Thread: Digital, Mobile Games and Parenting

So, in the other thread (on the iPad 3) I mentioned that my three year old son throws a fit when he "can't play iPhone". See, I just can't outright say "NO!" because I used to play with the thing myself. That's changed now (partly because I've a laptop that gives a better gaming experience), and I haven't used the iPhone for games in quite a while now. The problem is -- he knows the games are still there, and he knows when I have to 'get busy' with things, he can get away with 'borrowing' the iPhone.

Of course, I'm completely to blame for this. I'll admit there are times when I have to keep him busy while I attend to something else. But this has to change. His tantrums are a result of my complacency and well, should I say lack of responsibility to provide him with something more substantial.

So, right now I've deleted all the games from the iPhone, except a handful that are either logic/puzzle games or apps that are the ones that are ~supposed~ to encourage learning, such as "Elmo calls" and "BabyFirst" and two drawing/colouring apps. No more racers, shooters or any of the other stuff.

When my child asks, I'll use the usual white lie that "it got broken" (I use this explanation when he encounters the lock-screen).

I bought the kids almost the entire Leapfrog library of books (that I had my sister get me in the US as it's cheaper that way), and the kids have barely touched them : ( I mean, I sure as heck would have LOVED to have such things when I was their age (me and my brothers used to KILL each other over 'play-time' with the Questron)! For those who don't know what a Leapfrog book is -- it's a book that comes with a pen, and the pen reads words, pronounces letters and is used to play little word games with the book. Old schoolers might know the Questron, which was a pen that blinked a green LED for 'correct' and a red LED for 'wrong' when used with a special book (and it blinked red and green for "WOOHOOO!"). So now I want to focus on getting my kids interested in those books. After all, if I eliminate every other form of digital entertainment, they ~WOULD~ pick up the books, right?

So again... this caution goes out to parents of little children -- don't let them get hold of your iPhone/Android for games. I see Thai parents do this all the time and when I reflect on it... it's sickening. Even worse to know I've been guilty of allowing it myself. I've got some damage control to attend to now because of it, but I'm confident that with better guidance, my little three-year old will forget those games.

My nine year old is certain he is going to become a professional gamer when he grows up.

We ration his on screen time and ban him from the computer or Xbox if he complains about staying up later to finish this level.

He knows he has it pretty good with us as some of his friends at school are only allowed to play Mario Bros and other G titles. I let him play some MA games as long as I have vetted them before hand and I get to sit with him and discuss any adult concepts from the game that he has questions over.