do you think video games are as bad as TV?

[meowee]

I personally don't think video games are as bad as TV... video games are interactive and some require a great deal of strategic thinking. Tv is passive.

I would like to go TV free but keep video games...

[MamaBug]

I actually HATE video games. The only time my boys EVER fight with each other is when they are playing these games. For my kids they will use TV as a springboard for creative play. For us the video games seem to cause them stress, and make them too competitive with each other.

So for me the answer is yes they are worse then TV

[CherieBerry]

Depends on the game, depends on the child, depends upon the amount of time played, etc...

[Chinese Pistache]

My ds gets way obsessed with video games, but not tv (and we just found this out when he got a game system for Christmas). He can take or leave a movie/tv show, but when he gets into a game, he has a hard time stopping. Plus, it makes him really tense and competitive. So, we made it a once a week treat and it's made life much more happy and peaceful.

[JanB]

I think that video games are exactly like TV in that you can either use them judiciously and sparingly, or you can totally overdo and let them babysit your kids. There are educational TV shows that can be beneficial, and there are nonviolent video/computer games that can help with reading/math/problem-solving skills. Do I think that violent shoot 'em up games are a great idea for kids? No. But the Clifford the Big Red Dog Reading Adventure can be okay if used in moderation.

[ColoradoMama]

We have a Wii and we LOVE it. We have so much family time with it. We all play bowling or golf together and it is so much fun. Plus, it's physical - my son gets a big workout when he does the boxing game! This weekend I went to an Oscars party and dh rented a new game and he and the kiddos had a blast playing it - then they watched a movie!

[Alohamelly]

I think video games are fine ... but then my DD isn't addicted or anything. I feel like they teach logic, problem solving and are interactive as the OP said.

[sapphire_chan]

For myself, my screen time has to come with a pause button.

[KaraBoo]

I don't think TV is "bad," so maybe I'm not your target demographic for this thread LOL I think some video games are fun and some TV shows are interesting. I also think there's a lot of mind junk on television and a lot of games that are made just to get someone to buy them...like there wasn't a lot of thought involved in their creation.

[Debstmomy]

I think video games are worse. We do not own any at this time. We are considering a Wii, but I am still not sure yet.

[mothragirl]

waaayyyy worse.

[emptymug]

IMO, video games are better than TV, but that's assuming that 1) the content is appropriate to the age and 2) that, like anything else, is in moderation.

So assuming the above, videos games cultivate creative thinking, problem solving, coordination, and focus. Obviously there are games that are not worthwhile, but that is a judgement call that the parents need to make. I think my only concern is when the children are older and go to friends houses where there my be games with excessive violence and so forth. But this is no different then with TV. The risk is present in either case.

[philomom]

Way worse. We don't own one and I've taken to calling them No-friend-O instead of nintendo.

[Jennifer Z]

I really like video games for ds. He gets really happy when playing and usually dances around the room at impossible angles as he holds on to the controller. It is also something he is good at and when we go to other people's house, it is an icebreaker that allows other kids to see that he isn't all that different from them, just quieter. It is a point where he is more able to socialize too because it allows him to get more comfortable in different environments, and once he feels more comfortable, he is more social.

Of course, I also like TV for similar reasons. It gives a cultural literacy that allows him to have interations with peers since he would not be able to do the free-form play that most kids are able to. By having that idea in his head of what is supposed to happen and how the characters are supposed to interact/what they say/what they do, he is more likely to be able to engage with his peers successfully.

[chellemarie]

For those of you saying they're not as bad as tv, what ages are your children?

For those of you saying they are just as bad or worse than tv, how old are your kids?

A few years ago I would have said they were better than television because there were no commercials, games didn't get saved the way they do now (and you have to get to a certain point to save, Mom!) so you could stop at any point, and it just felt less mindless. Now that my oldest is 12, video games are about the same or worse than television (depending on the channel and game.)

It's been our experience that any of the "big" games for the popular systems are violent or at least "iffy". I was told over and over, "Really, there is no point of having an Xbox if he can't play Halo and Halo 2. Those are like THE games."

We're canceling our satellite tv service tomorrow. We'll keep the video games, because there are some that we do play as a family. But it's going to be easier to limit as the weather gets nicer and they can be (locked) outside.

[ColoradoMama]

My kids are 3, 5, and 7. We don't have any violent games. We have a Wii system and we have a driving game and the "sports" package. We've also rented a game called Super Money Ball Banana Blitz. We have a ball playing them. The sports game are the ones we play the most (tennis, boxing, bowling, golf, and baseball).

[LindaCl]

Worse worse worse worse worse. And I think TV is hideous enough, but video games are magnitudes more insidious and addicting.

[mata]

we have no problem with video games (my six year old dd is very good at them.) She's also good at skateboarding, biking, basketball, and swimming, and has many friends. The no friend oh comment made me smile-our experience has actually been the opposite-it gives dd common ground with her classmates and a certain amount of acceptance. Not that I advocate playing video games to get cred, but if the biggest/oldest/most aggressive boy in the class respects her and leaves her alone, then to me it's a bonus.

We stick to racing and sport games for her.

[rootzdawta]

I was thinking about this too. Currently my 18 m.o. son watches no t.v. (except 30 mins of wheel of fortune with me every evening ). Of course, this makes me a giant weirdo where I live. My son's cousins who he visits all the time have all the latest video games and stuff and I know he likes to play with the controllers and stuff so I've been wondering if I would let him have video games here at home. My dh has some plug and play type games that have the old school games on there (like the Atari games and pacman) and I am cool with that when and if he starts to express an interest in playing them at home. Those games are simple, non-violent, and to me, promote good hand eye coordination. There are also these games by leapfrog that I think I might allow. They're handheld: http://www.leapfrog.com/Primary/Pres...bmLocale=en_US. It seems like something like that wouldn't completely take over and would actually teach something. Anyone have any experience?

I do have to say that watching my nephews play video games is amazing. It takes a lot of skill to even make the characters move. But I also think it's extremely addicting and there's always the push to get the next and newest game or gaming system. Plus there's so much other stuff to be doing. As a person who is going to homeschool, it just doesn't seem to fit into what I'm trying to do. So for me, I don't think we'll ever have nintendo or game cube, etc . . .

[RBinTEX]

I don't think TV or video games are "bad." That is like saying food is bad. Are you talking about spinach or twinkies? (Oh, I like twinkies too. Bad analogy.)

My kids watch "Malcolm in the Middle" reruns at 5:30 every day. It's hilarious. The only thing funnier is watching a room full of teenage boys play Dance Dance revolution.