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[quote=Anonymous]We have video games in our house and sometimes DH and I play with our kids (like Mario Kart). I really like Minecraft. It’s creative and they can build their own worlds.

We don’t really set limits and I’m sure you’d think my family is one of the ones “dumping” our kids in front of a screen. But I’ve found this works better for our family than setting strict rules. When the rules are strict my kids get fixated on them. If they’re told they can have X hours of video game time and something else comes up, they won’t want to miss out on their allotted time. Whereas if it’s something they can do in addition to whatever options there are, it loses its power over them.

So if I tell my kids let’s go ride bikes, go to the park, have a friend over to play, etc. and they know they can play video games whenever they want some other time, I don’t have to negotiate it. I have friends who set these intricate rules about earning or losing screen time and it just sounds so exhausting.

That said, my kids understand we do not have the strict rules some of their friends have specifically because I trust them to be able to manage it. If they were to fight me about school work, chores, etc. because they want to play video games instead, that wouldn’t fly. Also they are active in a number of sports and swimming. Video games are just one other activity in the rotation.

Some days (like a rainy Sat. or sick day) they may play for hours. Some days (like a busy sports tournament) they may not play at all. I figure they will be adults living on their own some day and I need to help them self regulate their activities rather than be some enforcer of arbitrary rules.

But I do know there are kids out there that could not self regulate, so everyone should do what works for them. I don’t like OP’s attitude though that parents are basically crappy for letting their kids play video games longer than she deems appropriate.[/quote]

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