I missed this one last week! I definitely have a love/hate relationship with video games. Some of my fondest memories are of my brother and I playing Donkey Kong Country for hours. Heck, I’m old enough that I had an Atari! But I’ve also seen friends and loved ones get so caught up in their online life that they neglect their real world relationships.
Like all things moderation is key. That’s what we try for with our kids. Left to his own devices our 13 year old would only come out of his room for food. We do sometimes have to force him to put the controller down and interact with the living lol.
What I will never understand is the whole “watching dudes on YouTube play video games” ???? I don’t get it?? But our 7 year old would do it for hours
I spent a lot of time playing games as a kid. It’s difficult to set appropriate time limits because “at least they are having fun” but it’s definitely yours to make. You’re absolutely correct that moderation is the key.
As someone who had both made content on Twitch for people to watch and my relationships with the dudes that make content for a living I can only describe it as this:
Imagine your favorite hobby, whether it be sports, baking, news, fashion, etc, had a non-stop source of shows that fit that hobby. More than likely, there is. Now, your 13 years old and you like video games. Youtube, Twitch, and other streaming sites gives them that outlet.
It’s important to remember that it’s still important to monitor that content as well. Just because the medium isn’t something you are interested in, if it entertains your child then it should be on your radar.
We definitely do monitor it. He mostly watches Unspeakable play Minecraft. At this point I know all the channels he likes. And actually it’s funny you said it like that because I refinish furniture as a hobby and I do watch other people’s videos of that. Well played sir! :)
I will say that when I venture into our 13 year olds room I’m astounded at how amazing graphics are now. Just unbelievably good.
I missed this one last week! I definitely have a love/hate relationship with video games. Some of my fondest memories are of my brother and I playing Donkey Kong Country for hours. Heck, I’m old enough that I had an Atari! But I’ve also seen friends and loved ones get so caught up in their online life that they neglect their real world relationships.
Like all things moderation is key. That’s what we try for with our kids. Left to his own devices our 13 year old would only come out of his room for food. We do sometimes have to force him to put the controller down and interact with the living lol.
What I will never understand is the whole “watching dudes on YouTube play video games” ???? I don’t get it?? But our 7 year old would do it for hours
I spent a lot of time playing games as a kid. It’s difficult to set appropriate time limits because “at least they are having fun” but it’s definitely yours to make. You’re absolutely correct that moderation is the key.
As someone who had both made content on Twitch for people to watch and my relationships with the dudes that make content for a living I can only describe it as this:
Imagine your favorite hobby, whether it be sports, baking, news, fashion, etc, had a non-stop source of shows that fit that hobby. More than likely, there is. Now, your 13 years old and you like video games. Youtube, Twitch, and other streaming sites gives them that outlet.
It’s important to remember that it’s still important to monitor that content as well. Just because the medium isn’t something you are interested in, if it entertains your child then it should be on your radar.
We definitely do monitor it. He mostly watches Unspeakable play Minecraft. At this point I know all the channels he likes. And actually it’s funny you said it like that because I refinish furniture as a hobby and I do watch other people’s videos of that. Well played sir! :)
I will say that when I venture into our 13 year olds room I’m astounded at how amazing graphics are now. Just unbelievably good.