I don't get it???

Question

Why are more and more parents letting thier kids just sit a play video games all day every day. That does absolutly nothing for them....Kids need to be out getting dirty, bruising knees, riding bikes, maybe even causing a little bit of trouble.. We wonder why so many more kids are becoming unhealthy and over weight, but parents are the ones allwoing this to happen.

I guess what really gets me is that all that time they are spending on games could be spent with the parents....I enjoy every minute I get to spend with my kids and I am sure not giong to let some stupid game take that away....we can't let the tv and gamboys do our jobs for us....those games are suppose to be educational? So are we as parents....we should be the ones teaching the abc and 123's not elmo on the tv while mom is in reading the newest romance novel and dad is outside restringing his new fishing pole. Its just not right.

Answer 1

i agree that kids shouldn't be allowed to pay video games or watch TV all day i do let my boys have 30 minutes of completely free time and they usually pick the game boy which some of you will say I'm not a good parent well video games increase hand eye coordination they teach their minds to think out what to do next and i am very involved in all my kids do but that 30 minutes a day is just for them they are 9 and 13 straight a students no discipline problems very respectful well rounded boys my oldest is in his high school marching band and my youngest one plays basketball they both play baseball as long as you are involved with what your child is doing they are going to grow up to be great adults and i don't see the harm in them playing a video game on occasion they deserve that break if thats what they choose to do with it on their own 30 minutes they have also chose to ride bikes or read a book or to journal write but video games do have their advantages puzzle solving and other skills also many hospitals have them in the pediatric wards to help children who are hurting keep their mind occupied and off there pain when my oldest was in the hospital in pediatric ICU they brought him a game system in to keep his mind off the tubing and iv and also to check his hand eye coordination and to keep the muscles in his hands strong

Answer 2

Neither do I.

My nephews have TVs and video games and who knows what at home! Their moms are always amazed that we find fun stuff to do OUTSIDE and/or with REAL toys.

Like the time I bought the older one an easel. He loved it! He's a great fingerpainter. His mom says "Oh, he does that on the computer, too." What? That is so not the same!

But I really don't know WHY they do it. It's beyond me. Maybe they're just lazy? Or I guess some aren't lazy but with everyone insisting their kids have to have all these things they work so long that there's no time for play. TV and the like becomes the babysitter.

When I have kids, I will have to stick to my guns and not allow my relatives to give them toys with batteries. I say nothing with batteries until about 3 and nothing that plugs in until at least 7! And the things that plug in will NOT be staying plugged-in all the time.

Answer 3

I agree with you. I could understand if the parents were the "ultra-busy" types, but if it is a case of being indifferent to the development of the child and the tv/video console is the pseudo-babysitter, then I fail to see how the parent(s) can justify the behavior of the child.

I was born in 1960 and came up like a typical kid. Both parents worked, father on a rotating shift, mother steady 9 to 5. I'm the oldest of three children and we each experienced the same parenting, hardships, and mistakes. I can only imagine how poorly my life would have gone without the diligence, love, provision, and care that I received from my parents.

Answer 4

I'm going to have to agree with you on this one.. My son is almost 5 and a couple of months ago my husband and I let our son play the x-box, and oh-boy was that a mistake.. It's like it took over his brain!! We took it away and that was the best thing we ever did!! We told him that he can play video games when he turns 10, and even then it's a huge maybe... I think a lot of parents use it as a baby-sitter, but that's their deal, and I'm just glad that we found out what video games can do to kids... Have a great Christmas

Answer 5

ask yourself another question when asking the one you asked, "Do these parents spent time with their children in other activities; Do these children get good grades in school; do these childrenfeel pressurd by toehr children (their peer group) to be more popular in school or with friends and this might be the way since everyone else (so to speak) is doing it around them; Are these chil;dren hopin to gain a career in the future by designing these games, or even using the skills they acquire in playing them toward a future position or perhaps even a lifestyle; do the parnts make time for their children?" If you ask these questions and other similar you will get your answer and perhaps more. Yet, true, it may not round a child out but it can be a positive influenece since so much of scoety is gearing toward skill set learned via the basic skills achieved in being a good video game player.

Answer 6

Amen brother!

I am a firm believer in kids being kids, running around, screeching, hunting bugs, digging holes & having fun without 1000 messages being flashed through their brain.

Have you noticed that with the removal/shrinkage of recess, play time and physical education has directly correlated with childhood "disabilities" like ADHD, ADD and obesity. Could it just be a coincidence?

My daughter is only 18 months and she spends time outside, getting dirty, swinging & running around, nearly everyday.

Kids need to expend their abundence of energy in order to learn, don't know why people educated in child deveolpment can't figure that out.

Answer 7

AMEN! i agree! i hate it when parents let kids sit in front of a TV, or Gameboy all day...i mean, whats the point in being a kid, if you never climb tree's, play in the mud, run in the rain, and maybe break a few bones! thats all part of being a kid! i walked into a house yesterday to babysit, and i was going to be there ALL day, so i asked if the kids wanted to build a tire swing, and they looked at me and said "a what?", thats just sad, they spend ALL thier time with gameboys. ps2, and wii, and gameboy's, just take some of the fun outta bein a kid!

Answer 8

Because alot of these video games are now marked "educational" and that gives the parents an excuse to buy them.

I know times are changing, but I just don't get why parents these days are just sticking their kids in front of the tv or electronical toys. What's the fun in having your toy tell you what to do? What happened to toys like we had when we were little? Dolls, bikes, building toys--they are all becoming a thing of the past it seems like.

Answer 9

I'd like to add another gripe to this...Swan Lake Barbie now dances on her own! I went to buy one of my cousin's daughter's a Barbie recently and they all just do things on their own! The entire FUN of Swan Lake barbie was making her dance yourself in anyway that you wanted to! There's the gymnastics Barbie who you hit a button and she flips around on the parallel bars too. I don't understand! My daughter has very few toys that you just push a button and they do things. I think that just limits them to no end and deprives them of developing their imagination. The entire point of toys is you pretend and make believe and can do whatever you want to do with it right? I also don't like the play phones where they have prerecorded voices on them. I'd rather my daughter be able to decide she wants to call Nan or Daddy then just be stuck with Cookie Monster and Elmo.

Answer 10

I agree...it seems as if parents are so busy with work, extracurricular stuff, etc. that they don't even have time to raise their children. Instead, they let television and video games to it. I am not that way AT ALL with my child. I read to her, play with her, and work on her development daily as she was a preemie.