VIDEO GAMES AND CHILDREN
Today’s video games are
appealing to our young ones: they are fun, the action is fast, the challenges
are inviting. However, when children spend time in front of small screens –
whether it’s the TV, computer or hand-held games – it takes away from the time
they could spend playing sports, learning other skills or enjoying active play.
When children constantly
receive their entertainment through computer games, they develop an increasing
desire for instant entertainment which decreases their attention span and hurts
their listening skills. Simple common sense dictates that too much time spent playing online games is counter-productive to a
child’s healthy growth and development.
If as a parent you are not
facing this problem (yet) CONGRATULATIONS!
If it is a concern, (or you think it might become one) bear in mind that the
goal of a parent should not be to remove the child’s access to these
activities, but to help the child find
balance between time spent using these devices and time spent in activities
of a different nature.
What NOT to do: Many articles discuss
strategies to reduce video-gaming time suggest “tiger-mom” measures such as
removing the computer from the child’s room, installing access-limiting
software, or simply pulling the plug on the computer. These methods are
confrontational, and send a message that the child lacks self-control. Cooperation and respect should be the
tools of first choice. As parents we should help our children see the
consequences of too much time online and help them make the decision for
themselves to bring more balance into their lives.
Here are some suggestions
to help reduce the amount of time your children spent playing video games.
1. Play a video game with your child - Let your child teach you one of their
favorite video games and give it a try. You may find the game instructive,
challenging, or deplorable. In any case, you’re showing your child that you are
open-minded and willing to try something new. After all, this is what you’re
asking of your child in having them reduce time spent on video games. There’s a
better chance your child will listen to your suggestions when you’ve shown a
willingness to understand the appeal of these games.
2. Keep a log of time spent on video games for a week -
Ask your child to keep a record of time spent on gaming. (Or keep a record
yourself.) At the end of one week, show them a visual representation of how
much of their free time is going to this activity. Is it 10% of their time, or
50%? It’s likely that your child hasn't considered this, and may be surprised
at the results. Once you have some actual data, any argument over the amount of
time spent on gaming is eliminated, and you can see if there is a problem, and
to what degree.
3. Show your child what that amount of time represents in
other activities - With some thought, you can develop a list of
activities and opportunities that can be achieved in the same amount of time
spent gaming. As a parent, you should be prepared to help the child get started
in an activity program, or help buy supplies or equipment for new projects. The
goal of this exercise is to show the child what activities he or she may be
missing.
4. Arrange active indoor or outdoor activities for your
children and thier friends - Help do the thinking and planning
for alternative activities for your children. (They may be out of practice.) To
make it more appealing, look for ways to include your children’s friends.
5. Start a long term project of your child’s choosing - Your
child may have an interest or goal that seems out of reach. If you can tap into
something your child is passionate about, you may be able to help them realize
their passion. Most children don’t think of long-term projects, but you can
show them how planning and budgeting their time and money can bring big
rewards. Working on the garden, building something, decorating, are good
examples. Of course, as a parent your participation is required to help finance
the project and help see it to completion. But a long term project with your
child is rewarding to the parent as well!
7. Have family meals together - Playing
video games is often a solitary activity. Eating dinner together as a family
provides a valuable opportunity for communication. A scheduled meal together
helps lift children from the isolated bubble of their game consoles and engage
the other members of the family in the exchange of ideas. Family dinners should
be a place for open discussion, where the children can discuss their gaming
accomplishments, should they choose, and where they can also hear the interests
of all family members. Dinnertime is also an opportunity for family members to
discuss a variety of interests outside of the video-game arena and plan
upcoming activities.
Encouraging your child to spend less time playing video games
requires more hands-on time from the parents. This is not always
easy, given the busy schedules of parents today. But the rewards are rich as we
see our children grow, and as we spend more time with them.
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