My boys (1st, 2nd & 3rd grade) got 3 new games for their gamecube for Christmas. They have only until the 2nd for Christmas break. Is it okay to let them veg in front of the video games? How much is too much? This is why I refuse to get them gameboys!!!

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~Happiness is a large family~

Hi Happymom,
Sounds like my house!! I don't think I'd necessarily let them veg out in front of the games, but I'd certainly go easy on them considering it's Christmas break. And it depends on if their games are 1 or 2 players, are they playing together or is one child hogging it up? I'd still watch the amount of time they're playing. I think a couple of hours a day for each of them during Christmas break is generous. You be the judge of how long, my kids get about 3 hours each. Once school starts back it's a long time before they get an extended break again.

My kids are only allowed to play on the weekends and non-school days, so this is a treat for them as well. They both got a game a piece and share the DDR Supernova. They can hop around all day with the Dance Dance Revolution for all I care, they're getting great exercise.

We have ps2's in both boys rooms and they both have game boys.They are only allowed to have ps2's on the weekends and only a few times.I have only been doing this since September.Before that they could play when they wanted and I seen things were not getting done being on it to much ect.

Game boys are only for in the vehicles going places but not all the time they have to bring books to read too and take turns with with there times with them.

I got them a few games for each of the boys for both things but it will be awhile before they get to play them all.

I got tired of them doing that *sigh* when I asked them to do something and I was like ok turn it off-do not save it-and give me the controllers.GIve them an inch they try to take a mile well it wasn't happening in this house.I nipped it in the butt right away and it works out great this way for us.

I guess I would have to ask how you handle the video game issue during the summer months. And then maybe allow the same thing during the holiday break.

We don't have video games in this house anymore. I got tired of the kids "living" on the darn things and not getting up to do anything else. I also began to see a change in my 13 yo's behavior when he did play. That kid can be the sweetest thing, but give him 5 minutes on any video game and he becomes this evil monster that there are no words to describe. Not to mention the horrendous fights going on b/c someone "was hogging the games". So about 2 years ago I banned the evil things from my house. Now if they want to play games, they have to get out the old fashioned board games. They aren't any worse for the wear, nor are they screaming for the things back. In fact, while I know they play video games at friends houses, for the most part, my kids would rather play a good ol game of monopoly or just go outside and shoot hoops.