What are you rules for video game playing and amount of time?
As long as their homework and chores are done they can usually play till it's bed time. There are times that I ask them not to play them but for the most part as long as they are not fighting over them they are good.
I have never felt the need to police my kids during their down/leisure time. As long as schoolwork, chores, baths and exercise/sports were done they were free to do whatever they wanted until bedtime, read, draw listen to music, watch TV, play video/computer games, whatever.
The fun is not begun until the work is done.
That means homework, and chores are finished before tv or games get turned on.
If the work is all finished then a few hours of playing is enough for one day but we don't always have any time for it.
As long as chores are done and there isn't anything else going on they can play until bedtime.
Generally speaking, homework must be done on school days.
If grades slip-no video games at all Mon-Thurs.
I guess we're lucky--our kids not a video game addict.
He kind of plays in waves. Some days not at all. Seems like he regulates himself and he definitely prefers to be outside & active--at least while the weather is decent.
30 minutes on weekdays and 1 hour on weekends and summer vacation. He can play more if friends are over or if he earns more minutes with piano practice and odd jobs, etc. He's pretty good about setting his timer on his iPod.
Only after homework, studying, and chores are completed. Half hour on weekdays, hour on weekends.
As long as work is done and grades remain good, unlimited.
My kids will choose to read a book or go out and play tennis with a friend just as often as they'd choose to play a video game (which I take NO credit for, I just got super lucky here). If they ONLY and ALWAYS chose the video game, we'd have some discussions about limiting their time.
I agree with Kristin C. My kids are at school all day. My son is bullied and struggling with grades. My daughter has Asperger's that she struggles with.
When they get home, they have a snack then do homework. Then I have a chore chart hanging on the wall. They have 1-2 things they have to do every day, besides homework, before they can get on ANY electronic or fun thing. They are 15 and 12 so they can do this on their own without any input from us.
By the time they get their stuff done, they can do what they want. Then I make dinner and if its cool here in AZ, we will walk to the park and hang out or sometimes play a board game if its hot, but that's about once a week. And we all have bible study every Thursday night. But they are OFF them by 7:30 every night and they are collected and kept by us. They can't have phones or ipads upstairs at all.
So they have to have homework and chores done then they are on them until it gets close to bed and then they are collected by us. They can watch tv or read, listen to music, draw, whatever, but no video games or cell phones.
Oh and I'll mention something about grades. I told them if they get below C's in their harder courses, they will lose ipad's and phones over fall break. And ours is 2.5 weeks! So they know that when school starts and I randomly remind them so they can stay on track. That works too. Hope this helps. Good luck.
I have veto power over content. Responsibilities come first, before gaming.
That's it for rules. They self monitor their time. They have other interests, play outside a lot, and gaming doesn't impact their school work or have a negative effect on their attitudes/moods.
Really, it depends on what kind of kid you have and his needs. Some kids need strict limits on gaming or they go all sideways.
My boys are 12 and 14 - their XBOX and computer time is AFTER their homework is done.
We give them about 15 minutes of "chill" time after they get home from school - snack and just to unwind from the day - and then they can play.
If they don't have homework? They get a worksheet or have to read something to keep up. Then they can play.
I don't allow GTA (Grand Theft Auto) in my house. I'm not cool with killing people for the sake of killing people...robbing...stealing...yeah...not happening in my house. Nor is Saints Row allowed - as you get points for hitting and raping women. Again - not happening in my house.
We do allow Call of Duty - as they are killing bad guys.
We don't have a "time" set. As long as their chores and homework are done? We're okay. We have found that when we had strict time limits set they craved the XBOX more...when we said - chores and homework MUST be done then you can play? They play for about 30 minutes then go outside or do something else....
