For the parents?

Question

This is about video games. I am so sick of watching kids do nothing and caring about nothing except their video games. When they first came out, I'm talking ATARI for me, yes it was fun. But we still went outside and played. I see parents using the game systems as ways of "bartering" with the kids to get them to do what they should have been doing in the first place. Not just homework and chores, but going outside! I usually don't go on in my questions, but, really, how do you feel about video games?

Answer 1

I feel that video games are fun and entertaining, like watching tv. I feel that it is fine in moderation or maybe on a rainy day. Some games are made to help improve children in hand and motor skills as well as teach. Games and tv should never be used to encourage children to do things they should do. Games and tv are a privilege.

With that said, I don;t have a problem with kids playing games or adults playing games. My husband is an avid gamer, but does not lack in social skills nor does he sacrifice time with me and family to play his games. I also play some games. I have an elmo game for the N64 for my 4 year old. (He has to find the letters.)

The problem that I have with kids and video games is parents just letting kids play whatever they want. For example, my husband plays Halo 3 after the kids go to bed. When he gets on there, you can hear 10-12 year olds on the voice system. That game is not suitable for children, and parents should not allow their children to play that game alone. Another example is one day we were at gamestop and a mom and her kids come in there. Her kid hands the clerk Grand Theft Auto 3  and he looks astonished and mentions "This game is rated Mature for violence and many other things." The kid looked no older than 8 and mom just shrugged it off and said "I don't care." That game is barely appropriate for some adults, let alone an 8 year old.

Now with moderation and supervision, games can be fun and stimulating. They can tell great stories you won't find in a book or lead on you some great adventures. You can be a prince saving a princess, it is really fun to have that kind of interactiveness. But parents need to save this kind of thing as a privilege and not a bargaining tool and they need to monitor what their kids are playing instead of buying them a game and letting them go at it.

Answer 2

I started with Atari too . my son (17) and I love to play them together ... I've never used them as a bargaining chip . There is a time to play video games and a time to be out with friends ... or doing homework or whatever .

Answer 3

My kid loves his video games, but he also loves to go out side and play. I signed him up for supervised playground and he really enjoys it. he goes to one park for 3 hrs in the AM, comes home for lunch and goes to another park in the afternoon for 4 hrs. Both of the parks are pretty much out my back door, so there is the convience of going and having fun any time. and since summer school was going, he went to that too. that just ended.

Answer 4

I have 12 & 10 year old boys and a 3 year old daughter.

They do NOT have video games. I actually like to toss my kids outside & not allow them back in the house.

Lol...I know; what a mean mom :)

Answer 5

That parents are lax. almost every child i see while shopping has a hand held in their hands. Come on tech some lessons of patience here. have them help with your errands u finally got them out of the house.

It is recommended that children have 2 hrs of outside play a day!. most kids don't get this in a week! Video games are a weekend privilege that should come in 1 hr increments.