Re: OT: Children and video games

On Tue, 19 Oct 2004 17:26:08 +0200, Benct Philip Jonsson <bpj@...> wrote:
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> Sender:       Constructed Languages List <CONLANG@...>
> Poster:       Benct Philip Jonsson <bpj@...>
> Subject:      OT: Children and video games
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 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?
>
I'm not a parent, but here's my my parents did:

They sat a time limit and made it clear when and when the video games
were not to be played. If the rules were violated by my brothers and
I, there were consequences (not beatings, but they would take things
we liked away, in this case it would be the game system). They key
with kids is setting boundaries, and also following through with what
you say you'll do. The first time you give in is the beginning of the
end of control.

I do reccomend taking it away, and giving the system away if he
continues to throw fits. Though you've got to tell the kid, your
reasons for doing that, you don't just throw the game system (or sell
it) away.


Remember, you are NOT your child's friend. You are his parent, and you
have to establish rules and guidelines.

At my house a rage would've resulted in things being taken away, and a
lecture explaining why my parent's expected us to behave better. Works
a LOT better than any spanking.
--
You can turn away from me
but there's nothing that'll keep me here you know
And you'll never be the city guy
Any more than I'll be hosting The Scooby Show

Scooby Show - Belle and Sebastian