There was a time, long ago, maybe not so long ago, when smartphones did not exist and videogames used to be faraway things that you only saw in the movies!
There was a time when happiness could be contained within a chocolate given to you by your parents.
These days, it is difficult to motivate children with simple things, those things that made up our childhood.
From what I observe all around me, today’s children love the games on their iPads and their parents’ smartphones. They are easily motivated and enthusiastic about these games, much like we were about chocolates and picnics.
Courtesy – http://www.ctvnews.ca
My son is no exception. He loves this game called ‘Minecraft’ (hope I’ve got the name right!
We spend a lot of time talking to him about the ill-effects of playing continuously (exaggerating sometimes, for good measure).
To reach a win-win without his getting addicted to these electronic devices, we have worked out a system where he gets to play the game thrice a day, for 10 minutes each. This seems to be working very well.
Last week, while we were at the airport, we heard an announcement that our flight was delayed by two hours. I went back to my book, while my husband napped. My daughter and her grandma were busy chatting. My son paced the airport floor, back and forth.
After a while, his constant pacing got to me. I called him and asked him why he was pacing?
He said, “I am actually working out how to move to the next level in Minecraft.”
I rolled my eyes and said, “Is this game all you can think about?”
He knows I get irritated by game-talk, so he worriedly asked me, “If I am only thinking about the game in my mind would that count as strategic planning or as an addiction to the phone?”
Hmmm..Strategic planning eh? I quietly went back to my book.
Simple Moments of Life 
That is a brilliant Strategic plan.. Since the time is limited, he is seeking to effectively use his game slots!! Simply Brilliant.. Kudos.. 🙂
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Thank you dear Aadhirai
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Oh yes, video gaming seems to be the ‘downfall’ of a lot of little boys. My husband still loves it. But if they are thinking strategically, it isn’t all bad. I have to limit my son’s game time as well, but I am almost embarrassed to say that he is still permitted to game for up to almost 3 hours a day…providing all else gets done, like homework and such.
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It is a tough task to cut down their video game time. Been there, done it. The alternative is to get them interested in some other activity. That again leads us to the question about which activity can give them the kind of thrill they experience in their virtual worlds. But as moms, we will continue to try …hmmm?
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Well, my son plays guitar for two hours most days which helps. You would wonder how he still finds the time for 3 hours of video gaming!! (Actually, he homeschools which is a lot less work than the brink and mortar schools).
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Guitar…my favourite instrument😊😊 I sing Indian Classical music and know that 2 hours of practice for any music or instrument is an awful lot. Your son must be a super-commited boy. Hats off to him! Wow..homeschooling. I am fascinated by this. We don’t have this option where we live and I am always curious about how it works.
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There are different systems. My son learns from the computer. He gets his assignments every day but there are teachers who are in charge of the classes that he can talk to if he needs help and there are live online lessons too. Other parents are given a curriculum but they are actually the teachers. I don’t know how they do it!!
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Totally amazed to know about this. Thank you, Marissa
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It is sad to me how technology has supplanted so much for children these days.
I lived with a family with a young child. I bought simple child board games, hoping to engage him but he preferred having me stand behind him while he played a game on his computer. It reminds me of how many adults can’t put their phones down and relate to the humans standing right in front of them. Even my present elderly landlady interrupts a meal out with me or a conversation when the phone is ringing.
Hopefully your limiting game time will help your son stay more socially engaged.
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Thanks for this beautiful comment. Truly thought provoking and true. Trying to get children to engage socially seems to be a huge problem these days. I think the onus is on the parents to be firm, on the time children spend playing video games (an uphill task 😯😯)
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Now to get adults engaging socially in a respectful way and not interrupting interactions with people right in front of them to be glued to their devices 🙂
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Yes Katelon, adults also are more engaged with their phones than with the real world and real peoplw. Sad..
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Wow..that’s a very smart response 🙂
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Lol 😆😆
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Lol… he is smart! 🙂
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Hmmm..😆😆😆
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A very clever boy!
My 2nd son (when he was much younger) told me that I didn’t ‘respect’ gaming. It required planning, strategy, problem solving and reading story lines (one of my major observations was that he didn’t read enough). I gave him huge credit for that reply 🙂
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I so so love your son’s answer. Brilliant! Wow..
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