from saving the city, to saving the world this is excellent advice no matter what your kid is into

Regrettably, I have not been making time for newspaper-reading. I love the print form--so much more welcoming than any Internet format, and at the same time more tangible and portable than digital news. I did, however, get to read the paper a few days ago and found a column by Plain Dealer writer Regina Brett. The advice in the column is more specifically meant for holding families together and being a good parent, but there's some good advice that can apply to family gaming as well.

If you look real close, somewhere on the Xbox, PlayStation, stereo and big screen is an amazing feature. It's called an off button. Get to know it.

Ouch, okay that's a little harsh. If your child enjoys playing games, by all means let them. Even better, play some games with them. But they're no substitute for playing games outside (I find this to be true even coming back from college, dropping the Wiimote to go play "water baseball" out in the neighborhood).

Read to them. Go to the library. Tuck them in.

I loved books as a kid, and still do. Books are just another form of media every kid should be exposed to. Even if your kids don't like to read, bring them a graphic novel/comic book or buy a game that's very text/dialogue-heavy (RPGs usually fall into this category (Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, etc); there are also novel-games for the DS)

Monitor what goes into your child's brain. Stop buying and playing music, videos, movies, games and TV shows that debase and disrespect others.

Again, a little harsh. I can hardly think of a game that directly "debases and disrespects" others outside of Grand Theft Auto, but even if your kids are playing games with "violent" content, it's all right for you to look over their shoulder and make sure this exposure isn't dangerous. I remember reading a story on video game violence and then the comments that followed it up. One of the commenters was a dad who allows his 9-year-old daughter to play GTA, but only under his/his wife's supervision. His post went on to say that the daughter also plays Zelda. A common way to get some spare change in Zelda games is to walk into a house and smash up pots and furniture to reveal small money pieces. While his daughter was doing so, he jokingly asked something to the effect of, "now when you're at school do you smash up the desks and chairs?" His daughter would laugh and respond no. (I wish I could find the link to this).

But the most important advice anyone can glean from this column is

You are a child's moral compass. Watch where your own North is pointing. Raise your kids to be better than you are.

Keep this in mind, and no form of media will ever be able to effect your child.