Managing Kids' Obsession with Electronics

[specialmom]

Times have greatly changed from when I was a kid!  Enter electronics.  I've read and know the addictive component to gaming. And it is true, it seems to cause kids to throw out all reason to 'finish the game'.  It's hard though because it has become a social avenue for kids.  They don't 'talk on the phone' like my generation did. Now they text or talk through their headphones and the X box.  I heard my son tell his friends to 'meet him on x box in an hour'.  As a parent, it is hard to navigate.   What are your thoughts?

[hangman1951]

I have heard that a great many parents "ration" electronic access for their children - not without some difficulty at first but with time, there is more 1-on-1 personal interactions.

[Sandman2]

My son is now 35, so when he was growing up the games were much simpler.   Consequently, we played many of the games together.  Not sure I could do that today.   I do believe it is important for the parent to know what games their children are playing.  And if they have a working knowledge of the game, it can lead to conversations about the game.  I also think screen time should be limited or controlled to an extent.  

[specialmom]

I'm so old that pacman was new when I was a kid. . . enough said, right? I'm the Mtv generation.  Things sure have changed.  I have friends that have limited what their kids can play and some that have even said no video games at all.  I'm not sure if this is the best route because those kids are more obsessed than others I know.  Like, the forbidden fruit type of thing. I put into place a grade cap to play video games.  Their grades have to be at a minimum point to enjoy access to the video game console.  The phone is a bit trickier and I take it when they are in trouble.  That's what I ground with.

Frustration comes though when I look at the zombie eyes that tell me they just can NOT come to dinner right now because the game isn't over.  I try not to lose my parental poop at those moments but that is hard for me.  I'm also not a complete fan of an open mike in the house airing all that goes on to whatever group of people happen to be tuned into my son's mike.

My dear friend swears by minimal video games (and while I love her, in an almost superior type of way).  But her twins struggle academically. Mine really don't.  But what do you do when your kids maybe just aren't good students but still want to be one of the guys playing games with pals?  

Finding balance is challenging, for sure.