Parenting Gamers

Making The Most Of Snow Days

snow
Image by ilkerender, Creative Commons

Man, it’s been a rough winter. We have not had it as bad in Tennessee as other parts of the country but it has still made for some tough days.

Yesterday my oldest was out of school for a snow day. She always gets excited when that happens. However it can make for a long day.

By the end of the day, my wife and I were spent. Entertaining 3 kids, all under 6, inside all day is a lot of work. So after dinner, I said, “Let’s play Mario!”

My kids love to play New Super Mario Bros on the Wii. The controls are simple enough for them even at their ages. And I enjoy it because it is an awesome game.

So we all sat down to play. Even the 1-year-old sat on the couch with her controller. We all took turns picking a level to play through. It was a great time to connect with them while entertaining them at the same time.

Afterwards, my wife and I were talking about the importance of not letting snow days slip by. It would be easy to get frustrated and just be ready for the day to end. The harder choice is to come up with something to do that honors who my children are.

My challenge to you is to not let snow days or sick days or other out of the norm days slip away. Take the opportunity to meet your gamer where they are. They probably relish the extra time to play. Sit down with them and play or just watch. Ask them about what they are playing. Get them to explain what is happening on the screen.

But most of all, be present. Let them know you care and are interested. That little bit of effort will go a long way.

Welcome to Parenting Gamers

Hello, my name is Eric Rogers. Welcome to Parenting Gamers.

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, “97% of teens age 12-17 play computer, web, portable, or console games.” (Teens, Video Games and Civics) The video game industry is projected to hit $70 billion by 2015. That is a lot of money and influence.

As a parent, I know the importance of understanding what my kids are into. I also know the frustration that comes from NOT understanding.

My daughter loves gymnastics. However, my only experience with it is watching the Olympics every 4 years. So I try to encourage her but I do not really know if sh is learning what she is supposed to or doing well for her age.

As the parent, it is my responsibility to learn. I need to know enough to be able to help her when she needs it. I also need to protect her from injury and bad information as best I can. It will not be easy but I need to do it for her sake.

The same is true if your child is into video games. The more you know about them, the better decisions you can make to encourage and protect your child.

The problem is there is a TON of information and misinformation out there about video games. It can be a bit overwhelming. My goal is to help you find what you need quickly and concisely.