Tearing my 8yo away from Wii
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Anonymous
I made a huge tactical error and bought my almost 8yo Wii as a housewarming present when we moved a couple of months ago. He gorged on it for a few weeks while we struggled with unpacking and settling in. We have limits now - no screens during the week and he has to earn it on the weekends (reading, exercise, math workbook) but the problem is that he moans and groans about any family activity that tears him away from his earned screentime. Even playdates require heated negotiations over Wii vs. other activities. Would love ANY suggestions about engaging 8-yo boys in other outdoor activities. We already do soccer and try to do a hike or other outing as a family at least once a weekend. But he spends the whole time itching to get home! 
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Anonymous
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why don't you sit him down and say "we're tired of the groaning. If there's groaning during other activities, there will be no Wii." That's the stick. Here's the carrot: "You can play for one hour on Saturday and one hour on Sunday. I suggest you do it first-thing while we're still sleeping." (forget about the reward strategy since it isn't working.)
You've got it set so he's earned a reward and then you are telling him he can't have it. It isn't for you to decide whether a hike or an hour with the wii is more fun for him. |
Anonymous
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It sounds like you have a built in answer for the moaning and groaning. You tell him that it's time to go to an activity other than Wii and he moans, he loses one of his Wii minutes. He complains about wanting to be home while you are on a hike, another Wii minute lost.
If the problem is that he prefers Wii to family hikes...that's a tougher nut to crack. |
Anonymous
| OP here - anyone have experience with going cold-turkey on Wii and video games? Is it just going to make him crave it later on and spend all his time at his friend's houses? This was me and junk food growing up - my mom was all about granola and carob covered raisins for desert. |
ThatSmileyFaceGuy
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This, You set some rules and he followed them and earned his reward and now you tell him he can't have that reward. Just think of how you feel when you've been looking forward to something all week and then your weekend plans have to change due to someone else. Perhaps if you set aside his time ( or even play as a family ) the moaning will cease. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Why doesn't he just lose the Wii if he whines? "We're doing
X." If he whines or is a PITA, he can't play on the Wii that day. He can adjust his attitude and maybe play the next day (or whenever he would normally be allowed). |
Anonymous
Because she made him earn it in the first place. Not fair then to take it away. OP, you don't really give him much opportunity to spend the time he earns. Why not let him spend some of his earned time during the week. My kids are allowed screen time (their choice) during the week if they have time, but at best they have about half hour a couple of times a week. I don't make mine earn it either because they are good about getting outside and riding their bikes. The rest of the stuff you mention has to be done before they can get screen time. |
Anonymous
| My DS is seven and here is what we do. No DS and iPod on the weekdays. He has to earn the time on the weekends by having good behavior at school and doing well academically. Since he turned 7, he has gotten sassy a lot and there is more backtalk so I've added home behavior to the equation. He lost all of his time last weekend due to backtalk and he knows why he lost it. He gets to play on Sat. and Sunday mornings when he wakes up until I get up. That's it. No more. It doesn't interfere with any weekend plans b/c the time ends by 9-10am on the weekends. |
Anonymous
| We also do no Wii or computer during the week. Weekends are pretty busy, so it's not much of an issue. |
Anonymous
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Our DS is the same exact age. Thank you for reinforcing my pledge against brining electronic gaming into our house (aside from the occasional internet games e.g. FRIV.com - which is awesome).
RE: the first thing in the morning post-er. I remember reading in a child development book that these early hours are the best time for learning - so taking that to heart we designate that time for quiet reading. Before he was reading himself, we took turns reading to him weekend a.m.s Now he reads to himself for at least 1/2 hr before waking us! I don't want to seem high and mighty: i am thankful for the grandparents who have wii so he can do it there! I don't know how long we'll be able to hold out w/out investing in some game apparatus! How long can we hold out w/out DS looking like some social outcast? I know DH will never cave in, but me... i'm not so certain! I'm the softie when it comes to radiation entertainment. |
Anonymous
| I have an 8yo who doesn't like Wii or DS (but has other vices) but I'm just curious at the PP's reference to an Ipod. Do most of your 7/8yos have Ipods? |
Anonymous
| Toss the fucking wii out. No need to have for it. |
Anonymous
Nope. The iPod is mine but it has some math/spelling/geography games on it for my DS. |
Anonymous
I would say that somewhat less than half of the 7-8 year olds I know have one, but probably more than a third of them. Some even have iPhones. |