For the mom anyways!
I feel like I'm having a constant battle here over my son playing video games. We decided awhile ago that he could only play for an hour a day (and I think that may even be too long). The latest thing is that once the timer goes off, I hear "But I'm in the middle of a level!" and he wants to keep playing. It happened again today and finally I lost it, turned off the system and told him no more games this week because he won't listen.
I also hate the fact that some of my son's friends are allowed to play games rated T and even M! I'm constantly reminding my husband that our son is only 8 and that T games are just not appropriate for him! Does he really need to learn to shoot people electronically?
What are the rules in your house for playing video games? Do you only let them play age appropriate games? I need some help in creating and enforcing the rules! Give me some ideas please before I just throw the Playstation out the window! ;)
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Video Games = Annoying
Posted by jen aka mommay at 4:36 PM
Find more: driving mom crazy, rules, video games
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4 comments. Leave yours now!:
We actually had to start a weekend only video game rule. Anthony was just getting too obsessed with them! We tried the one hour thing, but he was pulling the same thing as EJ. And then he started getting an attitude about the whole thing, which is when we put our foot down. If you come up with a better solution I'd love to know it!
We don't have any gaming systems. Because I worry about the very thing you just wrote about. I know the day will come when we do get them (probably b/c I really want a wii) so you'll have to let me know what you figure out. Sam does play games on the computer and he's only allowed 20 mins on days that he's watched less than an hour of tv. If he's watched more than no computer games.
We did not have a game system until just a few years ago (Kyle was 14). Not sure how we managed to put it off that long, but we did. We don't have any violent games, and my philosophy is that when you buy it, you're supporting it, and if it doesn't fit with our family's values, we don't support it. I think you handled it well. Stay firm. You might set the time for 10 minutes before he actually has to get off; it IS hard to end in the middle of a level, and the ten minutes will give him a heads up that he's going to have to wrap it up.
Setting limits is good! We allow the kids 20 minutes of play time a day, but if they are going to be emailing, actual emails with writing and everything, that will not count towards their time.
I have caught the timer on pause a couple of time with one of the kids and the obvious result is no time the next day. The only pausing that can be done is when I ask them to do it.
We get lots of the "I'm almost done with this level or whatever."
Too bad, time is up. There is always tommorrow.
We do not have a gaming system, but mostly the kids play computer games.
Electronic games so easily become absorbing and idolic, we find firm guidelines are a must!
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