iPod, computer, DS, console etc

Do you have a set time? Do your kids have unrestricted gaming on the weekend and no gaming weekdays?

How many kids do you have? Is there a lot of fighting? (ie. more kids than wiimotes) do they take turns or play simultaneously?

Is gaming a major source of upsetment at your place?

My son is obsessed with playing ROBLOX and quite honestly I allow him to spend way too much time playing it.

I have 2 girls(12,8) . and a boy (6). In general they do fight alil bit over the computer .

The oldest doesnt seem to like to play games as much ... so I probably do not have the issues like some families have ...

We really do not restrict much (yet). We watch what they are doing (sometimes youtube is an issue) but the games they play - they really do not spend all day playing .

The youngest 2 play kinda lame games for an hr or so .... then they get bored ...

I actually had a computer game a few yrs ago (half life) which was addictive and I had to stop playing it because it just took so many hours ... etc ... and I did not have the time ... lol

( i have to say we have one computer - and then we have a Kindle which the middle child uses alot - and the youngest one has some sort of DS thingy - so there isnt much fighting for a computer if they need one etc ... )

Homework done? Rooms clean? Yes? Have at it.

I live in a rough neighborhood and if we aren't all out doing something then I let them just enjoy themselves.

My kids only really play video games on the weekends since there is no time to do it during school nights. They hate going outside since we live in an apartment building and have to share the green space with Bebe's kids. Too many fights/bullying issues. So they usually opt to stay indoors unless there is an outing with me. In the summer we are total beach bums.

Funny thing... its my son (12) who mostly plays videogames... but he would always choose a board game first (to play with us) , model cars or legos... he has TONS of legos. I purposely do not buy many new video games. He has maybe ten Wii games which he finished the first week he had them.

My daughter (10) rather listen to the radio or classic soul music and dance and sing in her room... alone.

When their older brother (22) is home (he's home less and less now) all three of them delight in watching a new anime flick in his room with some homemade popcorn and treats I make them... or they throw on the glow gear turn on the black lights and dance in the living room to dubstep music. I let them just take over.

TOO MUCH.

I've been really lax about this.

I figured with what they've recently gone through, as long as they're bringing home good grades (which they do) then they can chillax however they see fit.

But I'm afraid that they're getting hooked, especially my oldest. They could spend ALL DAY playing Minecraft. Literally, ALL DAY.

Just yesterday I bought junior a skateboard. I told him that he's going to spend time away from the electronics and learn to ride it this weekend.

Now that the weather's warming up I'm going to check on their bikes (I think junior outgrew his old one) and I need to buy a bike rack for my car so we can go to the park and ride like we used to.

We used to be pretty lax with it, but then discovered our son was lying about having homework so that he could get more game time in. So, one hour on the weeknights (timed with a stopwatch) - this way, whether he has homework or not, he's still only getting that hour... so there's not much point in lying. Seems to work.

Weekends are open season, though. He's an only child, so we don't wanna remove so much fun out of his weekend. Plus he wants to be a designer when he grows up, so... it's kinda like research, right?

I don't have kids, but I imagine that it would be all too tempting to let the TV and videogames play babysitter for hours on end.

But reality aside, 1/2 hour to 1 hour seems plenty generous, and maybe more on the weekends or vacation.

I knew someone who istituted a credit system, where the kids could earn or lose gaming & TV credits. If they did not go to bed peacefully, they might lose half an hour, etc. It sounded like a pretty smart idea, but when I visited a few years later, the kids played games nonstop, all day long

I have 2 sons - one 17 who really couldn't care less (more about the car and the gf!) and the other who is 14 and completely obsessed. He wants to design games too. The time I let him play is pretty much unrestricted until homework or chores start slipping - then they get taken away until things are caught up. His marks are good and he knows a helluva lot about computers, so I guess it's ok.

My son reads books constantly.....and loves to draw totally ignores his Xbox thank goodness

Thanks guys!

We are in deliberations at the moment about whether or not to extend our guys gaming time from 30 mins to 1 hour, being that will bring them in line with their peers. I'm not really crazy about the idea - just because everyone ELSE does it why should they?

I know my guys and they definitely aren't the type who would do chores and homework first - if they had unlimited time to game, they would game all waking hours and everything else would fall by the wayside. There would STILL be constant bickering and comparing how long their brothers get to play and which device

NDRU said:

I don't have kids, but I imagine that it would be all too tempting to let the TV and videogames play babysitter for hours on end.

But reality aside, 1/2 hour to 1 hour seems plenty generous, and maybe more on the weekends or vacation.

I knew someone who istituted a credit system, where the kids could earn or lose gaming & TV credits. If they did not go to bed peacefully, they might lose half an hour, etc. It sounded like a pretty smart idea, but when I visited a few years later, the kids played games nonstop, all day long

we have our rules in place and you know it's definitely to the parents advantage when they are busy and it's raining out.

We don't have people over for dinner often, so it's a treat for the kids to game after dinner until bedtime to keep their ruckus out of our face for a couple of hours.

We have declared Sundays family day (no gaming if all family members are home, so we can take the dogs to the park or have an outing).

JustErin said:

My son is obsessed with playing ROBLOX and quite honestly I allow him to spend way too much time playing it.

mine too, they play together on computer and iPad and they have a blast when their cousins join in.

But they are now playing a Roblox version of Call of Duty which isn't so cool, it's just shoot em up "there's no blood mummy!" but yes, they bleed little red cubes

paintedlady said:

Homework done? Rooms clean? Yes? Have at it.

I would actually like to experiment with this. My middle child is a hoarder. His room is a vortex of crap, I wonder if he had to tidy it up a little EVERY day it wouldn't get to such a horrendous state. Unlimited gaming would be an incredibly attractive incentive to him.

I don't have kids but since Im a kid...

Im cutting back on computer time and haven't played video games in about 2 months.

ZombieKitten said:

JustErin said:

My son is obsessed with playing ROBLOX and quite honestly I allow him to spend way too much time playing it.

mine too, they play together on computer and iPad and they have a blast when their cousins join in.

But they are now playing a Roblox version of Call of Duty which isn't so cool, it's just shoot em up "there's no blood mummy!" but yes, they bleed little red cubes

After going over the rules of internet safety, I have allowed "free chat" on it for him.

Do you allow it with your kids?

I've got one 12-year-old daughter, and I think we let her spend way too much time on the computer. I'd prefer to see her outside, or venturing to interesting places in town with friends.

That said, I'm old and out of touch. Her grades are good. She stays out of trouble. And at least she does spend her computer time doing arguably constructive things like writing fan fiction, learning how to moderate forums and manage wikis, and dabbling in kid-friendly programming platforms.

Perhaps go ahead and expand your sons' plugged-in time, but work it so that a certain portion of that time is spent in computer activity that has some veiled (or not-so-veiled) educational component.

[Edited 3/25/13 7:26am]

Lammastide said:

I've got one 12-year-old daughter, and I think we let her spend way too much time on the computer. I'd prefer to see her outside, or venturing to interesting places in town with friends.

That said, I'm old and out of touch. Her grades are good. She stays out of trouble. And at least she does spend her computer time doing arguably constructive things like writing fan fiction, learning how to moderate forums and manage wikis, and dabbling in kid-friendly programming platforms.

Perhaps go ahead and expand your sons' plugged-in time, but work it so that a certain portion of that time is spent in computer activity that has some veiled (or not-so-veiled) educational component.

[Edited 3/25/13 7:26am]

That's kinda how I feel about my son as well. Not only does he play ROBLOX but he also researches the hell out of things he finds interesting - like the Titanic, my kid can tell you everything about it.

My only real concern with computer time is that there is no physical activity involved, but this time of year I guess it's ok. We live out in the country, so even on a warmer day there are no parks nearby and he's too young to go out riding his bike (our road has a 80km speed limit so it's not safe) when I'm not home to go with him.

MY kids are 16, 17 and 20 now, so there's really no more rules for that kind of stuff, but when they were younger I had a computer schedule posted on the refrigerator. We only had a desktop from 1999 - 2008. When they were old enough to want to be on the computer, there was fighting, of course. I took the time between after school till 9 p.m. and divided it up between the three kids. On weekends, the computer could stay on longer. They each had their own accounts with passwords that I set up and I had parental controls on each account. It worked great for a long time.

Having rules in black and white and put in a central location has helped my kids. Computer schedules, chore lists, dinner menus, etc. We just moved to a new house last month, and these kids were beginning to go crazy with messes and people in and out at all hours. I wrote up a contract for each kid, spelling out what their dad and I expected from them and what was not allowed. We all signed them. It's working out so far.

JustErin said:

What is free chat?
My guys have hamachi, which allows them to chat to their friends - I think how it works is that my kid sets up a "server" and gives his friend a password. They use it to discuss minecraft. I told them to keep out of minecraft open server chat since folks in there seem aggro and mean (my kids agree).

I'm fortunate, my kids almost never play/played video games.

My son played only sports games, and didn't take his xBox with him to college. He plays FIFA when he comes home - usually at night, with friends.

My daughter never has played video games. She couldn't care less for them. I have no idea why but I sure am glad!

My advice: Don't let them play more than an hour or so a day.

ZombieKitten said:

JustErin said:

After going over the rules of internet safety, I have allowed "free chat" on it for him.

Do you allow it with your kids?

What is free chat? My guys have hamachi, which allows them to chat to their friends - I think how it works is that my kid sets up a "server" and gives his friend a password. They use it to discuss minecraft. I told them to keep out of minecraft open server chat since folks in there seem aggro and mean (my kids agree).

It's basically lifting a restriction that allows you to say anything you want while playing instead of only being able to use certain phrases. It also allows private chats between players.

ZombieKitten said:

paintedlady said:

Homework done? Rooms clean? Yes? Have at it.

I would actually like to experiment with this. My middle child is a hoarder. His room is a vortex of crap, I wonder if he had to tidy it up a little EVERY day it wouldn't get to such a horrendous state. Unlimited gaming would be an incredibly attractive incentive to him.

My daughter has this thing to cut up papers and stuffs all the paper and other things in corners or under her bed. I swear she's like a natural rat nest builder... if we had mice her room would be a perfect breeding ground.

So I help her... I teach her how to organize by helping her clean with her and showing her where she should put her stuff. This way she isn't overwhelmed and doesn't shut down on me. Now I had to buy lots of organizer cubby shelving and she still makes a mess, so everyday after school she devotes 1/2 and hour cleaning and organizing her room. She is a paper hoarder and she has a million dolls and teeny tiny toys mixed in.

So she chucks stuff where they belong in specific bins and is learning to fold clothing.... and we "recycle" often by throwing out stuff to make room for the new stuff I buy her... what ever goes in... old stuff must be thrown out.

She is OK with this because she gets new stuff.

They are now starting to learn to use an iron. God help me.

My kids room would def be a mice net if it weren't for the rule in my house that the only place in the whole house we eat is at the dinner table. So far so good.

I labelled my kids room so he'd know where to put stuff. It's obviously all overrides by an invisible sign on the floor that must say "everything".

I'm sort of concerned that the discussion has only revolved around how much time is alloted to video games, and not the Content.

I played lots of games as a kid, and ever since Quake created the whole GENRE of first-person shooters, I have rarely been motivated to play a modern video game. It's the wrong point of view - you should NOT be looking at the world down the barrel of a gun! OTOH, there are games worth playing, left over from the times when I was a kid. I would urge you guys (parents) to really look into this - go to www.abandonia.com (I've posted about it over here), check out the Adventure games, try for example "Conquests of the Longbow" - I played this in 1994, and I'm playing it again right now, and I love it!

Also, go to www.worldofspectrum.org , and try "The Hobbit" - it's a bit complicated to figure out how to make the game play, but basically you need to click the link which will make the Spectrum emulator (an old computer emulator) fire up the game right inside the browser. There IS NO ONE ENDING TO THE GAME! That's what makes it so satisfying. The instructions for the game will be there in a text file that'll come up when you search for the game (in Infoseek).

Also try the Incredible Machine on Abandonia, I had lots of fun with that (not during my childhood, but a couple of years ago).

If games can actually INCREASE your imagination while letting you have a good time - well, that's a win win situation for everyone concerned!

My kids play age appropriate games. Super Mario and minecraft. My eldest wants to buy portal 2 since he is 13, but he isn't allowed to buy Portal 1 because I think it's 15+ - I'm looking into it.

They play an emulator with Nintendo DS games on their PC too

Shoot em up games = no (I banned the roblox COD style game)

I love bloody, violent games like DOOM, Unreal Tournament, Mortal Kombat and of course, the Grand Theft Auto series. These are for adults, yet I see parents buying these types of games for their young ones. Can't put that on the videogame manufacturers.

Now the idiots in Washington D.C. want the game-makers to tone down the mayhem in light of what happened in Newton. Ridiculous. Don't they have more important things to worry about?

ZombieKitten said:

My kids room would def be a mice net if it weren't for the rule in my house that the only place in the whole house we eat is at the dinner table. So far so good. I labelled my kids room so he'd know where to put stuff. It's obviously all overrides by an invisible sign on the floor that must say "everything".

PurpleJedi said:

TOO MUCH.

I've been really lax about this.

I figured with what they've recently gone through, as long as they're bringing home good grades (which they do) then they can chillax however they see fit.

But I'm afraid that they're getting hooked, especially my oldest. They could spend ALL DAY playing Minecraft. Literally, ALL DAY.

Just yesterday I bought junior a skateboard. I told him that he's going to spend time away from the electronics and learn to ride it this weekend.

Now that the weather's warming up I'm going to check on their bikes (I think junior outgrew his old one) and I need to buy a bike rack for my car so we can go to the park and ride like we used to.

My kids (7 & 8) would play Minecraft all day if I let them.

ZombieKitten said:

iPod, computer, DS, console etc Do you have a set time? Do your kids have unrestricted gaming on the weekend and no gaming weekdays? How many kids do you have? Is there a lot of fighting? (ie. more kids than wiimotes) do they take turns or play simultaneously? Is gaming a major source of upsetment at your place?

We have a few consoles, but right now they both play Minecraft - one on the Ipad and the other on a Nexus. They sometimes link up and play together (I think. I don't know much about it) and they give each other tips and advice on their games. It's quite harmonious most of the time.

I find it a useful tool to get them doing stuff they need to do - for example in the mornings, they need to be ready for school then if they have time, they can play minecraft. I have noticed I don't have to nag them so much now.

We don't have set times that they are allowed to play.... but we do make sure they don't sit there for more than a couple of hours playing them. I try to get stuff out that they haven't played with for a while and encourage them to do stuff that doesn't involve looking at a screen.

I have noticed that they tend to argue a bit if they are playing competitive games on a console - Mario Kart is a prime example, but we handle that by threatening to switch it off - and they know I will. Those kinds of games often end up with an argument though.