Want to do something good for your teen? Play a video game with them.
Video games help give parents opportunities to teach – through modeling – appropriate competitive behaviors. It also gives families something to do that doesn’t cost $8-$10 per person to go once. While video games aren’t cheap, movie prices are way out of line for family entertainment any more. When you purchase a game system and game, you have it for life.
I know some are saying why not go outside to play or bring out the board games instead. I agree and in our home we do these things too. They are all part of being a family and enjoying each other’s company. Plus, we don't purchase or allow violent video games. 'Positivity' is a mantra in our home.
What do you think? Does your family enjoy video games? Do you also play board games? What other family activities do you enjoy? Share your experiences in the comments area.
Well said. How many of us wish that our parents would have made more of an effort to related to the things we liked as teenagers? It is very kind to let all members of the family contribute what they think is fun.
My husband and son love to play video games together. I’m terrible at video games, but my son loves it when I play anyway. They just tell me which buttons to push or I push them randomly and frantically – either way I’m awful. We laugh and they’re very supportive and tell me how well I did. My daughter doesn’t enjoy video games either.
We play board games, tile games, or makes trails with dominoes and knock one down and watch the domino effect.
Our latest family fun is marshmallow guns. PVC pipe is very cheap and for less than $10 you can make several really cool marshmallow shooters and have money left over for a couple bags of mini marshmallows. We’ll chase each other around the yard, the park, wherever, shooting marshmallows at each other (we’ve even done it in the house – the dogs love it to)! It’s great exercise, and a lot of laughs!
I thought it was odd when my 16 year old kept asking me to play Halo. I do not like videos games, I’m not at all good at them, so I avoid them. But I thought “ok, small thing to do on my part”. I was AMAZED at his PATIENCE, absolutely amazed. We laughed together at how bad I was, but he coached me through it!
Teens divide most of their time between TV, the net, and video games. It’s possible to control what they watch and what sites they visit. Since video games also allow interaction with other teens, I think sharing game time with them will give us idea how they interact with other people in this setting.
What are marshmallow games? This sound like fun and harmless.
Video games and teens – I have witnessed a video game, rather a MMORPG (massive multi-player online role playing game) World of Warcraft almost ruin my sons life. He got addicted was thrown out of private school, had planned on going to MIT, had to go to continuation school, started stealing to play the game, physically assaulted me, has been in countless therapists offices. Almost didn’t graduate from high school, the sequelae of his addiction almost brought my husband and I to divorce. It all started innocently years ago playing SEGA genesis. Not all kids get addicted but watch very carefully. So, my opinion of video games being “harmless” not quite.
Back in the 80’s when I was a teen/young adult I played video games and when my kids were around 6 they were introduced to them. They were also given limits,just like with T.V. I played along with them. Now that my boys are older they don’t play as often. Usually in the winter when its too cold, or rainy days. Otherwise they hang out with friends playing b-ball. We also have a cabnet full of board games and cards we play on cold or rainy days. I live in small town america so we don’t have all the infuences of the big towns and citys. We have learned to make our own fun.
Joining your kids playing their fave online games is a good thing. At least, you as a parent will be informed what your child is playing you’ll also get the chance to monitor his play time.