My teenage son spends way too much time gaming on his XBOX!

Evelyn - posted on 05/31/2013

He needs to learn to set limits if you have to do it for him for the time being. He needs to learn to balance things out.

Jody - posted on 04/01/2013

Im 13 but PELASE KEEP READING if you think about it, a kid understandes a kid. not a mom with the same problem. but anyways i do the same thing and i find it the best way to
A) relive stress
B) meet friends
and C) have a good time.
the only difference is i normaly dont do my work so you got a VERY good kid. make him get off at like 9:30 and make him go to bed at 10:00 that is how my mom does it and that is how i like it. BUT WHAT EVER YOU DO dont do something stupid like that NellyPires person, not to be rude but that makes your kids all qwirkey and creepy. there are liek 3 of thoes kind of kids at my private school. trust me they have no friends but other kids like them and they look like they are dead and they act like nerds. any ways im not making anyone "feel bad" or something but i wanted to add that if you want to make him happy and reward him for being good then buy him a thing called FPS freaks, the best people on xbox use them and their only like 9:95$. my mom is getting me them and i hugged her and was just like "i lvoe you sooooooooooo much" but yea so hope i helped

Nelly - posted on 03/17/2013

Limit his time gaming, in our house, they have a choice 30 minutes after school to chill either gaming, going online or watching tv.

Luis - posted on 03/16/2013

Well Jeanette, my son is barely 2 years old, and i let him play with me all the time (i'm a young man myself) i play for hours but there's absolutely nothing wrong with playing video games for a long period of time, it has even been proven that too many video games cause violence, but if his grades were low i would recommend that you take it away from him for a short period of time, or else your child wont be very happy with you, well what i'm trying to say is unless his game is giving him behavior problems or education problems, then i suggest you ban him from playing video games, but as a schedule, for example: let's say he is doing bad in school, but only a bit, if that's the case, i recommend telling him to finish his homework before he plays, that worked for me (my dad always told me this)...
anyways, i hope your son is doing great.

Lori - posted on 02/04/2013

Michael,

What a great persepctive you have on life and kids. My son too is a great kid with a 4.0 in 6th grade and in gifted and 7th grade math and english classes. I hate the "wait til I save" when I ask him to do something but other than that I cannot complain.

In my eyes, computers and technology are the future and if you don't have the skills you need to keep up you are unable to complete college and get a good job. I have seen upper managers unable and unwilling to adjust to new technology lose their positions.

Your going to make a great parent some day. Teaching your children to be respectful and right from wrong is something that so many parents don't do today but worry about an XBOX. Also, fear is not respect!

Michael - posted on 02/04/2013

I'd like to add my perspective, I have played video games all my life but I also maintain an unweighted gpa of a 4.4 and was accepted into Harvard and I play 3-4 hours a day mind you. I don't have the busiest social life but it's good enough that I go out every weekend with friends or my girlfriend and it doesn't take up my time for studies. On the other hand, my girlfriends brother is a year below us and is a train wreck without ever playing video games. His GPA is a 0.5 and we doubt he'll even pass the year. But notice, he never played video games and was raised in a different house hold than that of my girlfriend (who's step dad makes me have her back by 9, 9:30 if im lucky) but the boy lives with a notorious gang member father and prostitute step mother. What im trying to say with this is, you simply have to provide a good influence and teach right from wrong. Personally, my family is filled with veterans/current armed service members and with his sort of military discipline my father instilled on me I don't miss a beat in my schedule ever(not that I advise treating your son like a military grunt).

Lori - posted on 02/04/2013

Tracy,

Kudos to you for being open minded enough to realize that computers and games can actually be learning tools and also incentives.

I started to teach my son how to read using a comptuer when he was 2. He could read the newspaper by the time he went to kindergarten.

Computers are afterall used in schools for teaching, why not at home?

Tracy - posted on 02/04/2013

We have a 9th grader living with us who can't read. He gets 1 minute of technology (computer/Wii) for every page he reads. This helps him in both directions. This does not mean its the only time he gets on the computer/Wii. We have plenty games for the Wii and on the computer that are educational and fun. He sees it as fun, we see it as learning.

Also the computer is used at the dining room table only and the Wii is in the living room.

Lori - posted on 02/04/2013

Jeanette,

I have a preteen son who likes to spend all his time in his room playing XBOX, his computer, DS or all 3 at a time. He is a gifted child in school, has friends who come to our home on a regular basis or he goes to their houses. I am more overprotective than most mothers of preteens and do not permitt my son to just go out and hangout, my opinion is that is just a recipe for disaster.

Family members have made comments to me about the XBOX, computer, DS play in his room but I feel that if he is home, it is keeping him out of trouble. I use the 3 items for punishment (which is rarely ever needed) and take them away for a couple days. My restriction is only this, homework and chores first, PERIOD!

Aslo, we live in Pittsburgh (rotten weather in the winter), my son does not enjoy winter weather probably because I do not either but in the summer when it is nice, he must be outside (we have a pool) and not sitting in the house gaming.

My son is a wonderful, smart and funny 12 year old, he knows the rules and never complains about them. If I were to start limiting him, I feel as the person who knows him best, that it would negatively affect how wonderful and focused he is and also affect our relationship. Gaming requires thinking, hand-eye coordination and learning techniques that I feel will be important to him when he is older.

Also, I was an only child too and I never learned to be alone and always felt lonely when I was a little older. I ended up in bars because it was where I could find company and with men that were not good for me. It is good for children to learn to be alone and how to entertain themselves so they don't feel they need company all the time. I didn't learn to be alone until I had my son (35) but them I wasn't really alone any longer now was I?

John - posted on 02/01/2013

If he does all that you say he does then i don't see why to cap the time, he seems very active and social, let him play

Jamie - posted on 01/29/2013

Definitely limit gaming time.

Cindy - posted on 01/22/2013

I have a 18 son . He likes to play the xbox too. It causes him to dislocate from family and waste hours of his on total make believe life. I have recently put a cap on his game time. It really takes away from social skills needed in the real world were you have to live.

Lita - posted on 01/06/2013

I actually feel bad for all the children, even the adults who's parents are so incredibly determined to change their child / step child and mold them into a mini me... I'm glad my mother let me choose who I am. I'm no social butterfly... I'm a gamer and parent. I also go to school full time and I am married to another gamer who works full time at a really great job that he loves. We live a really simple happy life, and we only want our kids to be happy and do well.

I too am related to people who just do not understand why I play games and they try to change me. I simply figure that they are either for one, have a very closed mind and believe that things should be a certain way no matter what and that there is just simply no other way to live, or two that they are simply to stupid to understand gamers. Gamers are a type of person, just like Geek, Nerd, Jock, Preppy, Goth, Punk, etc... We also contain all those other types of people within our type. All types of people play games. Mostly the anti social do. We do not see a point in spending a ton of money to go out and "have a life" as everyone else would say. We would rather relax in the comfort of our own home with the people we choose to have in our life.

I personally love gaming, and I have many reasons. I think the best reason is that at any time I do not want to "deal with someone" I can hit that little power button or log out. Problem solved! I find gaming relaxing for my body and stimulating for my mind. I have to think when I game, more than someone jogging mindlessly or a treadmill or stressing about their life. I don't have those kinds of stresses, and yet I also exercise at home... via video game! It keeps me from stressing!

Leave your kids alone... unless it's hurting them or they are hurting others, leave them alone! Oh and not having what you define as a social life is not them being hurt by playing video games. Grow up already you're a parent for crying out loud.

Joanne - posted on 01/06/2013

We are putting the family timer on the XBox today. It limits the time they can play and they can decide how they want to split up the time. You can do it daily or weekly. I think it makes them responsible and accountable to make decisions. We'll see how it goes. :)

Mamta - posted on 12/08/2012

I have not bought Xbox or PS3. So, no playing. simple. If i do, it will be on sat or sundays only for a few hours. No more, no less. In india we had Ps3, he played only on sundays.

Belinda - posted on 12/05/2012

My 14 year old son play x box too. I allowed him 4 hours a day to play and other time would being with his family. Watching TV or board game.

Asdfasdf - posted on 12/04/2012

rub his cock.... its the only way

Newbie - posted on 12/03/2012

I'm a new stepmom, and my stepson is 25. He plays computer games ALL the time, without social interaction except chatting on the computer. He only comes out from his room for dinner and then disaapears back into his room again. (note- I have only been a step mom for a few days-no divorce issues here, that has been over for years, and we do get along. )



Any input on what the best way is to get him out of his room more to start interacting with people? I have no problem with him playing games, but literally 18-20 hours a day is too much! Also, his father tells him to stop, but they just seem to butt heads.

Burlington - posted on 11/18/2012

Hi Jeanette Hernandez!



I am an 18 year old college student who has been playing video games his entire life. I have never once been limited how many hours/minutes I could use electronics. I agree with your kid. Playing video games is a great way to wind down from the day. On weekends, I work part-time and attend social events. (Party, Go on dates, Eat Breakfast/ Lunch or Dinner out, etc.) I'm the first person to go to college out of my sister, brother and I. I am also the youngest. I did not turn out to be a horrible person from playing video games every day.



Playing video games often, does not make you a bad person. What makes a person choose to negatively impact their lives is the experience of doing and/or seeing negative influences happen. I see you restricting his video game habits as a negative influence. You said yourself that the kid is a good guy. He attends school and does his homework, he is healthy, he has his own social circle, he does not do drugs/ break the law.



Throughout my high school years my dad was in a car accident. He broke all his ribs and continues to this day to suffer from diseases he normally would never have, but his immune system cannot fight off because of this car accident. Did that stop him from being the Father I needed him to be?



In Grade 10, I rarely went to school. The only days I would go to class were project and test days. Every time I was not in class, I was smoking weed or finding a way to smoke it later.



In Grade 11, I continued my frenzy of skipping school relentlessly. By this time my tolerance for smoking mary jane was high enough that I started spending my lunch money (earned by doing chores around the house) on dope. ($50 a week) That is 7 grams a week to smoke to my face. Not including what my buddies would give to me and any I made doing favors for friends who needed. Back then, that was a lot of marijuana.



In Grade 12, I stopped skipping school. I stopped hanging around friends who were negatively impacting my life. There was one goal and that was getting my high school

diploma. Its funny really, how important a flimsy piece of paper is. What is even more hilarious is that I would never have that piece of paper if it was not for my

Dad.



By this time I'm sure you are thinking "WTF THIS KIDS PARENTS ARE HORRIBLE!!! HOW COULD THEY LET HIM DO THIS?" Well, they didn't. They didn't have a sweet clue why I

was skipping school. They just knew I was. Even then, they didn't find out I was skipping until the latter half through Grade 11. They tried to talking to me. I just kept feeding lie after lie. Then my siblings came into the spotlight and tried to help. I simply lied to them too. Until one day where I couldn't stand to lie to my family anymore. The loved me more than anything in the world I did nothing but betray their trust.



Some lies are used to protect, some lies are used to be hurtful, other lies are just down right pitiful. It took my Dad breaking down into tears in front of me to open my eyes to how stupid I was being. He thought the entire time (he knew for about 4-6 months by this point) it was his fault for the way I was acting. That the 'stress' of him potentionally dying was affecting my school studies. He thought I was a "great guy" when all I was doing was looking for a way to get high, a way to get out of the boring school days and live my life.



What a joke. Only a child could truly believe that being independent means to do whatever you please. Independence? They provided shelter, food, payed for my health, school, activities with friends. (Legit activities, movies, paintball, amusement parks, etc.) When I wanted the brand new shiny Xbox, they simply said "Well the garage has been needing some cleaning." and bought me the brand new shiny Xbox after I cleaned the garage under their advisement. (Before they found out what I was up to in regards to school)



My family are "great people". I am aspiring to be a "great guy". Still think I was as "great" as I was earlier? No? Good. If a guy who wasn't perfect turned out alright, I can only imagine what a perfect son can turn out to be. You have what sounds to be an amazing son. Don't jeopardize your relationship with him over something as stupid as restricting his gaming time. Instead, simply bring the topic up and talk with him. He is a normal human being just like me, dad, mom, brother, sister and you. We are all simply human. It completely up to you whether or not you choose to advise or force your viewpoint onto him, but that is'nt what your son needs to grow and learn who he is.



TL;DR:



Do not force your viewpoint on to him. Forcing is a negative influence. Instead, be human. How does one "be human"? Talk to him, create a relationship with him that relies on communication. Advise that you think spending too much time on video games is a bad thing. If you act like an adult towards him, he will treat you that way. I'm going to assume he is in high school. At this age kids don't need rules. They already know the rules and have plenty from their school already. What they needis someone they can confide in %100 with no worries it will ever come back to haunt them. Now of course they will never trust you %100 but at least you'll have access to information that my parents never did until very late in high school. The truth.

Bill - posted on 11/17/2012

Hell yeah

Bill - posted on 11/17/2012

Well thats a part of life it better then them doing bad things

Lita - posted on 11/01/2012

I can understand where you are coming from. I am a mother of three, I am also going to school for game design, and I am also a gamer as well. There are a few things here that you stated that I think you should consider. One, your son has friends, and has good grades. So his gaming life is not actually affecting his personal or school life. Two, he does get exercise at school. I believe that all schools have P.E. so no worries about him not exercising. If you remember correctly, P.E. is no walk in the park.



Now, taking these things into consideration, why are you complaining? Look at it in another way. If he is playing video games he is less likely to be out of the house causing problems. You worry less about your son coming home and saying, "Uh mom... I got a girl pregnant." or receiving a call from the police saying, "We need you to come pick up your son, he was found doing (insert drugs, weapon carrying, vandalism, etc. here)."



I would say if he's a good kid, let him be a good kid. Video games are a great way to relax. They keep you out of trouble, they allow you to express yourself in a way that you do not show to the people you see in real life. It can be a really good thing. As long as it does not affect your real life.



The next thing that you should consider is this, what will happen if you take the games away? Do you honestly believe that he's going to be like, "No problem mom! I'm going to go run some laps around the block with my buddies!" Not likely. He's going to flip out. This is his thing. He loves doing it, he could grow up and become a major game or digital movie designer, he could even become famous because he is actually good at playing these games. People do make money playing games, they do compete in world competitions. Chances are, you will limit or take away the thing he likes to do, and he will not take it well. His grades may drop, he might even begin causing trouble and getting into fights. This is what makes him happy. It is his way to relax, it is another way for him to socialize outside of school.



Taking away his happiness may cause him to try and take away yours. I know that no one is going to like reading this. As parents we like to be in control of our children, but the fact is that they are people, they have a brain, they have feelings, and if you take away someone else happiness, don't plan on keeping your own happiness.



To stop my excessive post, I will put it simply. Unless your kid starts losing friends, having problems in school, or getting into trouble with the law, leave him alone! You do not need to control every aspect of his life. Let him have something that makes him happy, and let it be his choice as to what it is. As long as he is safe and happy, that's all that we as parents can ask for.



Oh one last thing. Video games are meant to be addictive. Not in a drug sort of way, it's hard to explain. Imagine the thing you love doing most, how it makes you feel... That's how a kid who loves video games feels when they are playing. Don't ever use the taking away of video games as a form of punishment... it can cause your child to act in a very unexpected way. Sort of like how you would react if someone took away your favorite thing to do as a punishment. You would act very differently...



Good luck with your kid. I'd say if he's made it too his teens and not gotten anyone pregnant or gotten into trouble with the law, then you have a great kid.

Shelly - posted on 10/28/2012

Beat the Kid jeez white people are too soft..

Lori - posted on 10/26/2012

My son too, he says it's a way for him to unwind from school day & stress. He also paid for his own Iphone & told us we could not take it. We told him that he is still a teenager under parents & we have the right to monitor time & offer outside physical running around or something constructive to destress. When its taken he starts to come to a different attitude, it works. Sometimes we have electronics pawn -shop in adult bedroom.

Scophie - posted on 10/23/2012

I have the same problem with you on my 12 year old son, he likes playing computer games a lot, we don't have time to watch him all the time, so I set a parental control on his computer, it can allow us to read the logs, and also can block the sites and apps.

http://goo.gl/QePcl

Lucy - posted on 10/20/2012

its a whole thing but it should work.

open up the Xbox and lossen 1 wire (any wire that or piece that can easily be placed back in a couple seconds-minutes) so this way it wont work... he will tell you that it broke and then you should go to the store and change it up/repair it. say ok in a few days. wait 2 days and when he is not around just put the piece/wire back in. then tell him you hit it or whatever then it will work do this repeatedly... except he might try to hit it... but stretch the day out like 1 more day at a time... i hope this works... restrictions will just make him angry... and take him to a basketball/football/sport game or even paintball shooting once in a while.

Ark - posted on 10/10/2012

Leave him alone. He's having fun doing what he enjoys, and you don't need to hinder that by forcing things into his life that YOU think he should enjoy.

Kathy - posted on 10/09/2012

Leave it alone. He has good friends, makes good grades and is involved in his community. It is not a big deal if he spends his down time on Xbox.

Allison - posted on 10/09/2012

Why are you looking for a diabality? Maybe mister perfect just wants to be lazy. You're the mom in this situation take his Xbox away, set some boundaries stop letting your child rule your life you're the boss man not him.

Rosie - posted on 10/03/2012

Also adding to my last note, my son is on the autistic spectrum and he does nothing else but xbox, and Im so worried about the affect on his life. He wont eat his dinner or breakfast properly, won't do any chores or anything to help around the house, does not want to do any after school clubs, or even see or play with real friends, apart from the ones on-line, so surely this is far too obsessive! If I do get him off it by any chance, then he mopes around in a bad mood and says everything else is soo boring!!

Rosie - posted on 10/03/2012

Yes, I had to put time restrictions on my son's x box as well. But both times he has managed to break the code and got very angry when I tried to put it back on again, so I had to contact Microsoft and they had to reset the system, but it seems to be the only way to control it, as he never comes off it on time. I thought 2 hrs a school night and 4 hrs a day at weekend and holidays was fair, but he does'nt!!

Zelda - posted on 09/14/2012

Time on the XBOX is forever lost

You can’t buy it back at any cost

You think zapping Zombies is such a great blast?

It’s really the Zombies who get to laugh last

You kill them all day with your online connection

But glance in the mirror to see your reflection

You’re starting to look like the Zombies you fight

The natural effect of gaming all night

So put down the controller, for all that its worth

And seek action outside, on the real planet earth.

Get out in the world and have a good time

Go camping, go biking, or bust-out-a-rhyme

Learn something new or help out a friend

And save ‘Call of Duty’ for just the weekend

“That’s not fair!”, you’re likely to say

But I know in my heart, you’ll thank us someday.

Alex - posted on 09/12/2012

I am also a teen of 18 years I have spent gaming. I started when i was about 9 on the sega dream cast & have had every console since! And when i got my first PC i spent every morning before school and coming home after school on the game. I then went onto xbox and call of duty i am now the highest level prestige on most of them. However at the age of 13 I was intruduced to sports propperly and joined many local clubs and activities because my parents used to hassle me constantly about spending to much time on games. Through the sports i did i made a few friends some of which did athletics so i joined in with them, a few years down the line and I am now running for my Reagion competeing in many races across my country and i even had Olympic trials. My point being Gaming is not so bad you parents seem to forget you were kids once and just because times have changed you cannot see that when you all used to go out side on the streets and play with Sticks and stones? our generation is gaming. Also heres an example for you.. If You watched the London 2012 Olympics you might have seen the story behind "Usain Bolt" and how he sits at Home and plays PS3! yet he can still be a gold medalist ;) so parents back off the yelling or putting time limits on your kids gaming and try get involved about it they will supprise you! Thanks for reading and sorry for my terrible grammar/spelling.

CuringIgnorancepls - posted on 09/10/2012

I don't think most mothers fully comprehend that most of their kids are better off playing a fucking game instead of experimenting with drugs and doing all those usual mischievous acts. Instead of bitching at your kids about really insignificant things how about you lay the fuck off and let them play. Be thankful your kid isn't a damn hood rat and stays out of trouble.

Jared - posted on 08/29/2012

I am a teenager, just looking around the Internet trying to figure out why parents think it's necessary to limit play time. As the other teen in this thread already stated, would you rather your children go out and get stoned? The problem with my parents is that they don't understand the concept of online gaming. They think that games like Modern Warfare 2, BlackOps, and other Call of Duty games, are going to make me a violent person. The only time violent thoughts cross my mind is when I'm being yelled at for just about anything they can dream up. My Xbox360 is as much a social platform as a video game console, I talk to my REAL LIFE friends on Xbox and play with them all the time. I do my homework, and I have really been trying this year. (Ninth grade) Yet is seems that I'm still being yelled at over the smallest things. For example, for the first time in months, I had to miss a day of school because I was so sick I could barely keep my head up. Today is a half-day at school, and I was seeing no improvement, so I asked to stay home again. Mom started yelling and screaming and hitting me on the head and even went so far as to ***** slap me even though I have a killer headache. What I'm trying to say is, parents can be a bit extreme with their rules, and it definitely hasn't helped out tenuous relationship.

tl:dr: If in all other aspects of his life he's a good kid, lay off about gaming. It's as much a sport as anything else.

Hamilton - posted on 06/10/2012

I am a teenager and I just wanna provide some perspective to this conversation. Hooray to you mothers that say if we stay out of drugs, continue to socialise with friends and family and keep our grades up then our hobbys should not be limited. To you negative parents I want to ask you what is bad about playing for hours? Sure you can label us as video game addicts but what is so harmful about video games? Of course we will get shitty when we are in the middle of enjoying our time doing something we like but is that all of a sudden some reason to say we suffer withdrawal symptoms? Derrrrrrrr no. Would you prefer that instead of being addicted to video games we were spending everyday getting blitzed on weed or LSD? Thought not. Does your son want to be a professional gamer or a games designer? You wouldn't know would you because you spend all your time trying to limit their hours. The only bad thing about video games is the violence because that has real negative effects. But seriously, if you were a decent enough parent to raise your child in such a way that they were a normal mature enough 15 year old then there are no negative externalitys to violence in video games and they can play them without being absorbed to the violence factor. Until then encourage them to play just as good games in fantasy. Instead of grand theft auto give them skyrim. Instead of call of duty give them world of Warcraft or league of legends. Nuff said. Grow up you so called 'parents' just because you don't like something new doesn't mean you get to push it out of your child's life. Your denying them a chance to explore their own interests and ultimately the world. Shame on you

Susan - posted on 06/07/2012

during the school year weekends only , but having hard time since school is out deciding on what is a fair amount of time, he's about to
!! turn 16 in a few months and i wished he would out grow this faze!!!!! but doesn't look good!!! i wished i never let him get xbox live!!!! its very addicting !!!!

Lisa - posted on 04/20/2012

you answered part of my question I posted on this just a few minutes ago.. thanks.. I'll stick w/his A's, good friends and being in his room playing-- : )

Lisa - posted on 04/20/2012

I have the same issue..I'm a single mom of three boys ages almost 13, 11 and 8. All three have always been straight A students and in gifted classes, great in school boys. My oldest is so addicted to the xbox, esp b/c he can chat w/his friends. I WANT to spend time with him...but don't want him to feel like it's a punishment. He only "friends" kids he knows in person...so I am ok w/that. I can hear what he says in the other room, either game or school related--I keep thinking, I have a great kid...IF he is going to be obsessed with something, isn't playing a game in his room w/his "gifted' classmates better than the other things he could be into?? No girl talk, no bad language, ect.... He does play basketball in season. He does come out and jump on the trampoline and shoot hoops w/his brother...but it seems like several hours a day is xbox time...and I question.....summer, what to do then!! Want to do the best for him, and I see a "if it's not broken, don't fix it" type thing..but I want to connect more.. Maybe I need suggestions for connecting w/him..we are very close (he holds my hand while watching tv, says I love you several times a day, ect...) Am I going overboard... And yes, I am very thankful for them..just want to make sure getting into teen years we go down the best path...if there is "one" right path.

Judy - posted on 08/26/2011

Our rule is no XBOX during the school week at all! Good luck : ) only on weekends and on the TV downstairs so the we can monitor him!

Sheila - posted on 02/28/2010

I say as long as his grades are good and he is in bed at a decent time, then pick your battle carefully. My 16 year old son stayed on his xbox almost continually until he turned 16. I too was worried butI knew where he was and he was playing his buddies and interracting on X-box live. Now he is 16, he has quit playing almost overnight and out running around. I would like to have the xbox days back. By age 13 or 14 there are drugs readily available in any school. Maybe his xbox time will delay his being faced with peer pressure, drugs and alcohol.

Patricia - posted on 02/28/2010

Yes, I do believe that there should be a time limit on games...HOWEVER, if your son is doing well in school and his chores are getting done, and he's a good kid that is involved in outside activities, I really don't think you have anything to worry about...until his grades start slipping or he wants to remove himself from the community and school activities, I really think you are okay.

Jana - posted on 02/28/2010

Ditto for grades, great kid etc. for my 14 yr old. However I have always taught my son that BALANCE in all things are key. I don't allow him to play to many video games. For one he has way too much homework. Simply put we have come to an agreement on how much to play, (he did not like the agreement) the power button goes "off" if he goes past his time. All of our kids KNOW exactly what they can get away with and what they cannot. Be the parent they need us to be! That is what they REALLY WANT!

Shirley - posted on 02/27/2010

we are having the same problem..everything seems fine, but the problem is everyone else is on it too, it's becoming the way kids hang out these days. thru computer, xbox,texting.if he's not on here he's on it at his friends. I catch him complaining to his friends to get off so they can get a football game going, but they just tell him lets play football on xbox..lol
ours is in the basement "kids hangout" we're moving it into the livingroom under the disguise that they'll have it on the big screen. but we'll also be limiting how much and when they'll be able to play. compromising on bolth sides, gain a little, lose a little..it equals out in the end,I tell them.

Stacy - posted on 02/21/2010

I have 2 teenagers, 15 and 17, they are always on PS3, the grades are bad but chores are done and are great kids. I have decided that being as they stay out of trouble and they are home instead of running around that they are safe in the house and i really don't have a time limit on the game, i was concerned also but i weighed out the differences and decided that i'm going 2 let them play. Too many teenagers are in serious trouble and very disrespective when they run around, i'm glad they are home and if that's what it takes, so be it-i put them an hour on and at least a half an hour break-not much, but it works. If they were bad, all rules change.

Shelley - posted on 02/21/2010

Balance seems to be the key. At our house there is no gaming or computer messaging during the week. We have always had this rule and it works for us. I really liked the comment from the mom who is encouraging her children to have face to face friend time once on the week end. This way we can keep in touch with who they are hanging out with and get to know their parents too.

Lydia - posted on 02/21/2010

From the very beginning, we dont allow tv and computer to be our kids' rooms. It must be in the living or open area. Nothing to hide. My kids know what computer games i do not encourage. They were also taught in church about what the games impact have upon them. I get my kids to talk about the games they play on computer. Through that i am able to be more involved in their lives and get the chance to analyze the effects these games have upon them. I told them that if they are not able to overcome such habits i will have to help them to curb by removing the computer for a while so that such habits do not destroy them. They need to know that we are not controlling freaks but we are doing things because we love them.

Tonya - posted on 02/17/2010

Reading all of these posts has helped me feel better about my sons gaming habits! He does good in school, attends church happily, plays hockey and soccer year round and does his chores, but every spare moment he is on the xbox. We did allow him to get the Xbox live and we like the fact that he is communicating with and playing with his friends that way. Not just stuck in his own zone, uncommunicative.

BillieSue - posted on 02/17/2010

cambria, same thing i said above your post. You must set limits for video games. Yes they will throw fits at first, but a xbox,wii,play station they are all privledges and must be earned. My 15 daughter got so addicted the the sims i had to take the whole computer away for a time. You make the rules, they will survive no matter what they tell you and you must make the rules for their safety. Fits will be thrown, names might be called but setting limits on video games is very important or it will consume their whole lives. My mom used to say if my kids didnt hate me while they were teenagers i wasn't doing it right. She raised 5 teenagers. And she was tough! I was to soft with my first teenager and i regret it. Now with my other 2 i set limits and put my foot down and i get more respect and they have learned to appreciate their privledges much much more.

Cambria - posted on 02/17/2010

We also have this problem only to the extreme! my son is almost 13 and the only fights we have in our house is over the xbox, he has good grades but spends all of his time on the xbox. Chores get overlooked by him wich causes great frustration with me. He will cry and throw fits if he cant play.I understand it is a true addiction just like anything drugs alcohol, gambling...I can not just take it away all together as much as I would like to. thought about taking him to a therapist... yes it is that serious of an issue. HELP!!!