Since radio and TV began, parents have complained about violence in the media and the shallow values, simplistic answers to life's questions, and relationships too sexual and too oriented to looks and popularity.

The new age still plays the "old" (2001) games of "Street Fighter" and "Super Mario Brothers" but has added "Medal of Honor Allied Assault" (MOHAA), "Tetris" and "Timmy" for car explosions and general mayhem.

"Warworlds" now has over 7 million subscribers at $15 a month and advisors and instructors to help our kids better manage their many characters and victims.

Parents may be tempted to use VCR's, TV's, and computer companions to keep the children busy. While computer companions are not necessarily bad babysitters, their best role is as a basis for family discussions to be sure sons and daughters come away with a realistic view of their life experience. Even so, huge amounts of "game time," even an educational game without violence, cannot be justified.

So parents need new, useful and productive activities to counter the new technologies that compete for your child's time. Soccer, Judo lessons, crafts at home, and required reading selected by parents all require time and transportation but the growth and experience gained will pay dividends even while the kids are still at home.

Many studies have demonstrated the increase in violent behavior from too many hours of virtual murder. But a more frequent complaint from parents is the time wasted and the twisted expectations children sometimes get from the media and the computer games. Children are often disappointed that the real world doesn't measure up to the excitement and action of video games and 24-minute TV programs.

Adults, on the other hand, are often disappointed that the games and the TV don't measure up to the real world where success requires work, relationships require respect, and risky behaviors produce logical consequences.

Computer companions subtract further from exercise and real experience with social skills, friends, and life's stresses. Without crucial practice, child development will be slow.

Parents need to set limits on how much and what kind of programs (TV or computer) their children watch and use. Put violence off limits and make it a habit to look over your son or daughter's shoulder frequently.

Projects and crafts that have concrete results are good competition for the computer companion and are much more likely to attract attention, admiration, and strengthen your child's value of his own worth. It will be his value of himself - not his computer companion - gained from his family discussions, his practice and his own successes that will help him grow up and survive the dangers of the teenage years.