

These are good kids with good parents from loving and otherwise healthy homes.Īdded to the desensitization to violence is a host of other side-effects, such as attention disorders, short fuses, quickness to anger and frustration, an inability to connect and socialize and play with other children, a phenomenally under-developed ability to cope and adjust, addictive-type behaviors, and antisocial behavior, among others. I have watched children kick and scream and punch their parents when smartphones are not handed over to them to play video games. I have worked with parents who have caught their 9-year-old gaming, under the covers of his bed, in the middle of the night. These are not images found in children’s books.
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Here’s what my colleagues and I are seeing: kindergarteners, during free play, are drawing violent pictures of guns and characters with decapitated heads, blood dripping from their necks and a chest full of bullets. These kiddos become desensitized to the act of shootings, killings fraught with blood-pulverizing murders and assassinations. I have witnessed second graders play games like “Call of Duty” that are censored for mature audiences (MA). While this may not rise to the level of addiction and aggression now, it certainly is a gateway. Kids as young as kindergarten are gaming for hours every day. There is a strong correlation between video games and aggression. The empirical data is becoming more and more clear of the addictive nature of video games for children. Information is power, and together we are stronger. To share personal insights, concerns and fears. This column is meant to start a conversation. I consume a steady diet of habitually peeking into the window of people’s lives through social media. I was surprised and saddened by the emotions this stirred. We were half an hour out of town when I realized I left my phone sitting on the kitchen counter. This Mother’s Day we traveled to Fargo from Bismarck for a family brunch. Long car rides - as a passenger - are a perfect time-sucker for social media. It is tricky to maintain a healthy balance with my seductive little smartphone. I enjoy social media and waste ample time scrolling, liking, reading and yes, coveting. The video game business is a sophisticated, bazillion dollar industry devoted to designing addictive products aimed at defenseless children and vulnerable young people. While there are dangers associated with technology, this column will focus on elementary-aged children, video games and the consequences that overuse has on behavior, social skills, friendships, attention, coping skills and development. For example, with the goal of helping children respond to God in generosity from an early age, we collect an offering in every class that is donated to the week's designated local or global ministry.Is all that comfort we provide to our kids actually hurting them?

Children also learn practical ways to apply the truths of the stories to their everyday lives. To see what the children are learning, please visit our children's curriculum website. Children learn the stories of the Bible - from Genesis through Revelation - through age-appropriate activities that make the stories come alive. Through energetic worship, prayer time and classroom instruction, The Worship, The Word, & The Way Bible curriculum is designed to help children ages 2-11 discover who God is and what He has done. Learn more about Northland What To Expect Welcome to Children's Ministries at Northland where children ages 6 weeks old through fifth grade experience an authentic worship service, hear sound Biblical instruction, and make connections with adult leaders and other children! Service Times
