15 year old son obsessed with XBox

Elizabeth - posted on 07/10/2012

We put a limit on the computer...Their accounts won't work after a certain time. They hate it but they go find something else to do. I would suggest getting your son involved with the youth group or something else. Mine had no friends till he joined the ROTC program at school. He loves it and his friends now are ROTC friends, so they are alot like him and that makes him comfortable. The program gave him confidence and friends he never had before. I was worried...now I know he is ok, he just didn't have much in the way of social skills and was painfully shy,

Elizabeth - posted on 07/10/2012

I am ashamed to say this, but as a mama....I got hooked on a online game and it took all my free time. No, it took all my time. These things are addictive. Unplug it. He will get his life back and you will get your son. It will take time, hang in there. I quit my game and suddenly, I was out, I read a book, I got out with the kids...I lost weight...lol. People were not meant to sit in front of an electronic device for most of their lives.

Minnie - posted on 07/10/2012

I don't want to sound like a mean mother, or a harsh one, but disconnect the damn thing. Don't be afraid of your child being a "surly" teen or having a teen with a bad attitude. Don't all teens have a bad attitude? Deal with that! Take the bull by the horns!!! What are you going to do, when your child doesn't have any vocabulary, any social skills, just because you don't want him to have an attitude? Teach him responsibility. He can have it back once he learns to balance his time "outside" and with his friends, and his Xbox. other than that.... he can't. You're the parent, teach as such. It's a trade off. Don't let the Xbox babysit and teach your child about the world, and the outside. It's very unhealthy. Especially if he's leaving what he likes to do for the darn thing.

Lakota - posted on 07/09/2012

When my son visits his dad, he gets to play whatever he wants and all day if he wants to. At home with me, doesn't happen. Of course I look like the bad guy, but, so what. I have his best interest at heart and I am the one who rules the roost, not my child.

Michele, take the xbox away and the computer. He has other interests, just find out what they are. You can't force him to get friends, but, you can force him out of the house and involved with something else - youth group at church, sports, community services, school clubs, etc. When he does that, friends he has things in common with will come.

Too many parents let their kids run the house. It is your house, your rules.

Michele - posted on 07/05/2012

I have tried tking xbox away..but than he went on computer...when there were days w nothing but tv maybe..it didt matter..my son stopped hanging out w friends. First year in HS & he has no one to really call...I try to get him to call someone but he says nah...I know its not JUST the games that keep him from making friends..I am so concerned & don't know what else to do..I cant FORCE him to get friends..I do get him OUT to go bowling w me & stuff but I prefer him to be with friends than his MOM..any SUGGESTIONS????HELPPPPPPPP

Glory - posted on 02/05/2010

XBOX is a big problem....pepple don't see it like that but, to me it is an addiction...you need to limit his time to the XBOX...he is sitll only 15 so you do have sime type of control...let him throw a fit, the more attitude the less XBOX...once he sees you don't give in, so will be bored and he will find something to do with himself...the first couple of day he will have a terrible attitude but he will get over it...My 19 year old daughter at the time she was 16. She ewanted a sidekick phone. This side kick, you have access to the internet, and you are constantly talking to your friends 24 hours a day. We where against it so we never vbought it for her. She finally saved her money, and without my permission bouhgt one while she was out visiting her fahter for the weeken. Weel she brought it home, and she was on it all the time, even at the dinner table ..there was no talking to her...she went from a good kid to a kid with an atitude..I tok it away from her...attitue or not I refuse to give it to her,,,I missed my nice daughter and I was without a doubt get my kid back !!! without the influence of the stupid sidekick...eventually she got tired of asking for it back, she found other things to do...my 7 year old is addictd to the XBOX, refuses to go out and play with his 10 year old brother and his 11 year old sister...if I leave him he will stay on it all day long,,,he refuses to go to birthday parties, playing kickball, football you name it!! Well guess what ,,I disconnected the XBOX,,he is not allowed to play during school nights, and he is only allow to play it during the weekend,,,,I limit him to two hours a day...he gave up fighting me...he know he wont win...limit your son ...once homework is done, limit him to an hour a day...weekends limit him as well...IS UP TO YOU,,if he sees he has a losing battle with you he will find other things to do..you are the mother, take control, he does not run you,,,REMEMBER THAT..do domething about it know are you are going to end up with a kid after highschool, on your couch playing XBOX until 3 o"clock in the morning with no collegue interest and no job

Debbie - posted on 02/05/2010

take away the xbox.

Jane - posted on 02/04/2010

Thanks Anita. As hard as it was, we put restrictions on it. He battled us and complained for a few days, but the result has seen him start running again to get his fitness back, and he just signed up for this season of soccer which is about to kick off. Yay! He admitted to me last night that it was taking over his life and is now grateful to have his other interests back. Phew!

Anita - posted on 01/29/2010

The best advice I can give you is to simply take away the XBox or put tighter restrictions on it such as only 2 days a week. Yes, he will give you a fit, but you are only worried about his well being and sitting behind the Xbox everyday is not in his best interest especially if was so very outgoing and now has stopped.

I also think you should talk to him about the way you feel about him only wanting to play games on his XBox. Ask him why he does not want to play soccer anymore, or be with his friends. Communication is the best way to resolve things, but I'm sure you know that.

I wish you the best with your dilema, and good luck.