**These are quotes I've collected over the years from
education newsletters and such.**
"Today our children are
overwhelmed with an image of violence. Look at what they
are confronted with. They see on tv, teen gangs
depicting hatred and killing, abused children and
adults, nations split in war and acts of terrorism,
shooting and torture. All these subjects are seen in the
news and magazines, cartoons and movies, and are topics
of conversation.
Do we really need to have "dolls" such as GI Joe, Rambo
and games like Dungeons and Dragons? Do we really want
our children to have heroes that fight and kill?
Parents can and do have a profound influence upon the
values of their children and when you buy these "toys"
you are telling them that you approve of all this
violence."
--Dorothy P. Lindorff,
Child Therapist
"The playing with war toys
legitimizes and makes violent behavior acceptable. It
desensitizes children to the dangers of harm of violent
behavior and increases the chance that they will resort
to violent behavior. Probably only a small number will
commit heavy duty violence but a large number get
desensitized and will pick up some harmful behaviors.
The degree that youngsters are learning to take pleasure
from aggression decreases their ability to learn
empathy, negotiation, and cooperation. Cooperative games
do exist and can be fun. I would recommend that parents
not allow violent toys in their homes, but purchase
nonviolent toys and games."
--Dr. Arnold
Goldstein, Ph. D., Director of Center for Research On
Aggression at the University of Syracuse
"Action dolls such as GI Joe,
suggest to children that all problems can be solved with
action…There are no steps to reach a solution, just "pow"
and there's your answer."
--Janet Weaver,
former Director of the National Child Research Center |
