Kids these days are spending so much time in front of the TV screen or the computer. Video games have taken up a huge proportion of the daily routine of kids, which is why parents are all growing concerned about adverse effects of some of these games. One huge issue is the matter of violent content as an influence in the behavior of children. Since most game consoles today cater to older age groups, a lot of the top selling games today feature warfare, action, and violence.



Most kids, even at young ages, would pester mom and dad to get rather adult or mature types of games, just because they are popular. If you think these kinds of games are not appropriate for your child's age, then you can choose non-violent titles for them to enjoy. The key here is divert their desire to have the latest violent games, and to introduce them to other types of video games that can still be fun and worthwhile.

For the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, Harvest Moon is among the most popular games of all time. Though the original in 1997 was a SNES version of this well-loved video game, the latest one was first released for the DS console in 2005, with the latest version to be out in the 3rd quarter of 2008 for Wii, and is subtitled as Tree of Tranquility. This game is great for ages 10 and up, and teaches the player how to manage time, complete tasks, and even run a small farm on his own.

Speaking of Wii, other great games that provide fun for all ages are the Wii Sports Pack and Wii Play, which integrates sports with interactive movements and strategic thinking. You can play games like fishing, bowling, baseball, tennis, and even fun creating your own Mii's or Wii characters.

Yet another exciting release by October 2008 is for the Playstation 3, and is called Little Big Planet, by Media Molecule. This game is a great non-violent alternative for kids aged 7 and up, and is an adventure game that tackles strategy, item collection, and acquisition of skills for the character.

To encourage your kids to enjoy sports, too, then NBA Ballers: the Chosen One is a great challenge. This was made available to Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 by Midway Games.

As you can see, there are tons more alternatives for the games your kids can play on their consoles, and they don't all have to be violent. Just be sure you guide your kids along as they have fun.