Summer Break Means More Games For More Kids Nowadays on Astini News
My 13-year-old sister visited recently and the first thing she did was ask for the wireless password. So what? She's a forward thinking kid keeping up with the times. According to a new study, however, she's part of a larger trend.
A recent study by Harris Interactive polled a total of 2,950 adults in America between August 5 and 9 this summer. Out of this sample, almost half say that their kids spend more time inside during the summer, playing video games and watching television, than they do in other seasons.
Forty-nine percent of the parents polled said their kids, 17 and younger, watched more television over the summer. Forty-six percent of the parents polled said their kids played more video games during the summer. Almost a quarter of those same parents said that their kids watched and played "much more" television and video games" over the summer. Only one in six parents say their kids watch and play less television and video games during the summer, and three in ten parents say there is no change.
The same trend holds true for internet use and movie watching, which 44 to 45 percent of parents say their kids do more to much more of during the summer.
Considering I also spent, and still spend, most of my time inside during the sweaty months, this doesn't seem to be a problem to me at first. However, the results of the study are indicative of less kids spending time outside in general, and a loosening of parental guidance regarding kids' media consumption overall. Video games are great, but like all things, they can be better in moderation.
In fact, when asked, 57 percent of the parents admitted to loosening or eliminating any rules regarding media consumption for their kids over the summer. A little over a quarter of the parents do not loosen these rules, and only 17 percent do not have any rules about media consumption, regardless of season. Video game and media consumption obviously isn't the problem here. Letting young kids' video game use and media consumption in general go unmonitored however, regardless of the weather outside, can lead to problems in the future.
[Most Parents Loosen Rules for Children's Media Consumption During the Summer]
