I know this is pretty much an opinion question, so please feel free to share yours! What's worked for your family? Specifically, when do you think it's appropriate to start allowing video games?
My kids get an hr. a day. But they have to choose what they want to play. Like the computer or play station. As to when they started playing, it depended on the kid. But basically when they were about school aged.
We started allowing video games when our oldest (now almost 11) started school. Our youngest is 4 and he isn't interested in video games at all yet, so we'll see how long we can put it off with him. We also have a 15 year old foreign exchange student. We all get home from school by 4:00, and there is no TV, computer, video games, etc. allowed before 6:00. That way they interact with me and with each other after school, telling me about their day and getting involved with non-electronic activities. I've found that even at 6:00 they often don't even turn on the TV or computer because they are doing other things. I love it! We eat at about 5:00 or so, and that way the TV is off for dinner. After 6:00 they get 2 hours of gaming/TV time, but they usually don't use it all. More TV is allowed if we're watching it as a family. Our 4 year old doesn't care much about TV, so the rules don't apply to him. He would much rather play.
I let my 5 year old play his nana's Wii. He won't have one of his own for some time, though. I hate video games.
S.
my oldest boy didn't get a nitendo ds till he was 10, but has a limit of an hour a day. he does play computer games for at most an hour a day. i also watch the violence levels of the games to a G rating, not even a 10 and above. he's still very impressionable and doesn't need to see some character beheading a zombie, know what i mean? my youngest boy is almost 5 and just got a leapster 2, which is educational games. he also plays computer games. he has similar limits, but typically plays much less. it's worked well. it's the first thing to go as a punishment and very effective. ;)
My son got a playstation last year for Christmas (he was almost 6). He can play it whenever he wants, but he hasn't abused that privilege yet. He hardly plays it at all honestly. He'd much rather be outside playing, so it's reserved really for rainy days. I'd set limits if he ever seemed "addicted," but so far he hasn't. When he does play, he loves the Disney Cars racing game or the bowling - both games we all like to play together.
I have two boys also...age 5 and almost 3! I'm putting off the whole video game thing until it is something my boys ask me for (or beg me for). They'd much rather play outside or with other types of toys inside at this point. When/if we ever get them a video system, I will limit it to 30 minutes each day.
We have a very strict limit of 2 hours a day. BUT>>>this includes video games, TV and computer!!! They divide it up how ever they choose, but its 2 hours and that's it. There are plenty of other things to do that do not include sitting on your bottom staring at a screen. As far as the age....I think that school age is going to be about right. But really what's the difference in playing a video game and watching TV?? At least they are getting some interactive skills on the game instead of just staring at the TV.
I have a 13 year old step-son and I think he started with the video games around 6. My biggest piece of advice is to limit the time on it. He lived with his mom until he was 10 and that was basically his babysitter. Now he plays his Xbox for hours and hours on end. Then we have to peel him away from it and it is always a fight.
I would just set a ground rule from the get go of so much time per day on the video games. Otherwise it gets difficult the older they get. We have a rule now that no video games during the week while he's in school. Otherwise it's a fight to get him to do his homework.
Good Luck!
