« And The Winners are... | Main | Christmas List Carnival: Ideas for What to Get Those Hard to Buy for People »
ESRB - What Does It Mean? How Can It Help You?
Our children are more plugged into the world than ever before. They have computers, iPods, greater television access and video games. Even the video games enable kids to get on the web and interact with people around the world. It used to be that you felt like you had more control over what information your children had access to. It seems like it is impossible to keep them in an 'innocent' stage these days. But the truth is you have the ability to be more in control than ever before.
TV's, Computers, and the newest generation of video game consoles have built in parental controls. What, you are not sure how to activate these controls? You can't find the directions? No worries! The ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) can help! Just click on the link belove and you will be directed to a website that will provide step by step directions on how you can activate the parental controls on Microsoft XBox 360, Microsoft Windows Vista, Nintendo Wii, and Sony Playstation. You won't have to worry anymore about what they may be doing because you will be in the driver's seat.
Another way that you can control what your children are playing is by being alert to ESRB ratings on the games you buy and what these ratings mean.
The ESRB is a non-profit, self-regulatory body that independently assigns ratings, enforces advertising guidelines, and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry. Here are the ratings and what they mean:
EC - Early Childhood, ages 3 and older. Contains no material a parent will find objectionable.
E - Everyone, ages 6 and older. May contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
E10+ - Everyone 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.
T - Teen, 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
M - Mature, 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
AO- Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.
RP - Rating Pending. Only used in advertising prior to release of game.
For more detailed information about how the ratings are achieved, be sure to visit ESRB and look around. There is lots of information there. You can also type in game titles and find out what they are rated.
Be in charge, protect your children. The tools are at your fingertips!
