How To Keep Your Kids Off Video Games

Are your kids seemingly obsessed with the ever so popular world of video games? If we as parents were being completely truthful, video games make our lives a little easier because most kids need little to no supervision while their little fingers fly over the controller and their eyes are fixed on the bright colored screens. They barely even blink they are so in tune to squashing the bad guys or shooting the aliens from another planet. But most of us become concerned when they start gaining a few extra pounds and they have no desire to do much else. As a single mom, I felt it was my duty to nip this problem in the bud before it gets out of hand.

I tried several ideas that I will relay to you and hopefully you will find something that works for you.

• First, I tried to set a limit on how much they were allowed to play. That worked for a while but soon they tattled on each other constantly, stating so-and-so went over their time limit. I also had a feeling they were being untruthful when they told me how much they had played.
• Next, I set up a video game time log. For every hour they spent doing outdoor activities or chores around the house they earned one half hour of video game time. Again that worked for a while. They would play outside for hours at a time and I thought I had really found a good solution, but soon they began hanging around inside the house staring at a blank television screen. It was pretty pathetic.
• My most recent attempt is the one I'm enforcing right now and so far so good. I carry the controllers in my purse. I am in complete control of when they play and for how long. When I leave the house I know that they are not playing excessively. I let them play as soon as their chores and homework are done and I base how long they play on the quality of the work they do.

Although there may never be a fool proof way to keep your kids away from video games entirely, unless you just don't own any, (those are the smart parents) we still, as responsible adults, need to do our best to help our kids understand that there is more to life than Super Mario or Guitar Hero. Of course there is the option of shoving our kids out the door and lock it behind them. Just kidding.