Rules for Tweens Who Play Video Games
Control How Much Time Your Child Sits in Front of a Gaming Console
Nov 14, 2009
With the environment that a tween grows up in these days, it is easy for him to think that using a mobile phone, having 24/7 Internet access, cable television, and playing with the latest video gaming consoles are his birthright. Sure, it is perfectly normal for parents to grant kids the privilege of using the latest in gaming systems, but there will come a point when too much usage will be addicting and dangerous to a child's health and state of mind.
The Effects of Video Game Addiction to a Tween’s Health
As a result of the possibility of kids, especially those in the tween years, developing an addiction to video gaming, it is good for parents to start laying down rules when playing addicting games. There is absolutely nothing wrong in allowing a child to play his favorite video games for an hour or two, but anything more could result to an addiction.
In order for parents to realize the full impact of the dangers of playing addicting video games to a tween, here’s a brief background. Experts do say that there is a certain level of benefit enjoyed by kids who play video games. Basically, kids who suffer from asthma or diabetes can learn healthy self-care skills when playing video games.
According to Alfred Flores, author of Can Video Games Help Kids Make Healthy Choices? (United States Department Agriculture, March 14, 2006), there are also "positive" video games that teach kids good hand-eye coordination, develop necessary computing skills, and improve one's spatial, visual and iconic skills, and teach kids about good lifestyles.
On the other hand, there are also risks faced by kids who are playing addicting games. There are some video games which have a violent nature – this may affect the social skills development of tweens. Being exposed to video games of a violent nature may cause some kids to develop aggression that might easily get them into fights later on.
Tweens who are physically inactive as a result of spending too much time playing with video gaming consoles are also at a risk of obesity, according to Jennifer Warner in her July 2, 2004 article "Video Games, TV Double Childhood Obesity Risk" in WebMD Health News, July 2, 2004. As such, it is important for parents to set the ground rules when it comes to how much time a kid gets to spend in front of the computer.
Limit Video Game Playing to One to Two Hours per Day
So how are parents supposed to go about laying down rules when a tween is playing video games? It is recommended that tweens spend no more than one to two hours per day in front of all electronic screens. This includes television, video gaming systems, and computers. Parents can use this as a basis when setting the ground rules of the total number of hours that a tween can spend playing his favorite video games.
While at it, laying down rules when playing video games will be even better if the nature of the games being played are monitored. For example, rather than playing solitary games, a tween can have better social interaction with his peers or family if multi-player video games are played. As an example, the Wii Fit game allows kids to exercise while competing with other people to finish races and win sports games.
Parents should implement and strictly enforce the rules when it comes to allowing kids to play addicting games. Another approach that parents can take is to only allow these types of activities during weekends, if that suits a family's lifestyle, whether it’s using the Internet, playing video games, or watching television.
Video games are a lot of fun and aren't going away any time soon. Tweens can use gaming systems responsibly, and enjoy the fun that the games provide. Just make sure he is following the rules of the house when it comes to playing such games, and join in the fun, too!
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