The Cub Scouts (the Boy Scouts of America branch for boys 5-11) now offers video game awards in the form of belt loops and pins. These awards are no different from the ones that have been given for such activities as marbles and soccer for decades, but of course, when you put video and game in the title, hysteria over our nation’s lost youth immediately ensued. We’d like to clear up any possible confusion before you take up that torch and pitch fork and head down to your local BSA office.

These awards aren’t the same as the “merit badges” given to the older boys, and are used to award the younger ones for participating in activities outside of those required for their advancement towards becoming full-fledged Boy Scouts. The requirements for these awards clearly spell out that all of the games used must be age appropriate and selected with the help of a parent, and they encourage playing games with both friends and family. By working on these awards your young scout will NOT end up spending long hours playing Halo and developing a Mountain Dew addiction!

Source: MSNBC