[Barbara]

This board is now officially my family therapist.

We all know we must teach useful skills to the kids, like swimming, bycycling, knowing trees, anything can be helpful in the future.
But when I see my 6 years old craving for his GameBoy instead of going out to play in the park, to go cyclying, I feel like killing him. How can a kid waste so much time over a stupid screen game? I know, I'm always at the PC, but after all it's my job and I know how to do many other things!!!! They'll become stupid on those games, instead of being healthy playing outside!
But then... I think times will be hard in the future, and these are going to be the best years of his life. Also, he may not enjoy such luxuries when grown up, so why stopping him? He'll be forced to stop anyway, sooner or later...

What do you think?

[EnergySpin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Barbara', 'T')his board is now officially my family therapist.

We all know we must teach useful skills to the kids, like swimming, bycycling, knowing trees, anything can be helpful in the future.
But when I see my 6 years old craving for his GameBoy instead of going out to play in the park, to go cyclying, I feel like killing him. How can a kid waste so much time over a stupid screen game? I know, I'm always at the PC, but after all it's my job and I know how to do many other things!!!! They'll become stupid on those games, instead of being healthy playing outside!
But then... I think times will be hard in the future, and these are going to be the best years of his life. Also, he may not enjoy such luxuries when grown up, so why stopping him? He'll be forced to stop anyway, sooner or later...

What do you think?

[kelee877]

Hold your breath, I too have the same problem at times with the kids..gameboys and gamecube, playstation..but I have to remember I was the one that bought them for them and I have warned my kids that once the hydro cost start rising they will be off of them...but I also take them out as much as I can in the canoe and we spend the whole day fishing..they learn from experience and whenever we can we are out...we have not been out lately, I bought a new car that will not hold the 17 foot coleman canoe..large size..next spring I will have to invest in a trailer hitch or roof racks....
And with Christmas around the corner..I have already started the shopping, 2 youngests.. I picked up new poles on sale for starters..
And I have also warned then should TSHTF..all the machines and games would be useless..with no hydro you cannot play them...and there is no way they will get my stored batteries for a gameboy...

[rogerhb]

When it's raining suggest they play lego, card-games etc. Getting them to learn rules and sharing as part of games is important.

I detest seeing my kids watching mindless Barney videos. As for what must be going through the heads of Japanese kids I hate to think, I can't fathom their cartoons.

I was brought up in the UK and watched BBC1 childrens TV, ( BBC2 if the Olympics were on ). What many people not from the UK don't realise is they had NO ADVERTS. If I could change one thing about childrens TV today it would be to ban adverts.

[pjd2]

As long as he is also playing outside, partaking in sports, and everything else in addition to the Gameboy, I don't see the harm in letting him play every now and then.

As stupid and mind numbing as games can be they can also give him something to talk about with his peers, and social interaction is important as well.

I'm no parent myself, and so I am not sure if this will even work, but maybe limit his time on the electronics and tv. as a reward for doing certain things you add more time, or as punishment take away time? could be worth a shot.

[Cool Hand Linc]

Everything but nothing to excess.

How old they are will make a difference on what to do and how to do it.

Set up rules for them. Let them know at what point it is to much and they will not be allowed to continue.

Decide things for them to learn to get a reward. Read a book on trees or something else you think useful. After reading the book. Talk with them about the subject to test them. Reward them if they know the subject.

Attempt to make this a game.

[backstop]

Barbara -

Having spent over an hour with a "Rubic's Cube" (a seriously addictive toy of the '70s) I must confess that I took the thing out and shot it. It fragmented into a myriad of pieces in all directions most satisfactoraly.

Re your son's addiction, which as you say is hindering his crucial early experience of the world, I'd wait till he's asleep and then tread on the machine very hard.

The following day I'd get him a DVD player and a good few fine quality books-on-disk disks plus a smart pair of headphones for him to start listening to them.

No messing. That's his mind the corporations are programming with their 'games'

I'd also get him a good dog - something faily rugged and sheepdog sized- that needs walking each day.

Maybe I'm biased . . .

regards,

Backstop

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('backstop', 'T')he following day I'd get him a DVD player and a good few fine quality books-on-disk disks plus a smart pair of headphones for him to start listening to them.

[backstop]

Barbara -

Rogerhb is right in a sense. I should have added,

- and when he's ready, give him a books allowance and a library ticket !

regards,

Backstop

[Barbara]

pjd2 make a point saying it's because of the "social interaction". I think he's very proud when he can talk about GB with his friends...
Of course he is "time-limited" with that thing, has no Playstation or Gamecube (or he'd become numb with them!), and I try to stimulate him to go out, read a book (he knows how to read even if he's not yet in the elementary school- he learned by himself!), but he's always bored with these things and craving GB and cartoons.
Our only chance is when we take him out or on vacation, show him a lot of new things around and making experiences. But his best time is always on GB!!!

[Doly]

Barbara,

I wouldn't assume that the time of game consoles will be finished with PO. Electronic devices use very little energy, after all.

The whole situation reminds me of my family insisting that I should go out when I was a kid when all I wanted to do was read books. You have to accept that if a person is sedentary rather than active, they will never be very keen on going out, sports and the like. But you can make sure that he is exposed to all sorts of different activities to do in his free time, and he doesn't fall into gaming "by default", because that's the main entertainment he knows. Also, you can direct him towards some kind of practical activity, for example, some kind of craft. This can always be useful and he will get the reward of having something he's built himself. Most people love that.

[Arkwright]

It's hard to compete with games nowdays. They tell interactive stories, have lots of adventure, action, intelligent- and skill challenge and they are very rewarding - for each challenge in game you get reward, move forward and grow more powerful. Graphics and sounds immerse the player complitely to exciting world of game. And friends talk about hem - and with computers, you can talk and socialise with friends trough the game and find more friends and form groups. Its hard for a movie, book or sports compete with that, they are not nearly as rewarding and you usually have to work more to achieve similar feel of success in other hobbies. No wonder his gameboy is his favourite hobby. Only things games lack are physical euphoria, and satisfaction that you get from creating something concrete.
Cant really tell how to help here, maybe he should start example a kids painting school that has exhibition at the end of season, but restricting the game time without offering something exciting instead will feel like severe punishment

[Liamj]

Its a toughy Barbara, moderation in all things does seem the best answer. I unashamedly use my 5y.o's love of PC games (routine at school) to enforce a few house & yard chores, and regularly explain to her why i don't like "too much" computer (she can't ennunciate hypocrisy yet, thank god, & its sure stemmed fights over 'why').

Theres opportunity too, it forced me to search for best quality 'games' out there; there was no option when i saw the intense advertising element and consumer-grooming of barbie.com and many similar 'free' sites for children. I find talking with her about which ones were actually interesting/(educational) and which are just flashy (e.g. colouring in or picking accessories) worthwhile too.. not sure she enjoys it tho!

Made me work on how to make her unplugged play time as interesting as possible, and i accidentally discovered that roughhousing and general silliness beats all else. Its tough work but someones go to do it

[lotrfan55345]

You can't take this machine away from me!

[NEOPO]

Let them play!!!!!!

As a 30 something gamer I say let them play!!!!

I have been playing since Pong and I am quite brilliant if I must say
Reread that sentence with a "stewie" accent

"Stupid stuff" or even "evil satanic stuff" like D&D/AD&D helped myelf, my brother and many of our friends learn to read and write better and it also helped us perform semi complex mathematical calculations with ease.
I find that most people have problems carrying the "1"

IMHO the harry potter books and all the recent LOTR stuff is just a revison of the same ole thing.
A revision of an ancient and always branded "demonic" theme which is sorcery, wizards , warriors and lets not forget dragons!!!!

Atari kept me very busy indeed!!!
Commodore 64 and disco babee yeah!!!!!
I hated school yet I was top of the class....Enrighment program.....that is........when I decided to show up
Thomas edison was hated by his teachers and also home schooled

I know I know!!!!! I spent $1000's of dollars in quarters on space invaders and pac man

Its medal of honor and age of empires right now if I can get my mind off work and PO long enough to enjoy a game!!!!!!

Specop just dont know how close I am to hurting him by accident!!!

If I still had cable I would hunt Specop down (cause you know he plays shooting games ) and KILL him repeatedly until he begged me for forgiveness!!!!! muahahah

Playing may be one of the few things that we retain from our youth.
Dont spoil it for your child!!!!
Playing games like these may be one way our children release stress.
Our bigbox mcmansion society provides few outlets.

People make bzillions of dollars making games or otherwise entertaining and thats all this is.

Very relative to this would be the Grand theft auto incident where all of these games were pulled from the market and the game maker is being sued over sexual content yet the entire game is based on "puttin a cap in some homees ass cause he stepped on my turf or flirted with my ho"

Cop killing - innocent people killing - car jacking etc etc yet the sexual part offended someone!!!!

The sheeple never cease to amaze and amuse me

Let us never forget genetics.
Poor genetics and even the most pampered flower of a child planted in the most fertile soil will not develope.
Good genetics and even the most hampered flower of a child planted in clay or silt will still grow

All we must do is stand back, make sure someone or something doesnt trample our precious flower-lings and let genetics do its thing!!!!!

[TT]

Let the kid play.

There will be plenty of time in the future for horrible reality. There's no need to take away any joys of today. Just let the kid play.

[legit]

I'm waiting for a handheld console that you wind up to give it power enoguh to play