Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1505137
www.FredericksburgParent.NET 11 E R I K A ERIKA SAYS: Man, oh man, this is the very reason why I have a love-hate relationship with electronics. My son isn't into video games, but we do have an iPad that causes friction between us. I think about chucking it out the window several times a week. It irks my soul when it's the first thing he wants to play with in the morning—and what he wants to do all day. I can relate to your concern about your son becoming addicted and the frustration of encouraging him to do something other than sitting in front of a screen. You're off to a great start by limiting the amount of time your son spends on gaming. Meting out consequences for not sticking to the rules is a good idea, too. If he's sneaking extra time while you're away, it's totally appropriate to take the console or remove a cable as a last resort. Per- haps you can start off by deducting time when he exceeds his allotment. Let's say you allow him to play one hour a day and he goes over by 30 minutes, then subtract a half hour from his playing time the following day. If that doesn't phase him, take his game away for a day or two at a time. Video gaming time should be a reward, not a luxury that your son has access to "just because." Give him a set of chores to earn playtime. We have a chore/behavior chart where my son earns happy faces for each task completed. Each happy face earns him three minutes, and there are seven things listed on his chart. Potentially, he can earn 21 minutes a day, Monday through Friday, which gives him roughly hour-and-a-half of iPad time on weekends. I do give him 25 free minutes during the week, but only for educa- tional games. On weekends he can play any game he wants, as long as it's appropriate and mom approved. Unfortunately, you can't control gaming when your son is at a friend's house. However, you can limit the time he spends there, or you can invite the kids to your house. Under your watch, you can encourage activities other than video games, like a classic game of manhunt, Nerf gun battles in the backyard, or a special board game night. Implementing a reward system, consequences for sneaking in extra time, and encouraging him to get outdoors may be all you need to do. Video gaming time should be a reward, not a luxury...