All About Kids' Gaming: Addiction, What Age Is Suitable, etc

[ooptimizer]

EN:

[quote]Even after the child stops playing, his mind is still thinking about the games.

[/quote]That's true, that's why I don't let me children play PSP.

[mathsparks]

tamarind:

I have been teaching hundreds of young adults between 17 and 19 years old. The negative effects of playing PSP, computer games, etc are so obvious. Even when they are not playing games, I find that they are not able to focus even for 15 minutes. They get bored so easily. I am teaching Maths and it is a killer for them. They have become too lazy to use their brain. Solving maths problems uses a different part of the brain, it is not the same as playing computer games.



For parents who do not know what their kids can do besides playing electronics games, take a look at this thread :

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7530

hi tamarind, sounds scary indeed. boy's stuck in front of the comp daily after between 1 to 10pm now. He's promised he'll stop when school starts n I intend to make sure he keeps his word. The link you provided is more for those w young kids.

What do tweens and teens do? movies..boring, library..no more books please, shopping..not interested, outdoors...IT'S RAINING!!

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

[quote]tamarind wrote:

I have been teaching hundreds of young adults between 17 and 19 years old. The negative effects of playing PSP, computer games, etc are so obvious. Even when they are not playing games, I find that they are not able to focus even for 15 minutes. They get bored so easily. I am teaching Maths and it is a killer for them. They have become too lazy to use their brain. Solving maths problems uses a different part of the brain, it is not the same as playing computer games.


For parents who do not know what their kids can do besides playing electronics games, take a look at this thread :

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7530


hi tamarind, sounds scary indeed. boy's stuck in front of the comp daily after between 1 to 10pm now. He's promised he'll stop when school starts n I intend to make sure he keeps his word. The link you provided is more for those w young kids. [/quote]Yeap. Mine will surrender the PSP one week before school re-opens. It will be backed to routine only every Friday afternoon can play. Saturday/Sunday after everything is done.

[quote]What do tweens and teens do? movies..boring, library..no more books please, shopping..not interested, outdoors...IT'S RAINING!![/quote]Movies okay. I find the funny oldies movie. Books, \"mummy, we ran out of things to read\" & \"mummy, you forever (take a peek) on KiasuParents, (take a peek) you on FB/youtube (daddy gets scolding too)\", outdoors...sighhhh \"it's forever raining\".

[mathsparks]

EN:

Yeap. Mine will surrender the PSP one week before school re-opens. It will be backed to routine only every Friday afternoon can play. Saturday/Sunday after everything is done.

yep..no more internet games when school starts. psp only when waiting for his chauffer..me la...nothing after friday, sat or sunday or after anything..maybe next game break would be cny. *yeah, thanks mummy!!*

[tamarind]

EN:

[quote]Even after the child stops playing, his mind is still thinking about the games.

Actually quite true, especially if I play it at night :oops: . I will be dreaming of strategy how to beat the game and win. I played better the following day. I realized this when I was still in school. Anyway, my grades do not suffer but I never aim to be the best in school. I had a few game and watch handheld games which I played until I reached the end of the level. Then I had Atari and whats not.

I don't aim my kids to top their level. Suffice for me that they get decent grades and put an effort in their study (which I highly suspect they did not). It's all about balancing. It's school holiday, it's weekend. There are various ways to chill out & this is one of their many other ways to chill out.

Is it so bad to own one if you know how to manage your time?[/quote]
I was one of those who did not know how to manage my time. I was addicted to computer games when I was in university. I failed one subject and almost did not get my degree.

Before we buy that PSP for our kids, how do we know whether they will get addicted or not ?

It is totally not about aiming for the top. It is about living our lives in more meaningful ways. Spending many hours a day looking at a box is totally pointless.

[tamarind]

mathsparks:

tamarind:

I have been teaching hundreds of young adults between 17 and 19 years old. The negative effects of playing PSP, computer games, etc are so obvious. Even when they are not playing games, I find that they are not able to focus even for 15 minutes. They get bored so easily. I am teaching Maths and it is a killer for them. They have become too lazy to use their brain. Solving maths problems uses a different part of the brain, it is not the same as playing computer games.



For parents who do not know what their kids can do besides playing electronics games, take a look at this thread :

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7530

hi tamarind, sounds scary indeed. boy's stuck in front of the comp daily after between 1 to 10pm now. He's promised he'll stop when school starts n I intend to make sure he keeps his word. The link you provided is more for those w young kids.

What do tweens and teens do? movies..boring, library..no more books please, shopping..not interested, outdoors...IT'S RAINING!!

Tweens can also do scrapbook, baking, jewellery making, etc.

Before I entered university, there were no computers in homes yet. I did a lot of sewing, cross stitch, knitting, etc, mostly girl things. I also spent a lot of time reading which is very enjoyable to me, and I wrote many Chinese essays to send to newspapers/magazines and earned some money when my essays were published. I also taught tuition during the long break after JC, and earned almost $6000.

For boys, Chief Kiasu suggested carom in that thread. Table tennis also can be played at home. In fact, I used to play badminton at home with my hubby before we have kids in our living room. Playing chess, reversi etc are also fun.

Instead of playing games, let kids learn a programming language and create games on the computer. Try this 3D programming language which is totally free :

http://www.alice.org/

Or learn to type rapidly by practicing on this free software :
http://www.rapidtyping.com/typing-tutor.html

The ability to touch type rapidly without looking at the keyboard is a very useful skill.

I am surprised that many kids nowadays actually cannot think of other ways to de-stress except computer games, that is why I started that thread.

[ZacK]

Just got back from Challenger with a Wii console with Wii sports bundled @ SGD349... Plus a Ben10 wii game, which I thot DS1 would really enjoy as he would be able to control the Ben10 aliens on the TV! Think it's the next best thing to being an alien right? :drool: ... So his christmas gift this yr is over SGD400.. :moneyflies:

[xxjustakidxx]

KingRascal:

only games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit. These are healthier games compared to many others, and we play as a family.

And more realistic.

[ZacK]

Just got back from Challenger with a Wii console with Wii sports bundled @ SGD349... Plus a Ben10 wii game, which I thot DS1 would really enjoy as he would be able to control the Ben10 aliens on the TV! Think it's the next best thing to being an alien right? :drool: ... But his most ex christmas gift to date :moneyflies:

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

[quote]I was one of those who did not know how to manage my time. I was addicted to computer games when I was in university. I failed one subject and almost did not get my degree. [/quote]
I'm bad. I have forgotten to ascertain my audience and forgot to write responsibly in a public forum. :oops: Sorry.

Ds did play psp during weekdays on exam week. He was accompanying me in the hospital tending my sick dad. It was a long week and long hours. With nothing to do to occupied him, I allow him to play. Should be a one time off occurrence.

Handheld games are good for long drives into Malaysia or while the adults are pre-occupied with urgent stuff outside.


[quote]Plus a Ben10 wii game, which I thot DS1 would really enjoy as he would be able to control the Ben10 aliens on the TV![/quote]Yeap. PSP has Ben10 too. DS love it. Enjoy Zack. Oopppssss hope your kiddo enjoy it too.