“It’s video game day!!!” my six-year-old boys yell as they run down the steps on a Saturday morning. During the week, screen time like video games is usually limited. But on the weekends, there will be time made for video games. The boys can hardly contain their excitement!
I have a love-hate relationship with video games. The games can be fun, teach problem-solving, enhance fine motor coordination, provide healthy competition, and friendships can build over common interests. On the flip side, too much overstimulating screen time can alter behaviors to be harder to handle.
As parents, we also have to be mindful of games that connect to the internet. Games connected to the internet give the opportunity to make unwanted purchases or talk to strangers.
We have let our boys play video games for longer stretches than we should. As busy parents, having something that kept two boys occupied was a relief. Yet, once the games were off, the fallout was awful. Every time game time was over, there would be dramatic meltdowns.
Setting a Boundary for Video Games
We wanted the benefits of video games without the drawbacks. We knew we needed to create some sort of boundary. So, we came up with a plan.
According to the APA, a six-year-old should have no more than two hours of screen time a day. During the week, we are under that goal. But weekends at home are a different story. Our plan now is that the boys can “unlock” video game time on video game days. To unlock game time, they have to be ready for the day and have done some sort of chore. They can have up to two hours on Saturday and one hour on Sunday. We use the oven timer, or a timer on our phones, so they can keep track of their time. Once they use up an hour, they take a long break. Usually, there’s an activity to go to which helps break up the time and they end up playing again before dinner time. It may sound silly or strict, but it has really benefited our family.
As a family, we enjoy games like Mario Party or Mario Kart. Playing together has actually created some fun memories for our family. It allows me, someone who does not game, into the world of gaming. I enjoy listening to the boys talk about what they love, even though I do not share an interest in all the games. I now know more about Minecraft and Pokémon than I thought possible.
Video games and kids can have a bad reputation, but it’s not all bad. I think kids do need clear boundaries around them to play safely and have a healthy balance of play.
