Almost all children like to play video games.

At times, parents can be shocked from all the

violence and aggression they suddenly see in the video games. Some people say that these
are only games and there is nothing to worry about. However, others argue that such
violence is harmful for the developing personality of a young person. The question is, what
should the parents do when they see their child playing such game? Should they regard it
as a temporary interest and let it be, or should they forbid the game? It is a controversial
subject with no definite answer. Nevertheless, the parents may take into account the
following arguments for and against playing violent video games, when they try to come up
with a right decision.
The supporters of violent video games advocate that playing such games allows teenagers
to divert their aggression into the virtual world instead of the real one. Teenage is a
complicated period for most of the children, when their bodies and minds undergo a lot of
changes. At this time they often find themselves in the conflict with the surrounding world
and experience a lot of negative emotions. Playing video games with violent pretext, gives
them a chance to let out the steam. It serves as an outlet for their negativity, so afterwards
they could return to reality with more peaceful mindset.
Moreover, the followers of this theory also believe that playing such video games helps
children to understand and learn to control their emotions. The children, when faced with
problems and disappointments often don’t know how to react. The society puts a heavy
weight of expectations on teens and often they are not able to fulfill the hopes of their
parents and teachers. It leads to an array of mixed emotions and feeling that children don’t
know how to deal with. When playing video games that trigger the outburst of strong
emotions, children learn to recognize their own feelings. It teaches them how to understand
and control powerful negative emotions. 
Nevertheless, the opponents of violent video games are not convinced by these arguments
and claim that such games have a strong negative effect on the developing minds of
children and teenagers. They say that these games create even more violence and
aggression. When a child constantly witnesses violence, blood and murders in the video
games it leaves a certain imprint on his psyche. Such child would be more prone to
aggressive actions against his siblings and friends. Moreover, the opponents state that
children who play such games tend to become less social and their academic progress
declines.
In addition, people who advocate against children playing violent video games argue that
such games lead to violence in real life. Children are not able to separate the virtual and
real world fully. That distinction is very blurry for the undeveloped young mind. They
often confuse the two concepts, thus believing that what it acceptable in virtual world
would be also fine in the real one. Therefore, they carry that aggressive violent attitude into
their daily lives, harming the people around themselves. And afterwards, when they have
to pay for the consequences of their actions, they cannot understand what they have done
wrong. Thus, the opponents strongly disapprove the use of violent video games by children
as dangerous and unpredictable.
Although, the two opposing sides of this argument would never agree to compromise, the
parents of young people still must make the decision that would work the best for their
children. It is true that video games are just games, however, it is a fact that they can be
harmful if used thoughtlessly and without parental attention. It would be desirable to try
reaching a certain balance in this matter. Games should be regarded as games, which must
be playing sparingly. Moreover, the parents have to understand that instead of forbidding
such video games, they must provide enough alternative, such as travelling, time outside,
family board games, movies, reading, arts and sports.