Make Family Time a Priority in 2004
A New Year has arrived and many of us made New Year’s resolutions, like we do every year, such as losing weight, exercising more, or putting a few more dollars into savings. All good goals for our health and well-being, but how about a new resolution to benefit the whole family – more family time. As we are well aware, families are constantly under pressure to find enough time in their day. The push and pull of parents’ work schedules, their children’s school and extracurricular activities, and other obligations make it difficult for families to spend meaningful quality time together. When some families do manage to be in the same place at the same time, it is often during mealtime with television turned on and family discussion turned off. This year, plan for family time by resolving to increase and improve the time spent together in the coming year. In fact, organized efforts are underway to make better family time happen. It’s fun and guaranteed to lessen the stress on family relationships and increase communication. Last October, TIME magazine published a story about people working together to find more time to spend with their families. The article cited a Center for the New American Dream poll from August 2003 finding that, while 60 percent of Americans felt pressure to work too much, more than 80 percent wished for more family time, and more than half would take a pay cut for more time off. TIME featured a group from Ridgewood, New Jersey, who noticed the work of “Putting Family First,” a Wayzata, Minnesota-based movement advocating family time and family activities, and subsequently established their own community effort, “Ready, Set, Relax!” On March 26, 2002, children were not assigned homework, sports teams did not practice, and several families spent time having dinner and playing board games together. According to a survey distributed to families following the event, 69 percent indicated it raised awareness about the impact of over-scheduling. Ridgewood has scheduled the third “Ready, Set, Relax!” for March 22, 2004. You can learn more about this intitiative by visiting http://www.readysetrelax.org/. Additional information about “Putting Family First” can be found at http://www.puttingfamilyfirst.info/.	Dr. Walsh Participates in Federal Trade Commission Workshop On October 29, 2003, Dr. Walsh participated in the Federal Trade Commission’s “Marketing Violent Entertainment to Children: A Workshop on Industry Self-Regulation.” The Federal Trade Commission held the workshop to look at self-regulation in the entertainment industry, including children’s access to entertainment products that have been rated or labeled as potentially inappropriate for them, and discuss results of the Commission’s 2003 “mystery shopper survey.” Dr. Walsh served on three of the workshop’s panels: “Dialogue Between Industry and Consumer Groups: Discussion of Rating and Labeling Systems;” “Overview of Retailer In-Store and Online Practices;” and “Update on Research on Effects of Violent Entertainment on Children.” The Commission’s survey found 69 percent of the teenage shoppers were able to purchase M-rated games; 83 percent were able to buy explicit-labeled recordings; and 36 percent were able to buy tickets for admission to an R-rated movie at theaters. The Commission also surveyed DVD retailers and found 81 percent of the teenage shoppers were able to purchase R-rated movies on DVD.
Some families find it helpful to schedule a regular family night, with kids and parents coming up with ideas on what to do. Here are ideas from one family’s list: play board games; cook up a treat in the kitchen; read aloud together; go for a walk; kick around the soccer ball; play catch or basketball. The National Institute on Media and the Family has developed a few tips for parents designed to enhance family time. These tips include turning television off during meals and catching up with one another by sharing stories and activities from each family member’s day.

On December 8, 2003, Dr. David Walsh released the National Institute on Media and the Family’s Eighth Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card in Washington, DC. Highlights of this year’s Report Card include the Institute’s largest student survey ever, and the impact of increased screen time on childhood obesity. “The results of our student survey are alarming,” Dr. Walsh said.

“The survey finds boys are not only playing Maturerated video games, but they are playing them for greater amounts of time without their parents’ knowledge. Children’s access to these “killographic” games, parents’ lack of knowledge of ratings, and kids’ game-playing habits are all major contributors to the increase in casual violence and the culture of disrespect among our children.”

Dr. Walsh also called attention to how the dramatic increase in screen time contributes to the childhood obesity epidemic. Current statistics show physical activity among children has decreased 13 percent since 1990, while screen time has increased 33 percent during the same period.

“Parents are a key factor in supporting healthy habits in children. Parents should be aware of the content of the games their children are playing and parents need to encourage their children to be more physically active,” Dr. Walsh said.

Areas of special concern highlighted in the Eighth Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card include: the Entertainment Software Rating Board’s non-use of the Adults Only (AO) rating; the lack of policies among many retailers to restrict children from Mature-rated games; and the need to improve parent education of the ratings system. Similar to last year, the MediaWise Video Game Report Card also analyzes recent video game research, showing that violent video games are linked to aggressive, violent behavior among children.

To access the Eighth Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card, please click here.

Tell me What We Did Today: A New Book by Rick Kupchella, Illustrated by Warren Hanson
At the end of the day, a dad takes time with his child to talk about all the things that went on since morning... the real and the made up things. Young children will enjoy this warm, witty, and sometimes wacky book by TV newsman, Rick Kupchella and illustrated by Warren Hanson. These two men are dads who know the value of spending time with their kids. Available at Amazon.com and your local bookstore.
	Dr. Walsh is shown at the 34th Conference of International Simulation and Gaming (ISAGA2003) at Kazusa Academia Park in Chiba, near Tokyo, in August.

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