Video Games / Computer Games on School Nights?

[TruBlu]

Do you allow your kids to play computer/video games on school nights? My boys are in 1st and 4th grade. We've always let them play after their homework is complete. BUT - things are changing! DS9 is far to obsessed with his new game. I've decided to only let them play on the weekends. I told them last night, and they understand. BUT - this morning my resolve is weakening. I'm thinking of letting them play for an hour each day, but I can't decide. What do you guys do?????

 

[The Mystery Machine]

As long as they are doing what they are supposed to then I don't care.
However I will come in there and retrieve the wireless router if necessary.
Like yesterday...dd came home to the internet being down. I knew she had a ton of homework.

 

[DaisyD]

My 9 y/o DD is allowed to play a bit at night before getting ready for bed if she has time. There is no way she'd have the time to play it for a full hour. She doesn't get home from school til 4:30. She has homework, dinner, and shower every night. She fits in playing with friends for an hour outside and some nights are volleyball practice. She does manage to pop in on Webkins and feed them for 5 minutes. There is a lot more time on weekends to play if she choses.

 

[luvmy3]

I have 3 kids, they are in K, 3rd and 5th grade. Up until the middle of last year my kids were allowed to play video games and watch TV on school nights (after homework was done). My oldest dd (in 4th then) was really struggling with her schoolwork. Her grades were good but she didn't want anything to do with her homework, she wanted to play with her friends, watch TV, go on the computer, etc. Her work was suffering and some days she would spend hours re-doing it. I would make her do it all over because she rushed and made mistakes, and it was a mess. We figured it was easier to just take away the things she was in a rush for, so we did. To be fair the rule stands for all the kids. We do not allow TV, computer (unless its for homework), video games, or friends on school nights (Sunday does not count). It took awhile for my dd to get used to it, but now everybody is just fine with it.

 

[TruBlu]

It's really hard for me to decide what to do. My mom picks them up from school, so they get home at about 2:30. She lets them "take a break" before doing homework. She usually lets them do whatever they want until around 4:00, then they start on homework. They always have it all done by the time DH and I get home at 5:30. We have dinner, then go over their homework and correct any problems. After that, I take turns reading with each DS, and then it is time for bath and bed.

My problem is that they are really focused on those stupid games. That is what they tell me about when I get home. I want them to tell me about a book they read or their day at school - not a video game.

I hope I'm not being too harsh. I don't object to the games. I'm very selective in the ones I let them play, but right now I just want them to focus on their school work.

I wish I could just make a decision!!!!!

 

[TruBlu]

I have 3 kids, they are in K, 3rd and 5th grade. Up until the middle of last year my kids were allowed to play video games and watch TV on school nights (after homework was done). My oldest dd (in 4th then) was really struggling with her schoolwork. Her grades were good but she didn't want anything to do with her homework, she wanted to play with her friends, watch TV, go on the computer, etc. Her work was suffering and some days she would spend hours re-doing it. I would make her do it all over because she rushed and made mistakes, and it was a mess. We figured it was easier to just take away the things she was in a rush for, so we did. To be fair the rule stands for all the kids. We do not allow TV, computer (unless its for homework), video games, or friends on school nights (Sunday does not count). It took awhile for my dd to get used to it, but now everybody is just fine with it.

Did it help? Has it made a difference with her homework?

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

DS14 is in 9th grade. When he was younger I had no problem with him playing video games at night. These days, he has far more work and we limit electronics time to the weekends. He grumbled for the first week but he's over it.

When I came home from work yesterday he was sitting in the living room. Reading a book. For pleasure. I almost fainted!

 

[Kae]

right now it is not an issue because it is still nice out. the kids come home do their math & anything that has a worksheet, eat a snack go out come in to eat tthen do any reading that has to be done if they don't have any of that then a little game time. now when the weather gets colder that will change, but neither have become obsessed, yet.

Kae

 

[luvmy3]

Did it help? Has it made a difference with her homework?

Yes, it really has. My dd no longer rushes to get her stuff done so that she can rush out the door to see her friends. Her work is nice and neat, and now there are very few mistakes, so she doesn't have to spend the rest of the night doing it over.
My ds 7 sounds alot like yours. He loves his video games. It was an adjustment at first for him to not get to play his gameboy but he got used to it pretty quickly. He does look very foward to the weekends so he can play. His school work really wasn't the issue but I was thinking his "obsession" was a little unhealthy and I did worry that at some point it may. He reads alot more and plays with the toys he didn't really play with like his legos and k'nex now. He even has gotten into model kits. I think it has worked out well for us, so we continued with it this school year. It was a little rough that first week after summer, but now its all back to normal.
If you are considering, how about a trial? Go a week and see how your boys handle it. maybe get them something new and fun to do that will keep their minds off the video games.

 

[TruBlu]

When I came home from work yesterday he was sitting in the living room. Reading a book. For pleasure. I almost fainted!

WOW! That would be my dream come true!

 

[TruBlu]

If you are considering, how about a trial? Go a week and see how your boys handle it. maybe get them something new and fun to do that will keep their minds off the video games.

That sounds like a good plan. They are having a read-a-thon at school for the next couple of weeks. I think I'll keep the video game ban at least during the r-a-t and see how it goes. Who knows, they might actually enjoy reading!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I allow it. It's a rare occurrence that my daughter actually wants to sit down in front of an electronic gadget, so I don't have a problem with it.

 

[SpecialK]

It's really hard for me to decide what to do. My mom picks them up from school, so they get home at about 2:30. She lets them "take a break" before doing homework. She usually lets them do whatever they want until around 4:00, then they start on homework. They always have it all done by the time DH and I get home at 5:30. We have dinner, then go over their homework and correct any problems. After that, I take turns reading with each DS, and then it is time for bath and bed.

My problem is that they are really focused on those stupid games. That is what they tell me about when I get home. I want them to tell me about a book they read or their day at school - not a video game.

I hope I'm not being too harsh. I don't object to the games. I'm very selective in the ones I let them play, but right now I just want them to focus on their school work.

I wish I could just make a decision!!!!!

We went through the same thing when our boys were about the same ages. It was the obsession that was concerning us. Life became much more pleasant when games were confined to the weekends. When you think about it, you're only restricting the video games on Mon. through Thurs. Not really a big deal.

 

[nuke]

We don't allow it during the week. It just works out better for us this way.

I think every family's situation is different and you have to judge what is best for yours.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that it depends on the kid. Now that DS is older and is home alone for a while after school, I have to rely on him to do the right thing. He generally plays a game for a while to unwind and then gets his homework done. He's usually done by the time I get home so we might hang out together for a while and maybe even play a video game together.

 

[debster812]

DS comes home alone on the bus 2 days a week. These are the days he has soccer practice about 30 minutes away. His drill is, have a snack, do homework, get dressed for training, and then if there's time, he can watch TV or play his Playstation or DS. So far, we're 3 weeks into this, and it's been fine.

I think in the OPs case, where you're wavering, I'd set a time limit (2 weeks, a month) and see how it goes. It may be so easy, you'll not want to go back.

 

[Brianne]

We're a big video gaming family but still only allow it on weekends during the school year. I've found that they're more willing to read and do other things during the week when they know the "reward" is waiting.

I don't think you ought to cut your kids off cold turkey though; weaning them off of gaming is a better method.

 

[jax677]

My oldest daughter was born addicted to tv. I remember her as a baby turning her head if the tv was on. As a toddler she was able to repeat any commercial/jingle, and would at the top of her lungs in a public restroom or library. I still smile when I think of her dancing and singing "I'm bad, I'm bad" by Michael Jackson, in the library. I tried to quiet her down but the librarians were cracking up.

So we limited tv to 1 hour a weekend and none during the school week. We had tried other options , but a little tv turned my sweet daughter into a mean, cranky child. She did better not having it at all. She chose to read more and go outside. That was until a computer came into our house....

 

[ckay87]

Do I allow video games at all on a school night? Oh heck yea. If I work hard all day I can't begin to tell you how grouchy (to say the least) I'd be if I were then told how to spend all of my free time at home. Seriously, let the kids unwind a little bit.

That said, video games and electronics are a great thing to take a way when a kid doesn't deliver on his responsibilities, you know? Sometimes I like to give just so that I can also take away.

 

[Amlee]

My nephew (he is in 2nd grade) has about a 35 to 40 minute bus ride home. He will come in, watch his afternoon cartoons and have his snack. While he is doing this, my mother or I will go through his backpack. Between cartoons and snack we go over his day.

Once his snack is done it's home work time. Some days he doesn't have anything, some days he has several things to do. It usually takes him about an hour or so to do this.

After that he is free to play his games be it computer, DS or playstation. He also watches movies or as he calls it uses his imagination with his toys. It's up to him. All of which can be taken away from him if need be.