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Kids and Gaming

Published Tuesday 28 Oct 2008 9:35pm |

I've been a gamer most of my life. It started as a kid when my mate used to bring his commodore 64 around. Then we got the atari and then the ultimate gaming experience(well at the time) in a sega master system and alex the kid yeah. Anyway I guess I was about 7 or 8 at the time and it wasn;t untill FFVII came out that I guess I became a bit of an adict. The hours I spent playing those games was huge. I remember not sleeping playing all weekend making excuses not to go to parties with my mates so I could play playstatiion instead. My parents couldn't undersatnd the interest and this is where I wanna bring in the topic of this blog is gaming good for kids.

My son is 5 and he's already hounding me to play the PS2, now our understand the concept of monkey see monkey do but do I want him to become a gamer. Hes a smart boy having been moved up a class already and Im worried gaming may affect his studies (I know it did mine). Will it change his social behaviour making him more secluded. I keep thinking these things and wondered what your thoughts are or what are the rules in your house for those with kids. And if they have been affected by gaming negatively or positvely.

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On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 3:41 AM Posted by Oliver

It's ok to let him do some gaming, but you just gotta impose restrictions from the very beginning and don't let those restrictions slip!

Maybe something like 1 hour per night and only after finishing his homework, and only if he behaves and does some cleaning or something along those lines. When it's time to finish up, switch the PS2 off at the back.

That's what I'd do. If I had a kid. Haha.

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 7:28 AM Posted by dvant1

That's what i do and i HAVE a kid, lol. There's no second chances, gaming is a privelige, not a right. If i want them to do something, they pause their game and do it, if i have to come in a second time, it's to turn the console off for the rest of the day, whether they saved it or not. That's because they have this incredible feature called....wait for it....pause.

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 8:40 AM Posted by Chris Redfield

Don't let him play video games, watch tv, use the internet or cell phones. Encourage the little shit to go outside and play with sticks and build huts.

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 8:51 AM Posted by Ron

The reality is gaming is an older thing these days, but in saying that there is a number of teen titles coming out now. Tweenies will owe everyone soon with their Hanna Montana's and those Jones Bros, or whatever they're called!

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 9:11 AM Posted by Gazza22

Hahaha its "Jonas Brothers" Ron, come on mate get with it.

Im hop.

lol

On topic take a bit of Chris Redfields advice aswell as a bit of Dvant's and combine them together, and then you may have a lil champ on your hands.

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 9:58 AM Posted by swetsalot

Cheers for the advice I can imagine the tanty he'd have if I switched the PS2 off mid game lol.

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 12:55 PM Posted by Yacolt

I was always only alowed an hour a night. I got really upset too, but it was the rules and I definitely did better for it.

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 1:57 PM Posted by Liam

Haha, you reminded me of something my father told me about my gaming habits: "Well, at least you're not doing drugs".

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 4:22 PM Posted by Bigbcbob

GAMING may have mucked me up a littel

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 5:47 PM Posted by iRonic

well there is a time for gaming (most of the time) then socialising and other stuff, just dont expose him to insane hardcore gaming...

On Wednesday 29 Oct 2008 7:14 PM Posted by ChatterboxZombie

You dont have to tell Nintendo that twice...

On Thursday 30 Oct 2008 9:46 AM Posted by itachi

Gaming can help develop outside thinking, maybe get some educational games for him as a comprimise, poor buggar.

On Thursday 30 Oct 2008 4:30 PM Posted by rider211

gaming to me is like apart of my life

On Friday 31 Oct 2008 12:20 PM Posted by Ruptunex

If you don't have control then your kid will control you.

On Monday 3 Nov 2008 6:41 PM Posted by Lisa3x3x3

One hours a bit stink guys!! i cant member the last time i only played for one hour.. do give him limits tho and try get him involved in something else that he will have to commit to on a regular basis so he has got something else to do, like for example when i was a lil hardcore gamer :p i also did Kung Fu twice a week, touch rugby, hockey, basketball and Jazz ballet.. maybe not the ballet for him tho!
but just an idea to get him involved in other things too. Member to keep the balance ;)

On Sunday 9 Nov 2008 7:13 PM Posted by cute_maori

I would not want my kids to get control or annoy me when I play games.

On Thursday 13 Nov 2008 3:00 PM Posted by xSHADOWx

Yeh I agree with oliver make a time limit. and force him to go to parties.

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