Video games

My 7 year old daughter has been asking for Gameboy for Christmas. My
nephews, 10 yrs old and 7 yrs old, both have Gameboy and Nintendo DS,
but they are playing the game all the time. Even when the family is
together for holiday, birthday or even just a get-together. I guess
it really depends on the parents control of the kids!!?? Can anyone
share your thoughts on this?

"Scrapcat" wrote in message
ups.com...
My 7 year old daughter has been asking for Gameboy for Christmas. My
nephews, 10 yrs old and 7 yrs old, both have Gameboy and Nintendo
DS,
but they are playing the game all the time. Even when the family is
together for holiday, birthday or even just a get-together. I
guess
it really depends on the parents control of the kids!!?? Can anyone
share your thoughts on this?

My kids have both, and play neither. Of the two, the DS is much
better IMO, though I'll admit their gameboys are older.

Bizby

Scrapcat wrote:
My 7 year old daughter has been asking for Gameboy for Christmas. My
nephews, 10 yrs old and 7 yrs old, both have Gameboy and Nintendo DS,
but they are playing the game all the time. Even when the family is
together for holiday, birthday or even just a get-together. I guess
it really depends on the parents control of the kids!!?? Can anyone
share your thoughts on this?

It depends on the kid and on the limits the parents
set. You have to decide what's okay with you. Personally,
my kids have had several and manage to keep their game
playing within reasonable limits. Personally, I don't
see any problem with that.

Best wishes,
Ericka

In article . com, Scrapcat
says...

My 7 year old daughter has been asking for Gameboy for Christmas. My
nephews, 10 yrs old and 7 yrs old, both have Gameboy and Nintendo DS,
but they are playing the game all the time. Even when the family is
together for holiday, birthday or even just a get-together. I guess
it really depends on the parents control of the kids!!?? Can anyone
share your thoughts on this?


While I don't think it's a good idea at all to allow kids to play the video
games all the time, as a parent and a former kid I fully understand why video
games get played at family get-togethers and holidays - - there's a lot of
boring "dead" time for kids when people wait for stuff, or the adults converse.
Consider if this is the kinds of times you've been observing.

It's really a matter of the kid (some kids can get "hooked" more than others)
and the limits you set as a parent.

Banty

"Scrapcat" wrote in message
ups.com...
My 7 year old daughter has been asking for Gameboy for Christmas. My
nephews, 10 yrs old and 7 yrs old, both have Gameboy and Nintendo DS,
but they are playing the game all the time. Even when the family is
together for holiday, birthday or even just a get-together. I guess
it really depends on the parents control of the kids!!?? Can anyone
share your thoughts on this?

The recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is that kids
should not be using recreational electronics more than about 2 hours a day.
That includes TV, video games, game boys, DS and the computer. Of course, if
the kids are really using the computer for school, that time doesn't count.

Jeff

In article , Banty
wrote:

My 7 year old daughter has been asking for Gameboy for Christmas. My
nephews, 10 yrs old and 7 yrs old, both have Gameboy and Nintendo DS,
but they are playing the game all the time. Even when the family is
together for holiday, birthday or even just a get-together.


While I don't think it's a good idea at all to allow kids to play the video
games all the time, as a parent and a former kid I fully understand why video
games get played at family get-togethers and holidays - - there's a lot of
boring "dead" time for kids when people wait for stuff, or the adults
converse.
Consider if this is the kinds of times you've been observing.

On a slight etiquette tangent:

Visited a family once where, when we arrived, the two boys (8 and 10) were
playing their Nintendos in the lounge room. The parents greeted us and
introduced their children, who grunted. The kids continued to play their
games for most of the evening, with us right there, which really didn't make
us feel comfortable.

My suggestion: if you ARE planning to allow your kids to play the things any
time, please *send them to their rooms* so that visitors don't feel they are
interrupting.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may
start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled."
Kerry Cue

In article , Chookie
says...

In article , Banty
wrote:

My 7 year old daughter has been asking for Gameboy for Christmas. My
nephews, 10 yrs old and 7 yrs old, both have Gameboy and Nintendo DS,
but they are playing the game all the time. Even when the family is
together for holiday, birthday or even just a get-together.


While I don't think it's a good idea at all to allow kids to play the video
games all the time, as a parent and a former kid I fully understand why video
games get played at family get-togethers and holidays - - there's a lot of
boring "dead" time for kids when people wait for stuff, or the adults
converse.
Consider if this is the kinds of times you've been observing.

On a slight etiquette tangent:

Visited a family once where, when we arrived, the two boys (8 and 10) were
playing their Nintendos in the lounge room. The parents greeted us and
introduced their children, who grunted. The kids continued to play their
games for most of the evening, with us right there, which really didn't make
us feel comfortable.

My suggestion: if you ARE planning to allow your kids to play the things any
time, please *send them to their rooms* so that visitors don't feel they are
interrupting.


And they should greet the visitors.

Although, from this description, sound like maybe there was *nothing* in this
visit for them to enjoy. A lot of visits are like that for the kids. Unless
there are other kids close to their age.

Banty

"Banty" wrote in message
...
In article
, Chookie
says...
My suggestion: if you ARE planning to allow your kids to play the
things any
time, please *send them to their rooms* so that visitors don't feel
they are
interrupting.

And they should greet the visitors.

Although, from this description, sound like maybe there was
*nothing* in this
visit for them to enjoy. A lot of visits are like that for the
kids. Unless
there are other kids close to their age.

It wouldn't bother me if the kids were sitting there quietly playing a
game while I talked to their parent. And I don't see why they should
be sent away. But I agree that they should greet the visitor, and
should go to another room if they are being disruptive in some way.

Bizby

In article , Banty
wrote:

And they should greet the visitors.

Although, from this description, sound like maybe there was *nothing* in this
visit for them to enjoy. A lot of visits are like that for the kids. Unless
there are other kids close to their age.

No -- there wasn't. Admittedly my kids are younger, but in a similar
situation I pack them off to another room with a DVD. It was very strange
having the kids there; it was like being in a room with Scrabble players --
should you talk to them or not? Odd.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may
start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled."
Kerry Cue

"Chookie" wrote in message
No -- there wasn't. Admittedly my kids are younger, but in a similar
situation I pack them off to another room with a DVD. It was very strange
having the kids there; it was like being in a room with Scrabble
players --
should you talk to them or not? Odd.

You sound like you don't have experience with older kids. It doesn't sound
odd to me at all. If you have a question for the kids, talk with them. Let
them play their game and carry on conversations with the adults that you
came to see. Kids don't really enjoy adult conversation and I don't see
anything wrong with the kids playing the video game. It's the same thing as
you shuffling your kids off to watch a DVD, except they go to another room.
I would expect the kids to be courteous when you first arrive to greet you
and talk, but after that if it's mostly adults, then I don't see the big
deal.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)