Playing for Keeps

Demographic Differences
While there is good overall agreement between people with different demographic characteristics, Women are more likely than Men to believe their neighborhood is worse than the one where they grew up and that violence is more of a problem.

Grandparents are, on balance, more likely than Parents or Non-parents, to believe that it is harder to raise children today, and that violence is more of a problem.

What Does "Violence" Mean
Base: All Respondents: Dads (82) Moms (83) Grandparents (108)

Violence (Media Exposure) - too much violence on TV, movies, videos, video games, CDs, some music; glamorization of violence; violent action figure toys; scary movies, movies with wrong ratings; frightening images; violence in the news; wrestling on TV: 39% 38% 46%

Physical abuse/physical harm - hitting, fist-fighting, stabbing, knifing 27% 44% 29%

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It is becoming increasingly clear through research on the brain as well as in other areas of study, that childhood needs play. Play acts as a forward feed mechanism into courageous, creative, rigorous thinking in adulthood.

--Tina Bruce, Professor, London Metropolitan University