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avatarXavier
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How much video game playing per day is too much?

Our children love to play video games morning, noon, and night. We are concerned because they are neglecting other activities such as playing outside or reading. How much time in front of the video game system is too much? What are some steps that we should take to reduce the amount of time that they spend playing video games?

Question applies to ages: 5, 6, 7, 8

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avatarLizInHolt
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Top 5 in: Career Training, Choosing College, Depression and Mental Health, Discipline, Families and Relationships, Health and Wellness, Home Learning and Field Trips, Learning Disabilities and Special Needs, Learning Styles, Manners and Values, Parenting Support, Parents and Schools, Safety, School Policy and Education Issues, Setting Goals and Getting Motivated, Study Skills and Academics, Transitions and Readiness, Students' Civil RightsTop 5 in 18 Topics		 The rule-of-thumb is that one hour or so is the max your kids should be in front of a screen - whether it's TV, computer, or video game. Make that a family rule, no exception and that they must be involved in a solid physical activity for at least 30- 45 minutes or so every day. Sticking to these two things will help you raise healthy kids who have plenty of time to focus on homework!
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avatarMaryKat
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Health and Wellness # of Thumbs Up Received (1)		 There's been some research lately that suggests that using video game time as a reward for doing homework/chores/exercise/etc. is a very bad idea. There is evidence that doing so can actually increase the attractiveness of this highly addictive activity by giving it a "treat" or reward status.

References:
Parent of a daughter who is a whiz on PBSkids.org
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avatarcathy
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Bullying and Violence # of Thumbs Up Received (1)		 Xavier, this is a great question!

Each year, our children have more and more exposure to the on-screen world -- whether it's the media room at school, the computers in public places, like the library or fast-food restaurants, or those at home.

And on-screen activities are teaching our kids about a world we ourselves didn't grow up in, even if we did have computers and games available when we were kids.

Because game builders are creating a world -- not a game, but a world -- with rewards and punishments built in at every level.

And rewards and punishments give players a complex, intimate, and often emotional experience with the game.

There are values attached to each reward and punishment. For instance, physical strength is good. Speed is good. Fast reflexes are good. Winning is really, really good.

If this is all the game is teaching, it may not be what you want your kids to be learning. And it's "dumbing down" what it is to be a human in a complex world.

On the question of how much time, I defer to the experts on an hour a day, max, Xavier. Here are some other things to think about, even if the game time is limited to an hour a day:

1. All video games are not the same. What are the games rated? At your children's ages (5--8), they should all still be playing the E-rated games. E = Everyone.

2. How much time do you or your wife spend playing? If you have unlimited game time, they will be more resistant to accepting limits. The hour-limit rule may need to apply to everyone in the family.

3. Is the game console in a shared space where you and your wife can monitor the on-screen activities?

It's not just about what's on the game that matters, but how your child is using it to understand the world.

4. Do you notice behavioral changes in any of the children after time spent on gaming -- or after playing any specific game? This should be addressed by their loving adults -- you!

5. Are the other two kids watching while one plays? If they are, each one is really getting three hours of game influence -- not just the hour where they get on-screen action but also the two hours where they see their siblings' behavior.

So they have their own directly personal experience of the game and then they have 2 hours to watch and learn from their siblings' posture, engagement, distress, frustration, excitement, etc.

What is that telling them about the world, about games, about appropriate behavior? How does it fit with the family rules about how to treat brothers and sisters and how the older ones are to lead and the younger ones to follow?

6. And are you and your wife standing by to monitor and interpret their behavior? Do you see how each one deals with gaming triumph or frustration? Does this behavior fit your family's values for self management?

Xavier, this is just the tip of the iceberg. It's a big, complicated, great question!

I hope other readers can chime in with their views.


References:
Mom of one.
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