor
Among teen and preteen gamers, the names of violent video games travel fast. And before you know anything about these games, your kid wants to play them. It’s difficult to stay on top of it — and it’s even harder to know exactly what’s in a game in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to buy it.
Of course, many video games can provide enriching experiences and learning opportunities. But with ultra-violent video games, the negatives clearly outweigh any positives for kids. (Read Media and Violence: An Analysis of Current Research for an assessment of the studies measuring the effects of media violence on kids.) Complicating the issue is that many ultra-violent video games are actually technically superb — which is why many games that we label “not for kids” receive five stars for quality on Common Sense Media.
But here’s the thing: Violent video games may get a lot of attention, but there are always less-violent alternatives available. If your kid is asking for a game you’ve never heard of, consider your options.
No parent wants to say “no” all the time. So, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most violent video games out there — explaining the details that put each one on our list — as well as more than 10 that you can say “yes” to. Our reviewers play literally thousands of hours of video games a year — they know games inside and out.
But we’re not trying to be sensationalistic, which is why we’re offering less-violent alternatives. Our alternatives include three categories: less-violent games in the same genre as the violent game listed, less-violent games with a similar theme, and less-well-known but still great titles that play on the same system.
(If you want zero violence in your kids’ games, check out our list of nonviolent video games. And check out our list of Engaging Alternatives to Ultra-Violent Games, too.)
Click here to continue reading the entire list of 10 Most Violent Video Games