Concern about the impact of the mass media on children has surged in recent years -- and rightly so. As more and more evidence is presented of the harm that TV, movies and videos can do, and as the media are becoming more pervasive, more intrusive, and more disturbing in content, many parents are at a loss as to what to do to protect their children. Television seems to be an especially threatening presence because it brings into our homes, automatically, so many things most parents would never choose to expose their children to. No one delivers books or videos to our homes unordered, but our television provides an outrageous array of disturbing content, that is readily available at the touch of a remote almost anytime of the day or night.
A lot of what television has to offer involves violence or the threat of harm in some way. Summer vacations are a blessing for children and teenagers as they find much and more time to watch TV, play video games and use internet. It is a worry for the parents as to how check and control their children from getting engaged in experiencing violence through various forms of media. In today's overall environment when already the minds are susceptible to be influenced by messages provoking for action and thrill it is a responsibility on our shoulders on how to protect our younger generation.
As there is no legislation to prohibit children and adolescents from watching violent content in any form, it is difficult to control. The second issue is that the games and other videos are easily accessible in the market. Pirated editions are sold at cheaper rates. Children without the knowledge of parents either play games at video shops in the market or buy CDs. Internet is also a source of affecting the minds of children negatively if not utilised appropriately.
If parents don't do everything in their power to give their children a safe place in the world, to let them know they are not alone and that they belong, bad things can happen.
And there is a new kid on the block -- video and computer games in which our children have moved from observer to participant. These games are more like interactive training sessions and they have taken our children hostage. Gone are the days of sitting on the sidelines. Today our children are sitting in the driver's seat, hunting down their prey and pulling the triggers themselves on those hand-held controls. It's a thrill. Compassion, pain, and suffering are not contemplated. On the contrary, our children are celebrating the gory demise of the bad guys. Cold-blooded winning -- that's the name of the game. This is the mud that fashions our children.
Parents need to remember that they have the greatest influence on their children. They must provide a model of behavior, and also talk about morals and ethics consistently. This isn't a one-shot deal, but an ongoing dialogue. Parents need to use the events that happen in the world around them, relate them to Torah and drive the point home. When the week doesn't provide a minute to do this, Shabbat gives us a second chance. 1. Know your child’s friends.
Who are the children he plays with in school? Is there a particular friend who’s feeding him details about violent or inappropriate material he’s seen, or perhaps heard about from an older sibling? You can try talking to the pal’s parents about having their child tone down the media violence and R-rated material. If that doesn’t work, you can consider steering your child toward friendships with kids whose parents also believe in minimizing their grade-schooler’s exposure to mature media content.
2. Screen it beforehand.
You don’t want any surprises while you’re watching a movie together. That's why viewing a movie or DVD before you watch it with your kids to screen for media violence or other undesirable content is a good idea. If you’re wondering if a website is safe, check it out yourself before allowing your child access.
3. Use the DVD scene select options.
Thank goodness for this handy tool. Without it, how would parents skip over media violence or scary scenes in a movie? If your child wants to see a movie that you think is appropriate overall but may contain some scenes that could be frightening for your child, skip over those scenes and just fill him in on the basic plot.
4. Ask other parents.
Other parents with grade-school age children can be excellent sources of information about media violence and explicit content. Chances are, they’ve struggled with the same decisions about whether or not to let their child see a particular movie or TV show. You can swap info and advice, and get the latest lowdown on what kids are into.
5. Check out media-review websites for parents.
How blue is the language? Is there violence, and how graphic is it? What about suggestive or explicit sexual content? You’ll want to do some digging before you bring a movie into your home. One great resource to check out is About.com's Kids' Movies & TV. Another helpful site is Common Sense Media, a national organization of child experts who screen movies, games, TV, books and other media to help parents make appropriate choices for their kids.
6. Tailor choices to your child.
My son is the kind of kid who has nightmares after seeing anything remotely frightening or violent. Don’t give in and let your child see something you know may upset him just because he begs you to do so; he’s most likely reacting to peer pressure from a friend who may have seen it. By the same token, don’t expose him to content that may be upsetting for him just because you don’t think it should bother him. What’s upsetting to one child may not have the same effect on another, so go with your instinct about your own child.
7. Talk about it.
If your child asks you about something he saw in a movie or videogame that was violent or graphic, be as candid as you can without going into too much detail. Even older grade-schoolers, who may think that they can handle more media violence and explicit material, can be frightened by inappropriate images. Explain briefly that violence and other mature content can be unhealthy for children -- and even in some cases adults -- and that your job is to protect their welfare until they are older and better able to make decisions about grown-up material.
More Articles on Curbing Media Violence at Home

In summarizing our review of the hundreds of studies of the effects of witnessed violence on behavior, our research team noted three important harmful effects of viewing violence in the media. First, it promotes the adoption of aggressive attitudes and behaviors. Second, it leads to desensitization, making children less sympathetic to the victims of violence. And third, exposure to violent depictions can cause an increase in children's fears.