Do you regulate your kids computer time?

[TPC]

Our 9 year old is getting good grades, great reviews from his teacher, busts out and finishes his homework,, but he's really spending a lot of time on computer games at home.

He has the Flu this week so it's an all day dealio, but usually he's trying to hit the games for 3 hours a school night.

Suddenly a cold contrast of a kid that was riding his bike, and playing outside for the past 3 years to living in his bedroom playing games.
Mainly Steam - Half life 2.

Do you have some sort of computer time frame for the kids?
How's it working out?
Am I over reacting?

 

[Cigalert]

My daughter isn't old enough but I can say a good buddy (IT nerd for all intents and purposes) has more computers than screws leftover after taking something apart. He has 3 sons and all of them were heavily into games. Blood on the walls after an online altercation went physical in the bedroom...they were hardcore gamers at 7-10 years old. His oldest is now 16 and a star linebacker. From what I can gather....I guess they can outgrow it but it's still unfathomable considering there is no comparison from your childhood to theirs.

I'd say, see how it plays out. If the grades start slipping or socializing starts to get hindered then make a change. I know with the shorter attention spans of kids these days some get tired of playing the same thing and they eventually look for something else. Either another computer game or something away from the computer entirely.

 

[mike37]

Our 9 year old is getting good grades, great reviews from his teacher, busts out and finishes his homework,, but he's really spending a lot of time on computer games at home.

He has the Flu this week so it's an all day dealio, but usually he's trying to hit the games for 3 hours a school night.

Suddenly a cold contrast of a kid that was riding his bike, and playing outside for the past 3 years to living in his bedroom playing games.
Mainly Steam - Half life 2.

Do you have some sort of computer time frame for the kids?
How's it working out?
Am I over reacting?

get him away from the games
my son is 15 he use to get all As but the on line gaming has taken over now the grade are slipping
and its had to get him away from them its like crack
now its hard to keep him off the games

 

[whiteworks]

IMO video games are a complete waiste of time and contribute heavily to the dumbing down of the human race. I have friends that started playing games as kids and 20+ years later thats about all there really good at in life. I would shit can the whole program and throw him outside until the street lights come on. Kids should be running around, riding bikes, playing with other kids.

 

[Froggystyle]

If you end up weeding him off the games, let me know and I will buy Steam and Half Life off of you...

 

[Wmc]

IMO video games are a complete waiste of time and contribute heavily to the dumbing down of the human race. I have friends that started playing games as kids and 20+ years later thats about all there really good at in life. I would shit can the whole program and throw him outside until the street lights come on. Kids should be running around, riding bikes, playing with other kids.

X2.... Thats how I grew up and I turn out alright and I'm still good on a bike

 

[mbrown2]

If you end up weeding him off the games, let me know and I will buy Steam and Half Life off of you...

LOL....f'n Froggy...

 

[lebel409]

Id' say it depends on the kid. My daughter will play for a while and move onto something else...the boy:grumble::grumble: goes into a coma and would play until his thumbs fall off. We haven't allowed him any games, and we've banned the grandparents from providing them. He still plays online things on occasion, but no gaming systems/controllers/etc.

3 hours does seem high though...your call.

 

[mbrown2]

On the games....the adage...Too much of a good thing is a bad thing...definitely monitor or they turn into disfunctioning adults. I have had to let guys go that play games at home and then start playing at work.....

One who was hooked on Everquest stayed up around the clock as a Mid-evil princess and then came in started playing at work....we locked his computer....so he then he turned to playing when he working on others computers....he was a straight up, socially enept, married the 1st girl he slept with techie, no social skills but could easily earn a living in IT...but got fired cause he wanted to play a mid-evil princess online all day/night.

Those games are like crack to the person with an addictive personality...

 

[cxr]

absolutely YES you have to regulate computer/ PS3/ phone time

its not that they knock out the homework quickly its that they are not applying the studying time to actually LEARN the material and this will lead to worse study habits as they get older.

when our son was little he was not able to 1. watch TV 2. PLAY PSP2-3 whatever or PLAY on the computer during the week. This was all the way up until he was a SENIOR and then he got into AIM and all that and we had to put a restriction on that.

 

[MoVal Tim]

Do you have some sort of computer time frame for the kids?
How's it working out?
Am I over reacting?

IMO video games are a complete waiste of time and contribute heavily to the dumbing down of the human race. I have friends that started playing games as kids and 20+ years later thats about all there really good at in life. I would shit can the whole program and throw him outside until the street lights come on. Kids should be running around, riding bikes, playing with other kids.

I have a computer time for my 8 year old. It's 0 hours.

Like WW said, they should be out playing, being active, interacting with other kids, doing their homework (with pencil-to-paper), etc.
Interacting with a computer only teaches them to...............interact with computers. Doesn't seem much like life or living to me, IMO.
My neighbors kids are computer geeks and they don't come out to see the light of day.............ever. When you talk to them, they don't know how to respond back. Like talking to a wall. No personality.

My 18 and 22 y.o. boys live and breathe surfing the internet, myspace, texting on phones, etc. My wife and I have both commented that the day that they each got their own computers is the day that they stopped acting like they are part of the family. They don't come when you call them (not even for dinner), they answer the phone only when it's someone they want to talk to (and that's not always Mom and Dad), they don't do any chores, they don't pick up after themselves (because they have to hurry up and make sure that they don't miss anything online or on text). They even take the cell phones in the shower because they might miss that really important "Hey, what's up?", "Not much.", "What's up with you?" text from their friends.:bash::bash:

I'll get my 8 y.o. on the computer soon, but it won't be on the internet.

And he won't be getting a cell phone at age 10 like some of his friends or our relatives kids.

 

[WTRR]

all things in moderation...esp computer time at my house...

 

[HavasuHank]

IMO video games are a complete waiste of time and contribute heavily to the dumbing down of the human race. I have friends that started playing games as kids and 20+ years later thats about all there really good at in life. I would shit can the whole program and throw him outside until the street lights come on. Kids should be running around, riding bikes, playing with other kids.

i couldn't agree more :thumbsup

 

[whiteworks]

Every year on Christmas eve we get together with my wifes family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, its a big group. All the kids are completely wrapped up in games and barely acknowledge shit (some are in thier 20's). It gets worse every year, honestly I have no idea what thier parents are thinking or if they are even aware that the kids are fucked. Its a constant we had a party a while back, all the kids brought there portable games and just sat in there own corners repectively and pecked away at the games. They have the social skills of a brick, granted computers are here to stay and a necesary skill in todays day and age but at what cost? I see so many parents using videos, video games, computers and what not as a pacifier from a young age. I cant help but think that this is gonna come back and bite them in the ass down the road (like when little Johnny is 40 and has yet to move out).

 

[RiverDave]

If you end up weeding him off the games, let me know and I will buy Steam and Half Life off of you...

LMAO!!! I love it.

I'm not much into gaming (anymore), but god knows this website sure takes up a lot of time.

RD

 

[hawkes24]

i dont really play games that much maybe 1 day a month but the new call of duty is coming out and i had to tell my girlfriend that my time will be spent on the ps3 for a while instead of with her....the game looks awesome

 

[mbrown2]

Every year on Christmas eve we get together with my wifes family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, its a big group. All the kids are completely wrapped up in games and barely acknowledge shit (some are in thier 20's). It gets worse every year, honestly I have no idea what thier parents are thinking or if they are even aware that the kids are fucked. Its a constant we had a party a while back, all the kids brought there portable games and just sat in there own corners repectively and pecked away at the games. They have the social skills of a brick, granted computers are here to stay and a necesary skill in todays day and age but at what cost? I see so many parents using videos, video games, computers and what not as a pacifier from a young age. I cant help but think that this is gonna come back and bite them in the ass down the road (like when little Johnny is 40 and has yet to move out).

Could not agree more but this generation is going bite us in our latter years not just their parents....not looking forward to the on-line mid-evil princess dude making laws, regulations, running business on my behalf...

 

[lebel409]

Like when little Johnny is 40 and has yet to move out.

We have stated rules...from day one.

We'll pay for 1/2 of their first car...they pay gas and insurance.
We'll pay tuition and books for a state school for 5 years. If they want to go to Humboldt, get a job...If they want to go to USC...get a scholarship.

We've told them at 18 they are going to go to school, or going to get a job, or going into the military...but the operative word is GOING.

Right now they repeat it word for word and roll their eyes...:drillsergeant:

 

[whiteworks]

We have stated rules...from day one.

We'll pay for 1/2 of their first car...they pay gas and insurance.
We'll pay tuition and books for a state school for 5 years. If they want to go to Humboldt, get a job...If they want to go to USC...get a scholarship.

We've told them at 18 they are going to go to school, or going to get a job, or going into the military...but the operative word is GOING.

Right now they repeat it word for word and roll their eyes...:drillsergeant:

We are running a similar program, Education is big in our house. Granted Jordyn is only 5 months old but there is a plan. Good grades, college, grad school, post grad, and the over all theme of making a significant impact on the world. What ever she wishes to pursure academically we will make happen. She is not even going to be aware that it is not an option. Now for personal interests, what ever she has an interest in will be earned (not just handed out) and pursued to the fullest of our ability. We are shooting for a well rounded, socially adjusted, productive member of society. I dont really see where video games fit in to that program. I gotta run were heading down to Laguna Beach for lunch and family time