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We have a giant play structure in our back yard. We have loads of sports equipment. We have board games and Legos and more action figures than I can count. But, when my son has friends over for a play date, all they want to do is play video games. Sound familiar?
Video games are a huge part of our children’s social culture - 83% of kids have a video game console at home and boys ages 8-10 are the biggest players of all.
But, for kids today, who are busy with lessons and sports practice and homework, a play date is an ideal chance to put down the joystick and play tag, build forts or trade baseball cards.
I’ve found that the best way to manage the video game obsession is to set some basic house rules about visitors and video games and to manage the expectations for game time with friends.
For play dates under 2 hours, set a no video game rule. Explain this to your child’s guest when they arrive and come up with a few alternative ideas to get kids off and playing.
If time does allow for some video game playing, limit video game play to 30 minutes, to be cashed in at the end of the play date. Two kids can get about 15 minutes of playing time…if there are 3 of them, they each get 10 minutes. Use the timer on your stove or alarm clock to keep track of turns so there’s no arguing.
Games created for kids 13 and up are more complex and can take hours to complete – they also tend to be more strategic and team oriented. Work with teens and tweens to set reasonable limits on screen time. And make sure they have access to other activities like a music system, a basketball hoop, traditional board games or a foosball table.
Sharon Miller Cindrich is an author, columnist and mother of two tech-savvy kids. Her work has appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country including The Chicago Tribune, Parents Magazine and FamilyFun Magazine, where she is a contributing editor. Her self-syndicated column Plugged In Parent is published in parenting magazines around the country, and her book E-parenting: Keeping Up With Your Tech-Savvy Kids (Random House 2007) is available on Amazon.com.