Decreasing the Wii obsession

Ashley - posted on 05/07/2010

aghhhhhhh!!!!! i feel your pain, my 5 yr old is pretty bad about it too. used to sit and say, "what do i do now?" when it was time to turn the games off, like he totally lost his sense of play or something, and still constantly talking about the characters and what they do/say etc, even gets on the phone with relatives and starts going off about it. got to the point i just had to not let himplay it for awhile, and the more he's nag, the longer he had to go without it. i think it has finally subsided somewhat but i still get frustrated when he starts going on and on about characters.... he used to tell me every morning how he dreamed about mario and luigi all night! i think just setting limits is the most u can do and with kids at that age i think it has something to do with a feeling of control with the games, thats why they get so fixated on it. idk but im just glad its getting warmer so he can play outside more because i was really getting worried that he was losing his sense of imagination and turning into a video game playing zombie!!! sounds like you are on the right path by setting time limits and having him earn time by doing chores, unfortunately as they get older i have a feeling its not necessarily something they grow out of, there are grown men that still love their video games!! lol

Marie - posted on 04/27/2010

My boys were also getting out of control with the time spent playing on the wii. we have enforced the rule of no wii during the week, only playing at the weekends. My youngest (5 yo) can get very angry and stroppy if he loses a game, when this happens i give him a warning that it will be turned off, he does it again and i turn it off with no exceptions.
all video games are the bain of my life, nintendo ds, psp, ps2 and xbox !!!!! they have them all - im pretty sure i never had all this when i was growing up, im seriously considering ditching the whole lot of them !!!!!

Claudelle - posted on 04/16/2010

Mine is with the Xbox, he has been ever since he was 2 and half, now he is 6. All I hear all day is mommy can I play my game. 5 minutes later mommy can i play. once i said yes you can play go run outside in the beautiful sunshine.
I have now put a stop to him playing the xbox during the week. Week is educational games over the weekend he can play the xbox. I also subtract a minute for every time he asks me to play. I have just started this not sure if it is going to work.

Vicki - posted on 04/09/2010

I recently acquired one of those wii also. My son is the same way. I think how u r handling this situation is great. What i do is i give my son a time limit, usually a half hr every day. He tries to get more time, but unfortunately you just have to stand ur ground.I know its frustrating, but don't give in. Especially now with the warmer weather coming, kids should b outside not in the house on a machine.

Nicole - posted on 04/02/2010

We live in apartment complex and are not always able to play outside. So, this was a good physical activity for my children. But, like you, I knew there would probably be the "But, Mom, can I play just a little longer?" So, the day I got the Wii, I set down some guide rules.
Wii Rules in Our Home:
1. All work, schoolwork or chores, must be done before Wii system goes on.
2. Each child has a 30 minute time limit. ( I have 2 children. You would adjust the time for your schedule and amount of child.)
3. Discipline problems, disobedience, and any and all negative behavior gets time taken off of their Wii time for that day. (I usually take 5 minutes off per transgression.)
4. The Wii is capable of internet access, so, adult supervision must be used at all Wii sessions. No exceptions!!! (i.e. If the adult is busy...no Wii!)

Patti - posted on 03/27/2010

My son is the same way. He is on the wii as I write this. It will be gone when the weather clears up though. We don't allow video games in the summer.

Michele - posted on 03/26/2010

Well, I definitely understand how you feel. My daughter is the same way...she loves her Wii & all the games she has for it & one of my games too lol. I honestly wish there was an idea I could give you. I do the same thing you do, I set limits. If she doesn't eat then she doesn't get to play anymore or if she doesn't listen, I stop her from playing. Otherwise I haven't figured out anything, she has even given up watching cartoons to play her Wii. I definitely sympathize with you though & please let me know if you get any good ideas :) Oh, 1 thing I do know that keeps her off the Wii...if it is really nice out...& I take her outside...she doesn't even bother with the Wii...so maybe once it's really nice out, try that. :) Best of luck to you!

Kaye - posted on 03/04/2010

My son got this way with watching movies. We decided that he can't watch ANY during the week (school days) and on the weekends its limited. It sounds like you might want to try something similar. And don't forget that hes old enough now for long term consiquences (sp?). Asking about, pouting, causing trouble going to school tec should add on more non-wii days. Also try specific times for use. So maybe if he knows he can't do the wii untill noon on saturday he won't pester you so much

Lorrie - posted on 02/28/2010

my son is the same way...as soon as he gets off the bus in the afternoon its mom can i play the wii? lol I let him play for a little while like maybe an hour a day because we have the wii fit and I dont mind that because it gives him some sort of exercise right now being so cold outside and snow he doesnt get out as much to burn that energy off so he plays wii fit till dinner then it gets turned off for the night. On the weekends he has other things that take up time so he dont get to play that often.

Crista - posted on 02/06/2010

The calendar has helped only to justify the non-Wii days and to set time limits. But as soon as he wakes up on weekends and after coming home from school it's "is it a Wii day?". His two favorite games are a bit violent and now I'm realizing that I've let go of control too much here ... I should have monitored the games he received for Christmas and set time limits early on. It's difficult enforcing NEW rules.

Jasmine - posted on 02/06/2010

nice to know that there is someone else with a similar problem!!! he has to play it when he gets home from school then on weekends its as soon as he wakes up.. getting beyond a joke really! i came up with the same idea of doing up a a chart etc... does it seem to be working for you?