How often do you let your kids play video games?

How often do you let your kids play video games? My son is obsessed. That’s all he wants to do and he’s upset if we don’t let him everyday. We don’t think it should be a daily thing or that he should expect it daily. I asked a friend what she does and she gave in and her son doesn’t even have toys anymore and anything he’s getting for Christmas is electronic related.

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Video games like everything are okay in moderation. Too much is a thing. In my house it has to be earned. And it’s not daily 2 to 3 times a week seem reasonable to me. If they get a new game for a holiday then yes some extra time but then pull it back after a couple weeks. They can’t moderate it themselves. Use timers or the level system or round system.

This sounds exactly like my son even down to the not wanting toys anymore. I’ve been starting to give him a time limit on it.

my son is 13, he plays alot but he also knows he needs to put it down and do something else. he still goes outside especially now that’s its hunting season. and he is a big reader , I never really put a limit on it and he still decided when it’s been to long on them

As I have seen each home has their own rules. In our home we allow 1 hour of screen time on school days, they choose either TV or games… they also have to work for that 1 hour meaning they have daily chores to be done. On Saturday and Sunday if they was well behaved during the week we allow them 3 hours of screen time. My kids are in sports so between school and practice through the week and some days we have games, so on some days they don’t get the hour because bedtime is very important and after a busy day of school and practice or games there is no time so we feel the extra added time on weekend days made up for it. Through the summer we have outside time and no screen time is allowed until after dark as we don’t allow our children outside after dark for our personal preference.
I feel as the children are yours and you do what you feel is right for them <3

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My kids don’t have the time for video games. Busy with school and sports and family.

My nephews are the same. It’s this generation,a lot of it is left over from pandemic but some people just really enjoy it. I think it’s about balance. Maybe set up a chart and let game time be a reward for good grades, chores and being a good person. The issue lies in no boundaries or limits at all.

Depends if he does anything else too.
My kids play daily but they also do sport n stuff

My teenagers play on weekends only, unless it’s holiday or summer breaks. Then idc how long or often they play.

My son plays daily but he has straight As and still gets outside to play often with his friends. Gaming is his hobby. He’s 13 so he don’t really play with toys anymore.

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My kids were born with controllers in their hands. They can play unlimited. They know the stuff they have to do to keep that unlimited. If they go against the rules they lose it. Works for us.

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My kids all have devices (switches and oldest is getting ps4 for Christmas) we have a 2 hour limit and the devices it stops automatically once 2 hrs hits and cannot be played until homework and chore is done and how they space the 2 hours is up to them along with going outside at some point in the day or we like to go to the library

I play a lot of video games too so it doesn’t bother me. We also play outside and read books together so it’s all a balance.

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My kids can play whenever. We do have a couple of technology free days a week and also home work and chores comes first.
Dont follow these then they lose it

Playing video games can be as much of a hobby as playing football. I am 30 years old and play video games almost every day lol. If grades are good, attitude is fine, does chores, let him be. I mean realistically, you don’t want him eating a bag of chips in one sitting, cussing at people so if he isn’t doing that - is it really that harmful?

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We don’t have a limit, but our 5 year old son usually plays the PS5 every day. The time he plays varies, but never over 2 hours straight.

My son can play when ever he wants as long as his chores are done, his room is clean and he has no school work… But he chooses to usually play for around 2 hrs before he gets bored and goes outside or walks nextdoor to his grandparents house.

How old is your child?

I have a 10 year old daughter and she has limited time on video games, because if I didn’t limit her time, she would do nothing else.

I have a 15 year old son and he doesn’t have limited time on video games, because he has shown that he can prioritize his responsibilities.

I would say that it depends on the kid. Just because your friend gives her child unlimited time and they do nothing else, doesn’t mean that your child will be the same. You have to monitor it and set expectations from the start.

To each their own. I think daily is fine. You can set a time limit … idk mine do it whenever they want to. Sometimes it’s all day sometimes it’s not. But they are in foot ball and baseball and go out side and ride and stuff like that too. They also will do what is asked of them. I think that if a kid has an attitude about it then you have to sort that out but otherwise it’s fine.

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If he acts like that I would say no all week and only on weekends.

My son is 9 and he’s allowed to be on his gaming stuff whenever. It doesn’t hurt anything. Heck, he even learned how to code to make his own games. What else is he suppose to do all day after school? Do you expect him to do more school work while being in school 7 hrs already??? Nah, if he wants to read or do problems, sure. He plays outside a lot too. He’s a kid so I’m letting him be a kid.

My son grew up gaming starting at the age of 2. I always made sure the games were age appropriate and no online games until he was 13. But he also read and had a healthy interest in being outside and playing baseball and basketball. I am an avid gamer so I would also game with him.

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Both my girls 4 & 6 are becoming addicted to their kids tablet games. I’ve seen such an increase in behavior issues. I’m talking rudeness, whining, fits, etc. I’m about to take it all away but it’s really hard once that door is opened.
Definitely monitor and restrict the time amount and make sure it’s a privilege and not a right.

My son is 11 and doesn’t have any toys only his Xbox and Nintendo switch, I only let my boy touch his games on the weekends,it’s a battle but stay strong and consistent, my son knows during the week he can watch whatever show or TV he wants by himself or with family and after a little over a year of that being his only option now he knows his routine and the rules and guidelines I have in place and he doesn’t even try and fight it anymore and enjoys his time with us as a family which was my initial goal now if he gets a good grade on an exam or something I give him an hour of electronics, it’s hard but he got it after a while

My son 5 plays his video games every day. He also has a ipad which he also uses every day. He only has a hand full of toys he plays with every day. I got him to go thu all his toys and he donated alot of they :child::blue_heart: he is getting clothes 2 new video games trampoline and basketball goal for Christmas .

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When my grands were little no games during the week. Weekends was 2 hours at a time. They could play more than 2 hours but had to take breaks. As their grandma I refused to buy electronics. And they got.other stuff from the parents too. Sounds like your child is in charge. Be a mom.

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don’t really have a limit. if everythin there supposed to do is done and they dont ha e attitudes they can have it. i do how evet shut off hr before bed

We would have set times that family time and no video games or phone games. Other than that it’s like any other hobby or thing they enjoy. I mean I read A Lot and would hate someone limiting that when it’s my go to for relaxing.
I should also note that our whole family games, so often times the kids and us game together. So it is a little different for us.

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I’m determined not to let that happen with my son. He’s still little but I want to be able to fill most of his time with play and outside activities. We watch very little on TV ourselves so definitely trying to keep that up for him as well. My husband might play his video games for an hour at most. I mean it’s not like I want to deprive him of something he loves but I also don’t like how my nephew plays video games all day long and nothing else. I would set limits for my son if that is something he decides he likes.

When they get obsessed and throw a fit, then it’s an addiction. Remove it and pull out candyland instead.

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I let my kids play whenever they want. Has done them 0 harm -they do well in school and are great kids overall :woman_shrugging:t4:
I’ve never seen the big deal UNLESS they are placing it as a priority above their responsibilities, like education, taking care of themselves etc.

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I don’t allow electronics for this exact reason. Maybe when my son hits 14/15, then maybe I’ll allow him to play on my PS4 for a few hours on the weekends, but it still won’t be on school nights, and I won’t allow my literal children to sit in front of a screen all day bc this is what happens. Kids don’t have impulse control and screens are super addicting.

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It depends on your child. Put a limit maybe but don’t remove it. I’m a gamer and I love it. As long as homework, reading and so on are done. I don’t have an issue. Screens off an hour before bed though xx

Maybe set a time limit or certain days.

One hr per day. That’s it! Do they hate it yes. But they play outside and have multiple activities that they are in

During the school week they get 1 hour and then on the weekend we do other things but theres always game time. Like sundays ( today they have house chores we do all together so theyve been up since 7:30 its now 10:13 and they just started playing because we finished the chores ! Saturdays i try to do some board game time and a movie we watch together then i let them go and do them

My oldest child is 7 and plays whenever he has the time sometimes 2 hours a day sometimes more depending what he has going on. He’s not allowed it until homework and reading is done all school stuff packed away for the next day and he’s had his bath/shower. Also doesn’t play after dinner

If you give them the appropriate child acct on the different consoles you can control what they play how long and how much access to strangers they have. If you do that then you can go day by day or make changes weekly…

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My son is 17 and can get on thur-Sunday no game thru the week

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This why you never ever allow kids to game period until they hit a certain age. Thats parents problems they let their kids game so they dont have to “babysit” then get mad when they get mad that they cant game thats something yall introduced them to!

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Never. There’s no benefit to video games or TV. Tech free is the way to be!

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If grades are good, and other activities are happening, my children have unlimited access to games :woman_shrugging: