Venting About Video Games.....

I did both, just depended on the day. Part of the problem in my home is that there is just not a safe place to play for my LO, even with me out there. Plus, we do not do heat very well. I do think I might get a plastic pool for the back (small town house 'yard') but again, we do not do heat well.

If it's bothering you, take the games away. Turn the tv off. You're the grown up. Start a new game.

actually, you can raise kids with electronics & still have them display an interest in the world around them. It's all in how you raise them. It's all in your parenting choices.

As other moms have said today.....it's an IT world, one which does not diminish the wonders of our beautifully natural world.

Both of my sons have owned it all, currently each has their own systems - one went w/ XBox360 & one with PS3. They're both computer savvy. AND they both embrace the outdoors....both hunt, fish, camp, & just chill around the fire. My older son has a physical handicap which prevents most physical activity, but my younger son thrives on athletic events.... even if it's just running the neighborhood w/ his dogs. :)

They both are articulate, both are highly imaginative & act upon it. One is musically-inclined, one artistically. Both attend concerts & community theater....& both know how to kick A, in the virtual world & in our very real world. Dang proud of my sons!

My house is a "techie" house. My Husband is in IT and we have all kinds of tech gadgets. And the Xbox, Playstation, iPad, iPhone, itouch, and the computer.

My kids also have a computer class at school. From Kindergarten.
My kids are 5 and 9, and they are very tech savvy.
However, they are not "addicted" to video games nor do they glue themselves to the screen all day nor are plugged in all day.
I don't have to nag them about it... because they don't have the problem of constantly using these things. They are very active and do many other things and outside as well. And they don't fight over the gadgets.

Right now, my daughter is drawing in her journal and my son is playing with his Legos. And we are having a play date today soon.

Not all kids are this way. Being constantly plugged in.
Whether or not, they have access to tech gadgets.

Also, though my kids may use the computer (we have MACs), my daughter will do projects on it. She can even make slideshows using our photos on the computer, and we even teach our 5 year old son, how to do that too. And he can. Or we make movies with them, with them thinking up the "skit" and they act it out, then we load it on the computer and we make a movie adding music to it etc.
So "screen" time, can really vary in the quality and the activities on it.
Or my kids do learning time on the computer.
They don't just play games. They aren't hung up on it.

If you don't want kids to be constantly playing video games or being plugged-in... then tell them stop it. And tell them to do something else.

Have you tried game time is over, go outside? Always works with my kids.

Now if going outside is not an option for you then you have your answer.

nothing personal? Don't have a question about yourself or your own kids?

Seems like you just want to stir the pot....

Stir on....

trip trap

I'd honestly rather have them playing video games then watching tv. I WAH so if my kids are around they need to be self-engaged (8 & 10). For this month they are attending an afternoon kids college which is great but it leaves them home in the mornings. My 10 yo has been spending more time than normal playing minecraft on xbox. I've allowed it because he plays with his friends online and it's actually a relatively creative, imaginative game - much better than sitting in front of the boob tube being entertained. From noon till 9pm they don't have the opportunity to watch/play any type of show or game, they are in class or at swim practice or at soccer practice. Everything in moderation

ETA - Not ALL games stifle creativity. My son has made castles, maps, villages, built furniture, designed houses and rooms - all while playing minecraft. My daughter loves to play fashion design games, cooking games, etc and those have led her to create he own outfits, design clothes, and start cooking in real life. I'm not a fan of any of the shooter games, but many games out today do allow kids to be creative while they play.

My boys love their video games (Wii, PS3, DS, and PC) and I have to restrict how much they play. They get to play on Tuesdays after school, and Friday evenings. Sometimes on a Saturday if we have nothing else planned. I do let them bring their ds's if we will be waiting at the doctors office, or if I have to bring them along to a committee meeting. They would like to play more, but I make that decision.

You know you're getting old when you start comparing this generation to the last one "oh these kids today!" :)
Video games are like any other toy or distraction or gadget, it's only a problem if you allow it to be.
If you came to my house you may judge my kids for all the hours they play their games or watch TV. But what about all the hours they play outside, go to the pool, practice and play on their various teams? Or the hours spent putting legos together, playing dress up, building forts, reading, coloring and playing hide and seek? I could go on and on. This generation is no different than any other. Kids LOVE to play and use their imaginations when given the chance.
If the kids you are watching are fighting over the games then take them away and tell them to go play something else. Or better yet, take them to the park, or out for a hike or a bike ride. Problem solved.

And that's exactly why my hubby and I do not buy those things for my GD. She finally got a DS for her birthday last year, but that's the extent of the gaming in my household. And she doesn't play it very much. She would much rather do some sort of craft or play with her dollhouse.

I think if we would have gotten her video games/hand held devices earlier, she wouldn't be so into using her imagination for play. Those game stifle creativity and imagination.

Personally, I think people get those games for their kids because it keeps the kids occupied and requires nothing of the parents. I have always enjoyed crafts with my GD. In fact, when she was younger, we would do some sort of painting or cut and paste project every Saturday morning while cartoons played in the background. Those are great memories and bonding moments!

I agree but I'm just as bad . . . I'm in love with my new smart phone. :P Sometimes I like when the power goes out so we all have to think of things to do together, like play Uno or Monopoly (which we used to do more of).

I have a homeschooling mom friend (with many more kids than me) and she doesn't allow it at all. I love when her son comes over because he encourages my son (who is very creative) to build stuff again.

Maybe you should fake a power outage. :P

like like like like like!

Hide the chargers and don't buy anymore batteries!

We have a rule...my son isn't allowed to play video games at anyone's house and noone is allowed to bring video games over during playdates. Same thing with school carpool and same thing if we go out on field trips together (unless we have to be on the road for more than an hour). Everyone knows playtime with my son is video free. All the moms know it and don't seem to have a problem with it because we are never without playdate invites. In fact, they appreciate it because they can use my son as an excuse to turn off the video games for their own children. Which is actually quite sad, isn't it?

But my son and his friends aren't totally deprived this summer. He does get to play video games with his friends at my house but after they play outside for an hour, play inside for an hour, and play 1 board game together. If everyone can do all that without fighting, breaking something and get along, they deserve a video game now and then! (I know, I'm a meanie!)

That's one of the great things about being a parent...we can take them away or limit the use! My kids don't play video games (6, 4, and 1), but they do have games (educational) on the iPad that they like. When I feel they've had enough iPad time, it goes away--POOF! Problem solved.