How To Manage Excessive Computer Gaming In Your Family
Video games have become a significant part of our 'play' time and are often addictive leading to some of us worrying about the time we or our children spend on them.
The wii games console has introduced a whole new sector of society to computer games playing thanks to the interactive control system the wii uses and fully grown adults find themselves spending whole evenings playing computer games and exercising using the wii fit. Many people worry about the amount of time spent and wonder if it is a waste of time.
The best way to think about it is ask yourself what you would be doing otherwise. If you would be spending the time watching TV it makes little difference but if you would have been studying or spending time with your family then yes, it does matter.
Keep track of how much time you or your child spends playing video games and try to ensure that it doesn't become a routine that is repeated every day or evening.
Some of the games may be violent full of objectionable themes in the games so think about the type of games being played. The wii games console tends to be more fun filled than violent with most of their games which is another reason it is so popular with families.
Ensure that games don't take over your life. If the amount of attention and time spent on playing games is disproportionate you may be neglecting other family duties and missing out on shared pastimes but the wii games system, can be a center for family entertainment and if you all play together it may be a great family experience.
Games have become more realistic and interactive and the Nintendo Wii with its motion sensing technology may make you feel video gaming is more real than it is. Remember it is just a game and if you stop in the middle of it nothing bad happens and life goes on.
Avoid nagging or getting frustrated with family members who seem to spend too much time playing games. You could have a systematic plan in place that specifies times of playing on your wii games system. Here are some tips that you can use and apply today to help reduce the tension in your home over video gaming.
1. Limit video game playing to specific hours of the day. What some parents have done is choose certain hours in which games may be played, for example between 7 and 9 PM. Other hours of the day are reserved for other activities.
2. Place conditions which must be met before video gaming may begin for the day. Examples include homework, cleaning the bedroom, and mowing the lawn.
3. Tell the child that before a new game is purchased or borrowed from a friend, you are going to check a few reviews to determine whether the content is appropriate for the child's age and maturity level.
4. Set rules that cover which ratings or content types are not acceptable for your child to play.
5. Regularly play video games with your children. Your child may resist this idea at first, particularly if you have been overly critical of gaming or if the child sees their gaming as "their" territory. Find a game that you can both enjoy. Your child will probably enjoy showing you how to play.
6. Have the child write about why they enjoy playing certain games. One way this can be done is start a blog dedicated to video gaming or a subtopic thereof. The blog can be centered around a certain console, such as the Nintendo Wii, the Sony Playstation 3, or Microsoft's Xbox 360. Or perhaps it would be preferable to focus on a certain type of game, such as racing, first person shooter, or martial arts.
7. Set up a system in which the child can earn the privilege to play video games for as long as they desire, on specific days. Include conditions that must be met first and make sure you are clear on when the privilege may be used. Some parents have constructed a "point" system which works similar to a bank. The child "earns" points by doing certain activities, such as keeping their grades up, doing their homework every day, or maintaining a clean bedroom without being told. The specifics will be tailored to your own family and situation.
Figure out which activities will add points and the number of points, the total number it will take to earn an "all-day" gaming day, and the specific types of days in which the points may be "spent". For most families, this will mean a weekend day which is free of other planned activities.
By setting out some basic household rules everyone in the family can be clear about what is considered acceptable and this can work well for everyone involved in your home.
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