So if your kids watch TV and play Wii how do you keep them from becoming addicted?

[Harmony08]

I am really interested in this. My son is only 16 months. It seems as though we will never be 100% TV free. I am just not very good at extremes. I also REALLY want a Wii.

I guess I have always thought I would never have TV and video games around my kids. Since it seems that I am I need some help envisioning how it looks in the future. How do you keep it all healthy? I should probably add that my brother is severely addicted to video games and the television. He basically does nothing else. I guess I feel like it is an either or and would love to hear that I am wrong. I would love to hear about the experiences of moms whose kids watch tv and play video games and how they limit or balance or whatever you do?

I am really looking forward to hearing your responses. Thanks!!!!!

[philomom]

My kids had a strict one show a day rule as littles. Once we had to deal with computers... I limit that to 45 minutes a session. Some days we don't get "on" at all. Other long rainy or snowy days.. we might do a little more. Once they have homework... you make a rule, no tv or computer until your homework is done.

[zinemama]

I don't think it's either or. I think that it's a case of being the parent and setting limits.

You're the grown-up, you don't want your kid to be addicted to TV and video games. Well, don't let him watch/play all the time. Decide how many hours is appropriate. Is it one hour a day? One hour a week? Then stick to it.

[velveeta]

We just have limits on it. My kids love Wii, and I always watch them, and we all go crazy with it together. Same with TV. We are all watching the olympics right now, and the kids are jumping all over their dad! We will probably watch it all evening. I am also hugely pregnant, and very limited about outside/active activities.

Set the example for your kids that you feel is healthy. If you think Wii is very fun and a good way to spend time, they will, too. I don't really enjoy playing Wii, but I love to fool around with my kids while they play -- it is always a good time!

I also want to add: we have had days (when I have felt really sick or so) where they have played/watched a lot. After a while, they really do get bored with it, and they want to do something else. I think when people become "addicted" I think it is for other reasons than the Wii or the TV itself.

[Harmony08]

Thank you everyone! Yes, Jean, I believe you are right that the addiction is not really about the tv or the video games. DH and I have been talking about it a lot and have realized that it is not really about the tv or the games or sugar or alcohol...it is about teaching the virtue of moderation among many other values and virtues. I guess it is a much deeper issue than to have cable or wii or not. It is about parenting at the core. This is much harder than allowing wii or not.

[meemee]

dd got 'addicted' around the age of 2. so i upped her tv time (dvd's - not movies). i discovered dd went thru phases where she was 'addicted' to stuff. then at 3 she watched oodles of tv (not dvds) for about a month or so as i took care of my mom.

by 5 she was done.

i could do this because i knew her personality. she wants something for days and then is done with it for a while. for instance at 3 1/2 she watched a movie back to back and then didnt for about a month.

personally i dont believe in curtailing. so i have never done it.

today at 7 we dont do tv during the week. mainly coz we have too much happening. there is no time for tv.

just to give you an idea i dont have the digital conversion box so we havent watched tv. and our dvd is broken so we havent watched movies for months. we havent felt the urgency to go get a new dvd player.

however both dd and i enjoy movies.

dd is a high energy child. she will never be able to go thru the day without any physical activity. so feeding her 'addiction' was never a concern of mine. in fact she is my 'reverse psychology' child. she wants it give it to her and she gets sick over it. that's how she learnt to self regulate candy.