Video Games - Do you or will you allow it?

Crystalina wrote: I'm just wondering about this. Every kid I know is into video games. They get the games for Christmas, Birthdays any occasion a gift can be given. I ask "What do you want for (insert reason to buy a gift) and they always give me the name of a game (which by the way costs way too much money.). I sit back and wonder how the kids are so involved. How does it start? Then I realize that of course it's the parents that buy it. Kids that are the same age as mine are hooked on these games. My SIL's kids are major addicts. She asked me why I did not get them some certain kind of game that was out and I told her because I like the time I have with my kids. They will never get video games. They will surely hate me but they will not get them. My sisters son actually had to go to the ped because he would not go to the bathroom (#2 ) and it was because he would hold it because he wouldn't want to put the game down. That's just crazy. My kids have the V-tech and that is all they will have. It's purely educational and to tell you the truth Santa never even got his money out of it because they never use it.

Do your kids play them or will you ever let them play? I'm just wondering if I'm being mean about it. They can't be gaining anything by it and I will only lose hunderds of $$ over the years.

mom2my2cuties replied:
My son loves video games - and has most consoles. He loves to play them and he is allowed to for certain periods of time during the day.

He also has the V-Smile and must spend double time on his V-smile for the time he spends on his regular games.

(10 minutes on V-Smile = 5 minutes on Xbox (or whatever) )

I think there are extremes to this - Your sister in law for example - but that is really not the norm. Most kids I know have a time limit on how much and when they can play.

TheOaf66 replied: I will not have a problem with Tanner playing but there has to be limitations

1. Limiting the time he gets to play
2. Won't have it in his room so I know what he is playing
3. Want to be able to play games with him

If it starts to get to the point where he is addicted, school suffers, never goes outside etc than things will change but there is nothing wrong with it to use for some entertainment when he gets older. I still play them and he has a game for my system that him and I play together. It is all parental choice I don't think there is a right or wrong.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: No video games for us. Scotty or I either one aren't into them and never have been. I really don't see the attraction. I don't even do computer gaming.

My kids play a lot of board games with us, but I think that is much healthier.

Crystalina replied:
We do the Ant in the Pants or Cooties all those little games and the kids that play the video games (who are the same age as my kids) will not play those games. In their words "they are boring." Heck, I bring out Candy Land and my kids are jumping for joy. I think that is so sad that a child would rather look at a box then have interaction with real people and play a board game with their parents or whoever else.

kimberley replied: well, with two boys, 8 and almost 10, i have sadly succumbed to the world of video games. i cannot control what their idiot father does when he has them so i figured if they are going to play them, i will get them a kid friendly system (nintendo game cube) and select more educational games for them. and i limit it to weekends only. i am currently trying to steer them away from that to the computer so hopefully i will win that battle

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
This is one of the many reasons I don't want video games in my home. It wouldn't take long for Maddie to be addicted to them and I'd rather interact with my kids one on one than have them sit in front of the TV for hours on end. I do let her play on the computer a little, but it's educational games and her time is limited. I'd much rather her learn more computer skills for hand/eye coordination than video games.

Maddie also gets that "those are baby games" "that's a baby movie" etc from her friends. It starts so early.

ataylorm replied: Thoughts from someone that made a career from playing games!

First off, I believe everything has to come in some proportions. It's not good for anyone to play games so much that they neglect their bodies.

However for those that say nothing good ever comes from video games (My Mom!) let me give you this point of view.

Video games improve hand eye cordination and problem solving abilities. While some video games are complete rubish like Grand Theft Auto, there is a good selection of games that teach all kinds of things, like city builder games that teach you management techniques, and puzzle games that teach problem solving, etc.

These games are SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to actually help kids learn and improve their grades. But again they need to come in moderation, and they should be choosen wisely, NOT ALL GAMES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES!

My parents used to get so mad at me for playing games to much and always asking for games for Christmas and such. But asking for games eventually lead to me asking for programming software, and that lead to my career. Now at 28 years old, I still pay games, I have the highest education level of anyone except my grandmother (She graduated college in her 60's, but never used it because she couldn't find a job as a CPA without using a computer) in my living family (all of them), and I make an income over 2X anyone in my family except for my uncle who inherited his company from his dad and sold it to GE. Never worked a day in his life.

The key is not to use the video games as a babysitter. There are a lot of FUN video games that teach educational things, especially for the computer. At first as a kid, I hated playing those kind of games, but once you get into them, they are really great. Take the "Where is Carmen Sandiego" series, these are a blast to play, and teach you all kinds of facts about geography, history, etc. I learned all of my state capitals by playing "Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego" without ever realizing that I was "Learning". When I had problems with learning spelling, my parents bought me a spelling game that could be loaded with my spelling list. It took something I hated doing every day, and made it a blast, while teaching me my spelling in record time, which is saying something considering English was by far my worst subject from Kindergarten through college.

Like everything video games are what you make them, they can be great, or they can be horrible. But you should also pay attention to what they are rated, and not buy your 6 year old a game rated Adults Only.

luvbug00 replied: I only allow v-smile, Brad lets her play whatever she wants on his 360. She only plays mabe 1 hour a week. ( not often at all, the appeal isn't there)

Kaitlin'smom replied: well considering we have a stand up Mame, 3 x-boxes (one is a 360). Yes she will and does play some games but she is not that much into them, She did love the v-tech (I think thats what it was) the other ngiht at dinner. Ashley was really sweet to let her play it so long. Its edicational. So I dont mind. For me its everyting in moderation, I will not with hold it from her (kinda hard when its all around her) but I am not going to let her do nothing but that either. She also loves board games, (ps thakns for the reminder I can add some to board games to her christmas list). I dont think they are all bad, some yes, but not all.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: We have a PS2 and 2 games Pooh and Dora-once she won them both she has never plugged them in again We won the PS2 or we would not have bought it. Tay has a gameboy but I don't know where it is...other than that we have some computer games (Jumpstart and kinder stuff and 2 Princess dress up games) But she wouls much rather play with us (and vice versa )


ETA~ My siblings do not have the video game systems (barely watch TV) But they play ball and do stuff outside all the time Well one of my little brothers called his friend to come play basketball and the kid brought over his gamecube-he looked at my brothers like when they said they would be outside in a second! They had to show him how to play real basketball-he could only do it on screen I know that is an extreme case but poor kid!

ediep replied: I don't really like video games and I try to limit TV time as it is. I won't buy any for Jason, at least for a looooong time

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Personally, I think if used in moderation, like many other things like tv, computer, etc. it's not harmful as long as they are AGE APPROPRIATE. We limit those things in our house, but our son does get tv time, computer time, and video game time (even though he is too young to master much).

holley79 replied: My stepson does nothing but play vids when he is at home. That's all I'll say abotu that.

Now as for Annika. We will have leap pad, V Tech and some vid games. Those will be for rainy in the house days. If it's nice out then Annika can play outside and use her imagination. During the summer we will be spending a lot of time outside.

Crystalina replied:
Is that an extreme case? I personally know kids who play more sports on their games in IRL. That is one reason there are so many obsese kids in our day and age. They grab a video game and a snack. Back when I was a kid you went out to play. I'm not saying kids don't still do that but not like they should. Parents do use it as a babysitter and that's very sad.

I agree with all of you that say it should be done in moderation but that is if the parents follow through with the rules they make. Sometimes it gets tiring to inforce the rules. Kudos to all of you who do. If you look at the "gamers" though, either adult or kids, they are not in the best of shape. That is an overall average and does not incude all gamers.

Brias3 replied: We have a PS2 that was purchased because my DH wanted it to play games on- Ryan and Aliyah occasionally use it. They both have a PSP as well. All three gaming systems have rules attached in our household. They're only allowed appropriate-rated games (obviously) and there are time limits on the games. Personally, I feel that it cuts down on the time they want to watch television. The tv/video game thing is a combo in my house- you choose one or the other for the day. I don't think they're that awful really but maybe that's just because my kids aren't obsessed either. Honestly, most days we have little or no time for either one, what with sporting schedules, after school activities, homework, etc. We have the V-smile, LeapPad system and V-tech games as well, which are a great alternative for Mason and usually Aliyah too.

If the gaming ever became a problem or obsession in the house, obviously we'd eliminate the cause of problem but right now, its just another toy to them. They spend far more time doing other things so I don't see the need to ban them from it completely.

lisar replied: I bought Lexi one of those V-Smile game systems last year. Its all education games. She thinks they are video games to her they are. But she likes to play them. The games are for thier age and grade level. She has learned alot from them. They teach her math, phonics, spelling in a way that she understands. She also has a game boy but she is only allowed to take that camping and things like that. She doesnt get to sit around the house and play it.

luvmykids replied: I think I'll allow it in moderation but like Crystal said, sometimes enforcing that is tiring so I think it will just depend on what they're like in a few years, one kid may be more responsible about it than another so I dunno....

The twins both got a Leapster and the only time they played was when their 11yo stepsister was playing her game boy.

mckayleesmom replied: We don't have any and probably won't for a while....the kids don't even know what they are. Like Crystalina...when I was growing up...you went outside to play..We did get a nintendo when I was in 4th Grade or so.....and my mom would actually take the whole thing apart and put it up in her bedroom closet...we were only allowed to play it occassionally.

CantWait replied: Robbie didn't really really start playing video games till probably a couple years ago. I just wouldn't allow it. With meeting new friends though and going over to their place and sleepovers, it's to hard to control how much he gets. I try to limit it at home to about half an hour a day, depending if he's got teen centre that day (because he plays video games there), or if he's going over to a friend's house.

If the weather is nice, I kick him out of the house to go and play. He can come in if it's too hot out, or to cold, then the rules apply. He's got plenty of toys, art supplies, colouring books, and he's got a younger brother, so there's no reason why he has to be in front of the computer, video games, or the t.v.

Boy does he try though.

CantWait replied: Also, the only video games Anthony gets right now is with me, and it's learning stuff on PBS, treehouse, etc...

He does watch a lot of t.v. right now though, which I'm trying to cut down.

Crystalina replied: I just want to clarify that I'm talking about games like the sports games, race car games, all the arcade type games. I agree that if games like V-tech or any other game ( I'm not familiar with much past V-tech ) are educational then they should be used. I would never think a kid shouldn't learn even if they are in front of a game or computer. That is much more exciting to them then having a book in their face. Izabella and Evan go to Noggin.com and play the games there but they are all teaching. If that's what they want to do great. I'm speaking of the others though. I just don't want anyone thinking that I'm against a child learning through games.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I will allow my children to play video games in moderation and with supervision. To me its no different than television - there's nothing wrong with it as long as you set & follow limits.

gr33n3y3z replied: I like to play PS2 and Nintendo and other hand held games N DS
I like role playing games and shooters
Computer games role playing and shooters there also.

We gave 4 kids 2 like to play games and the other 2 have not the time of day for them Unless its a game like Hot Shots Fore and its done as a family thing.

booey2 replied: Okay, I will admit it that we have both the PS system and a PS2. We have ton of games and he boys will go through spurts when all they want to do is play it and then there are times they won't look at it at all. We have a huge mix of games from arcade to educational. Both DH and I play the systems, well me mostly. I started in the games by buying myself a gameboy back in University in 1989 and I still have it and the boys like to play with it every now and then. I can get hooked myself so we limit their playing time to weekend nights only, Friday and Saturday are the only nights they can get on them.


Terri

jcc64 replied: I notice alot of people that replied to this have younger kids. To which I say- never say never. Video games and computers are an integral part of our children's lives, whether we like it or not. The trick is to make sure they don't completely prevent your kid from becoming engaged in activities irl by limiting playing time and content. But I don't see them as a complete waste of time, and I certainly see them as a step or two above passive tv watching. Some of the more complicated role playing games require alot of critical thinking skills and some pretty sophisticated reasoning. My kids have a Sims Theme Park game that involves designing rides, balancing budgets, industrial design concepts, civic planning, and on and on. It's all good stuff, and b/c they're having fun, they don't even realize they're using ALOT of grey matter in the process. Similiarly, they play alot of sports games, which I am absolutely convinced have elevated their playing skills irl. They have a much more sophisticated concept of what to do in every possible game time scenario- things they couldn't possibly know by strictly playing ball with kids their own ages. They know what to do ahead of time, and they just react instinctively b/c of all the time spent "practicing" on video games. I agree that more time should be spent playing actively outside, but I don't see them as entirely negative if used in moderation.
And cudos to the programmer for turning a lifelong passion into a lucrative career. That's what my 11 yr old is banking on. We should all have the opportunity to turn something we love into a money making opportunity. Ahhhh, the American dream.