Video games

[telluthetruth]

is anyone else going round the bend due to their dd video game obsession and anyone got any idea how to limit vid time without ww3 ?

Dunno if this would help, but have you tried some kind of token system reward thing? Eg: one task completed (eg teeth brushed) = 10 mins on the computer? Bribery and corruption are always best used to your advantage ;)

thank you purplepidgeon....

My DS likes playing on the 'paint' function of our PC.We use an egg timer (Large 5 minutes one) to give him a warning of when his computer is going to go off. DS is only 3 and it was hard at first as he has a receptive language delay, but it works now as he has that visual warning.

TBH We banned on compters on a school day for DD1 it was getting too much for her and us. We have now slowly introduced it back in and she is allowed 30mins compter time on a school day. This includes the laptop, wii, DS or PSP. DD1 is very rule lead so wasnt too bad after a few days tbh.

We have an earning system for computer/screen time, done it for years, but it still causes problems at times. We don't have issues any more with ending games, rather ds will always try to manipulate situations so he can get onto the computer or Wii or whatever. Wish the damned things had never been invented sometimes!

me too streaky bacon! my dd totally obsessed and we veer between strict restrictions 1 hr per day or completely liberal as he is so good at slipping through all our nets especially half terms etc. also it's what all the local asd boys do obsessively so have to cave in for play dates etc...

find it so tricky to get a balance...

We have an hour a day rule. We also have to give 15, 10 and 5 minute warnings to the end of his time, otherwise he tries "but I can't save at this point etc etc".

It did used to be half an hour, but he doesn't watch television and his obsession with his Nintendo is his down-time that helps him to destress from school.

We have a set routine after school each day and he knows that he comes home, gets changed, has a drink and a snack, then does his homework and then had his Nintendo time.

He isn't allowed to have his hour until after lunch at weekends either.

We are also very selective about the games he is allowed to have. Fortunately he mainly likes the 'questing' type games rather than high action or fighting, but he has occasionally asked for games we think are unsuitable and we stick to our guns.

During holidays and weekends etc, or if we are going somewhere he thinks he will be bored, he saves up his Nintendo time to have then.

For playdates etc, the rules are exactly the same. He is only allowed to have an hour, but his friends are allowed to have some time on it as well and that's not included in his hour.

That said, he has lost his Nintendo time today for frankly appalling behaviour at bedtime last night. Fortunately, I am going to be out, so my poor old Mum will be the one who has to deal with the resultant strop and moaning.

Must admit I use as a punishment for appalling behaviour too! With the computer, along with all the parental controls we put on a time allowance. The laptop will not come on before x in the morning. It switches off automatically at y time. That way there can be no sneaking out of bed early to play, or the never ending just 5 minutes more. Computer says no!

Oh definitely autevil! If ds is being a horror then there is no computer at all, no question. He has to accept the consequences of his actions and if the behaviour warrants it, so be it.

I also use favourite tv programmes as sanctions too. Mondays are lovely when Gadget Show is on .

I've found taking the power lead is much simpler than taking the whole lot, if you need to physically remove it ;)

thanks all! am still battling this one but your messages give me strength to hold out.

what do your kids do instead of screens?

When he's not glued to a screen, ds mainly likes Top Trumps, Lego (although only really kits rather than being independently creative with it) and reading - he reads prolifically. He also loves Where's Wally type puzzle books.

one of the reasons i can see them likeing video games besides the fun aspect is that
games are always the same the badguys appear in the same place and its something solid they can deal with.

as for the topic, plugbased timers can auto shut off systems not recommended for expensive hardware if there intlegent enough to understand more technical things a good way to limit time is to use overheating as an excuse

ie. you can play for an hour but then it needs to be off tell after dinner to cool down or it will break

not quite a lie nor complete truth
. just my .02

hi all and thanks for all the support and advice.

today has been really bad so am sitting here nursing a glass of wine and trying to stay calm!

ds virtually chewing the carpet and frothing due to vid game restrictions. we are back to one hour a day but free time when friends come over as the culture with all his asd friends is that they all have virtually unrestricted time and they just wouldn't understand why they couldn't play all the time during a play date.

what is difficult seems to be going from the free times during special occasions and the restrictions of every day. I feel my hands are tied by the culture he is surrounded by which he needs to be part of and enjoys so much. this is his first friendship groups and means so much to him...

help!

We don't tend to need time restrictions because Dd3 often flits around the house. We do have a big problem if she flits onto the computer when we are about to go out or it's bedtime.

We give 15, 10 ,5,2,1 minute warnings and then use the yellow card if we need to but generally she has improved since we started to give lots more warnings.