Outgunned by video violence

Many parents try but fail to limit their children’s exposure to violence on television and in video games, a study released Tuesday showed.

In a survey at three health clinics in the Washington, D.C., area, nearly three-quarters of parents with young children admitted their children see “fighting, guns, and other violence on television” at least once a week despite their efforts, said the report published in the journal Pediatrics.

“Viewing of violence on television has been associated in many previous studies with aggressive behavior, and many child health professionals recommend limiting children’s exposure to it,” said Dr. Tina Cheng, director of general pediatrics and adolescent medicine at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

“However,” Cheng said, “that is easier said than done.”