so what is ok for kids to do?

Not Harry Potter...

Not D&D...

You need to wear a helmet, even when you're biking on the sidewalk...

And certainly, certainly, avoid video games...

Results of a survey of 1,100 teens from the Pew Internet and American Life Project and a survey of 7,000 players of Everquest II by researchers at three universities (hat tip: Ronald Bailey in Reason-- I could not find it on their website!)

-virtually (pun intended) all teens play (99% of boys; 94% of girls)

-the top five from Pew: Guitar Hero, Halo 3, Madden NFL, solitaire, and Dance Dance Revolution

-65% play while other people are in the room with them (vs. worries about social isolation)

-video gamers have a lower body mass index

-video gamers are more likely to be depressed (whether they become more depressed or tend to be depressed as selection bias is not clear)