Editorial: Attention all parents

Monday, Nov. 29, 2004 | 9:08 a.m.

Sadly, the days when stores and manufacturers had the word "wholesome" in mind when marketing products for children are over. All that can be hoped for now is that parents and grandparents, who grew up with Buddy L trucks, Mr. Potato Head and Erector Sets, understand what's out there.

One of the most popular pastimes of children today is mastering video and computer games. Thanks to a total lack of civic responsibility, many manufacturers are producing games entirely inappropriatefor children. Murder, thievery, assaults, nudity, profanity -- it's all out there and presented as a value worth emulating. This isn't "The Rifleman" we're talking about, the late '50s, early '60s TV show starring Chuck Connors. These type of shows featured violence, for sure, but it wasn't very graphic and it was always rooted in upholding a family or community value.

Most of these games that are inappropriate for children bear ratings, similar to movies. While the ratings give manufacturers a guise of responsibility, they do little to prevent children from accessing the games.

The First Amendment allows such products, which studies have shown increase aggressiveness in children. And manufacturers gleefully reap in enormous profits. So it's up to parents now to be far more attentive than their parents ever had to be.