Re: OT: Children and video games

 --- Benct Philip Jonsson skrzypszy:

> I'm sorry for this completely OT question, but since you guys
> are my best friends on the net I put this question to those
> among you who are parents.
>
> My six year old son has become totally obsessed with video
> games.  He either plays sports games on the computer, or
> watches sport on the TV, and has totally creased to play
> in the more traditional sense.  We don't want him to play
> *all* the time, but when we try to make him do other things
> he flies into a rage. So my question to the parents among
> you is: what is your parental policy on video games?
Ouch, that's bad! Well, since Suzanne is almost three now I can't
really give you any advise based on my own experience. But a good
friend of mine, whose son is 10 now, has similar problems.

Introducing a time limit would probably be the best thing to do for
both TV and games. Say, no longer than one hour a day of each. Or
even, one hour a day of both of them (in which case he'll have the
right to choose... and thus, one addiction fights another). In
weekends, you can eventually double the amount of time.

In the case of my friend, this works to some degree.

Another thing I can think of is allowing it only on the odd days.
IMO, this is an excellent way to prevent addiction.

If none of this works, well, then you may consider following
Cristina's suggestion and get rid of the stuff altogether. But that's
not my preferred solution: by disallowing it altogether you may turn
it into a forbidden fruit.

About the rage thing: remember that yóu are the parent, and that yóu
are the one running the show, not he. Sometimes you'll just need to
be tough. If he flies into rage, well, let him... neglect him, and if
that doesn't work, expel him to his room. I know how hard that can
be, BTW!

Another thing to remember is that the other members of the family
need to give him a good example, which with two older kids at home
may be difficult. Talk to them, and make sure that they don't watch
TV all the time eithre when little Philip is around; it's
unforgivable to forbid something to one member of the family while
allowing it to some other.

Oh, and don't forget to offer him an alternative. Play non-electronic
games with him, like chess. Convince him to start reading, or
drawing, or building, or whatever. Six is also a very good age to
start playing a musical instrument (but don't send him anywhere
unless he wants to).

Good luck,
Jan

=====
"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed
room with a mosquito."

Relay 10: http://steen.free.fr/relay10/


	
	
		
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