How much electronics (videogames) do you allow? - Page 3

[cateerob]

i dont limit screen time at all mine are 16 and 13 now my 16 year old ds will spend 3/4 das on his xbox playing new game then wont touch it for a month he is not much of a tv guy and watches maybe 2 shows a week my 13 yer old dd is not a gamer but likes to talk to her friends on msn and watch music chanels on tv. as long as homework and chores are done i dont really see the problem at all. Sometimes i spend the whole day on the laptop or watching a dvd box but also still work and study other days

[whatsnextmom]

We have never needed to put limits on screen time. My kids are involved in very time consuming activities they are passionate about. During the school year, they average 3 or 4 hours a week at home and thats everything combined (TV/Wii/computer.) They do add some additional time in the car during our commutes to activities with DD 13 and her ipod touch and DS 9 with his Dsi. I really don't stress about that though as it's not conflicting with anything else and often they still choose to chat.

They have a little more time in the summer and they will have days here and there they will want to veg in front of a screen for hours but it's not the norm and so not something we ever worry about.

[whatsnextmom]

I truly believe that for nearly all families, at some point you have to decide if you are a "my house my rules" kind of parent or a "I trust you enough to let you be different from me" kind of parent. We choose the later.

Yes, I agree. We weren't totally opposed to game systems (I mean, DH and I are the Atari generation) but we knew that we didn't want them in the house while the kids are little. This is a pretty common mentality when your kids are 4 or 5 and they only know what you expose them too. Then they get older and they learn about the options. For boys in particular, it's tough for them without some sort of system because it's a real social ice breaker.

You start to rethink your origional ideals to fit the changes in circumstances which really is quite appropriate.

[StarChild]

We have a tv, but it only plays dvds and a Wii. The Wii time is limited to weekend mornings and movies are also for the weekends. The movie thing is a little freer in the summer, but honestly because it's not usually on during the week, we don't usually think of it.
DD is 13. She does have an ipod nano (with a screen) and my sister (without my permission) bought her a nintendo ds. I have to limit the time she can spend with them for the most part, otherwise she would spend way too much time doing that. She didn't have access to them until this past year.
There are so many better ways that she could spend her time. There have been countless studies on why kids should not sit in front of a screen. Doesn't matter if it's watching tv, movie, playing a video game, etc. They are all screens.
I understand the need to chill out once in a while, but not unlimited in our house. It's just what we have chosen. Crafts, walks, sports, talking, reading, playing with friends, bike riding, hiking, art or just relaxing are just a few of the options.

Nothing infuriates me like seeing a child at a play or show with a video game in their hands, completely oblivious to the performance in front of them and the parents say nothing! arrggh.

[Maiasaura]

Chiming in, here.
Our situation: single parent of one 9-1/2yo ds. We don't have cable or any screens except my computer and his Nintendo DS. He has a GameBoy which was the DS predecessor, and he keeps it for a backup "just in case" (something happens to the DS). We have two TVs, one in the living room which is connected to a VCR (and a digital box, but we don't get any channels ), and one in his room which has a VCR and a DVD player.

He gets pretty much unlimited screen time. OK, yes, single parent using screens as babysitter but sometimes I gotta do what I gotta do. I can't be, nor do I want to be, playmate most of the time.

Since he gets unlimited screen time, I use it as heavy leverage. It's my bargaining chip. His currency. He has to do chores and be willing/ready to listen to me and fulfill his responsibilities without "wait a minute", or he loses the privilege. Instantly. And he knows it.

Oh, I have a computer, but he's not allowed on the 'net unless he has to, for school, or he wants to look something up. He has a laptop but it's not internet capable unless I buy some special chip or other. He sometimes plays games on it, but more often forgets he has it.

Originally Posted by Arduinna

I don't really like the idea of requiring reading before playing. Mainly because I don't want reading to be viewed as the thing they have to put up with to do the thing they want. I don't want a negative association with reading. It's like a punishment. Or forcing kids to eat their vegetables.

But I do force vegetables. I'm not in any way a GD parent, and I told him long ago that my job is to 1) keep him safe and 2) keep him healthy. That includes vegetables. That's just me
Luckily, ds is a willing "food-tryer". He has to try everything. He doesn't have to like everything. I don't make him eat what he doesn't like, but he's a drama king, too, and because of that I will often make him eat whatever (because I know when it's drama, and not genuine dislike).

Originally Posted by StarChild

Nothing infuriates me like seeing a child at a play or show with a video game in their hands, completely oblivious to the performance in front of them and the parents say nothing! arrggh.

Right?

[A&A]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

I don't really like the idea of requiring reading before playing. Mainly because I don't want reading to be viewed as the thing they have to put up with to do the thing they want. I don't want a negative association with reading. It's like a punishment. Or forcing kids to eat their vegetables.

I understand. It's something I struggled with, too, before I implemented it. All kids are different and we all have to figure out what works for the ones we have.

But, let me tell ya, it has actually gotten ds to read a lot more this summer!!! Through kind of "forced" reading, he has discovered how much he loves reading. He'll read for two hours a day now, but not play electronics that long.