Does a Video Game Addiction Start with Educational Games?

I have a 13 yr old who likes his video games. I believe that we definitely have to be careful with them. They cannot replace real life interaction. Kids need to learn to socialize not matter how difficult it is, and they need to spend time outside working their bodies and using their imagination! It's the same with all of the toys today that make noises and move by themselves, kids need the plain jane toys to make their minds work. An article in the Jan Parents noted a study that shows that kids who play with blocks speak sooner and better. Who would've thought!

Please monitor video game time! Make sure they do a sport or other activity, even if you have to do it with them. They and you will find that being with each other even to discover that you both hate it, is a lot of fun. I plan to take a snow boarding lesson this year. Ouch!

I have a 13 and a 9 yr old that would play them all the time if I let them, but they are only allowed to do so on the weekends. However, I grew up in the Nintendo era and I can remember going home after school and playing it for hours and I turned out ok :o) I definately think the nature of what they are playing is crucial to the effects it will have on them. But, I am an "old fashioned" kind of person, I want my kids to play outside and ride their bikes---they (kids) just need a mix of all of it. But, as a parent, if my kids didn't have the game, I wouldn't have any tools for disciplining them.....LOL Anyway, anything in excess can be bad for them, I think it's all about moderation.

I have the same problems with my 16 yr old spending too much time on the computer. His argument is that he plays games online with his friends so he is actually socializing while he is doing it. While I can't argue with that, I still say he spends too much time on it. I try to pull him away for some family time also and he comes down to play with his 2 yr old brother alot. I insist that we eat dinner as a family at least 5 nights a week if not more. The biggest problem is that he is bored. We live in a subdivision with no kids his age and his friends get busy with their own sports and jobs. He does play sports most of the year too so he at least gets out to do that. Now that he is driving I he is asking to go over to his buddies houses a bit more.

I don't feel that video games are as poisonous as the media portrays. My husband is still an avid gamer. He works so that I can stay home with our child (soon to be children!), is a stand up guy and a amazing husband as well as father. Every single day after he gets home, we eat, play with our daughter, she goes to bed, shortly there after, I go to bed and he plays his video games for hours. He still reads, writes has active outdoor hobbies and we are both really into fitness and overall health. The point is, video games are a medium, like books, art and social groups. It is what the individual takes from it, and who that individual is that matters. It is possible that video games are an escape and a way for your son to relax and wind down from the stress of being a hormonal teenager.

I'm cautious about computer usage at my home. My husband is a video game junkie. I'm constantly pulling him away from the games so that we can do family things together. I too have video games I love, but I limit my time playing them. Video games are great at any age, but you yes they can become very addicted to them which can lead you to missing out on some great things going on in life. It's the same as an alcohol or gambling addiction in that it can rob you of precious time. Personally, in my opinion, many people today are less social than in years past and computers are partly to blame for an antisocial society. I would urge you to get your son out more like to a ball game or even a walk with you or a friend. There's so much more to life than computers.

Just my 2 cents,

MC