Am I a bad parent?

[Ripsnort]

My house rules:
No Xbox
No Game cubes
No video games whatsoever.

Now, my oldest son (whos just turned 7) doesn't seem to mind it, he knows the rules..but then occasionally he'll come home from a friends house and whine "I wish I had a Xbox" but then drops it soon after since he knows there is no use argueing with me.

I believe that a child should have more to do than the brain-rotting repetitive actions that one does on a video game.  Reading, going outdoors, riding bikes, etc. etc. is permissable, but Video games are definately out.

He has his computer, with many learning games (he's top in his 1st grade class for reading, writing, I might add) and a few simulators, but no "games" to speak of.

Any other "bad" parents out there?

[GtoRA2]

OK yeah, games like DOA extreme beach volley ball would be bad but not all arcade games or puter games are.

 I am not saying let them have fee riegn, but whats wrong with an hour a day or so?

There one thing to think of too. You do not want your kids to far from the norm in school, it will get them picked on and that will do them more harm the an XBOX...


As long as they do go out and play and you spend as much time with them as you can, arcade games are not going to hurt them.

[Modas]

Ripsnort.  WTG!!  Growing up I was only allowed 1 hour of cartoons on Saturday and THAT was on a Black and white tv.  After my hour was up, that was it.  The tv was turned off.

Jonny Quest was my favorite.  I think I turned out ok

More parents should do what you are doing.  Force their kids to get off their collective fannies, get outside and do stuff.   Might solve a great number of the overweight problems we are seeing now.  Read a book versus sit in front of the boob tube.  

With that said, back to AH for more video games, beer and cheese.  

[Ripsnort]

Its just that I feel guilty when we visit the neighbors, only to see that their children have all the latest and greatest hardware/software for video games.  Their children are usually fat, and they're always playing video games!  My kids are limited to TV too.  When the TV goes off, the cardboard, paper, glue, scissors, color crayons, playdoe, board games, etc. come out.  

I sometimes feel like I'm depriving them of some fun at home, but at the same time, I don't want to be hollaring at them to get off the damn video game either! Rock and a hard spot with me conscience I guess?

[Saurdaukar]

Tough one here.  Obviously "games" dont really add anything to the growth process than entertainment, but since when is entertainment bad?

If youre semi opposed to the idea of buying them a console - I say let them get an XBox if THEY can raise the funds for it (maybe buy them a game to "congratulate" thier ability to save money after purchase).  This way, they learn to appreciate money and are able to talk about the latest and greatest video game with their friends at the lunch table in school.  

Nothing really wrong with videogames in my book - just because people enjoy them doesnt mean that they are never going to go organize a game of roller hockey in the street.

[lazs2]

it does seem a little odd tho that someone like yourself who spends so much time playing a computer game will forbid his children to.   I mean .... example and all that..

personally.... I admit to being a lousy parent... if it wasn't for their various mom's I doubt my kids woulda even survived.
lazs

[hardcase2]

And yet Daddy flys AH. ..The key to this question is...Do you take your own advice/rules, do you read when you could be playing AH? I agree with you, but, to totally eliminate those things that your kids peers do is gonna come back to bite you later own. Moderation in most forms is not bad. Abitratary and capricious rulings do more harm than good. My advice..think about setting times and days they can play. Rewarding them for A's on report cards, doing chores etc. It might be a win win situation.

HC

[Hortlund]

LOL

Im not going to say anything about "bad" or "good" parenting, I mean that is totally up to you my friend.

I have two sons, one aged 2 and one aged 6 months, and I cant wait for them to get older. Soon Im going to buy one of those racetracks so we can play with that one. Then an electric train. Then a RC car, then an X-Box...well you get the idea

You get to play with all those things yourself too Rip, and the kids will think you are the coolest dad on earth...think about it.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by lazs2
it does seem a little odd tho that someone like yourself who spends so much time playing a computer game will forbid his children to.   I mean .... example and all that..

personally.... I admit to being a lousy parent... if it wasn't for their various mom's I doubt my kids woulda even survived.
lazs

Do you relize that my time online is under about 3 hours a week (exception: Christmas when I had 2 weeks off) and its usually after they're in bed....and I only have two sims on my hard drive, no games.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Hortlund
LOL

Im not going to say anything about "bad" or "good" parenting, I mean that is totally up to you my friend.

I have two sons, one aged 2 and one aged 6 months, and I cant wait for them to get older. Soon Im going to buy one of those racetracks so we can play with that one. Then an electric train. Then a RC car, then an X-Box...well you get the idea

You get to play with all those things yourself too Rip, and the kids will think you are the coolest dad on earth...think about it.

Oh, we play with all the aforementioned except video games, which IMO is brain rot. You don't "learn" anything.  My kids get software that are games for their computer, but they're learning games. (Thus, my son being #1 in his 1st grade class I suppose~!)

I'm just hung up on these video games...I see his friends, they're fat, they play games all day long.  Not going to be my son...

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by hardcase2
And yet Daddy flys AH. ..The key to this question is...Do you take your own advice/rules, do you read when you could be playing AH? I agree with you, but, to totally eliminate those things that your kids peers do is gonna come back to bite you later own. Moderation in most forms is not bad. Abitratary and capricious rulings do more harm than good. My advice..think about setting times and days they can play. Rewarding them for A's on report cards, doing chores etc. It might be a win win situation.

HC

When my kid reads, I read with them. When my kids study, I study with them or if they're familiar with the homework they're doing, then I always have work stuff I need to get caught up on..we all do our "work" at a set time around the dinner table after dinner.  In essence, yes, I practice what I preach.

[Sandman]

Hmmm... my son is into all of that... He's 14... 5'7... lean and physically active as well.

Every now and then, he and his friends will get together and all four of them will gaze at the screen while they play. It's one of the ways they socialize and enjoy each other's company.

Moderation...


Now... if your kid is slow, fat and spends a lot of time in front of the console alone, you probably need to take steps.


I grew up in a more rural environment... we had an Atari 2600 in the house. We also had a thousand acres of orchards to roam in. I can't recall my parents ever limiting our console time. At the same time, most of my memories of my childhood with my brothers are of outside activities or alone inside reading.... My father didn't much care for my indoor reading habits. He always thought that I should be outside playing baseball, a game I thoroughly detest.

[SaburoS]

Hope they don't see you playing on your adult video game (the computer) playing AH. A parent's got to walk the talk to have credibility and respect from their kids. It's when they play their video games and how long that could be bad or good. If your kids are usually good get them a video game machine (check out the games then buy the machine) but have certain iron clad rules like no playing if their homework isn't done (that homework better get good feedback from their teachers). No plying video games on school nights. Only 1 hour (choose your time limit and stick to it) or so at a time/per day.

[Tumor]

I wouldn't say your a bad parent Rip.  Consoles have always been in our family (for the kids... even though I hate the damn things) but we don't let them sit around playing them all day.  Personally... I figure with good parenting, a kids gonna turn out ok.  I go against the grain of PC with raising my kids on allot of issues.  I don't see how sheltering a child from anything (within reason... subjective of course) does them any good, especially when mom and dad go out of thier way to know what they are being exposed to and are ready to discuss it (and sometimes discuss it whether they want to or not).  Everyone's different... I was sheltered (heavily) through about age 13 when I basicly told mom and pop to shove it in allota ways.  I "think" I turned out ok.  Gotta couple cousins who were in the same boat I was but never grew the nads to "rebell"... today as adults I consider them about a fruity as they come... ya just never know, so ya do your best now.... and thats your call.

[Curval]

Originally posted by Ripsnort

No video games whatsoever.


Any other "bad" parents out there?

AH doesn't count as a video game?  

I'm with you on the console games though...no way.  My kids will read books.

My sister has a little girl who is 9...avid reader and has no desire to have an X-Box or gameboy etc.  Bright girl.

She has a brother and sister...twins, in fact.  All they do is sit and play with gameboys.  They are not so bright.

You are a good parent...not a bad one IMHO.