Despite the media hype and political posturing, new, federally funded research on violent video games and teenagers indicates that the politicians and even some health professionals may have it all wrong!

In 2004, Drs. Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl K. Olson, co-founders and directors of the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media, began a $1.5 million study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice on the effects of video games on young teenagers. In contrast to previous research, they studied real children and families in real situations

What they found surprised, encouraged, and sometimes disturbed them.

Coming to the project with no agenda except to conduct sound, responsible research, their findings conform neither to the views of the alarmists nor of the video game industry. In Grand Theft Childhood, Kutner and Olson untangle the web of politics, marketing, advocacy and flawed or misconstrued studies that until now have shaped parents’ concerns.

What should we as parents, teachers and public policy makers be concerned about?

1. •The real risks are subtle, and aren’t just about violence, gore or sex.
   

2. •Video games don’t affect all children in the same way. Some children are at significantly greater risk. (You may be surprised to learn which ones!)
   

Grand Theft Childhood gives parents practical, research-based advice on ways to limit many of those risks. It also shows how video games—even violent games—can benefit children and families in unexpected ways.

1. 

   Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all prescription, Grand Theft Childhood gives the information you need to decide how you want to handle this sensitive issue in your own family.
   

2. •You’ll learn when—and what kinds of—video games can be harmful, when they can serve as important social or learning tools, and how to create and enforce game-playing rules in your household.
   

3. •You’ll find out what’s really in the games your children play, and when to worry about them playing with strangers on the Internet.
   

4. •You’ll learn how games are rated, how to make best use of those ratings—and the important information that ratings don’t tell you.
   

In this ground-breaking and timely book, Drs. Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson cut through the myths and hysteria, and reveal the surprising truth about kids and violent games. Grand Theft Childhood takes video games out of the political and media arenas, and puts parents back in control.