Our kids typically play poptropica or other online free games (many of them educational) when they are done with their homework and are just waiting for dinner.
After dinner though we all go out for a big walk together as a family (though not during winter as much).
On the weekends they sometimes play a good bit of video games, but since there's just one computer for the 4 of them none of them can really pig out.
During the week sometimes my eldest son plays strategy games on my computer (civilization 4 or 5) on my computer for another 30-60 minutes before going to bed. Though that's not even most nights, more of a once in a while thing.
We don't have cable tv, so our kids spend a lot of time playing with their toys, playing outside or reading.
Oh I should add that their ages are: 13 (girl), 12 (boy), 8 (boy), 6 (girl)
One comment -- I'm sure you've followed USC's protocol, but normally when I take surveys like this there is an option at the end to check if I want to see copies of the final research report. Did I miss it?
My kids may not be that old but the two and three year old LOVE playing outside and they LOVE to help mommy garden... well daughter loves to help me garden... my son tends to just rip the leaves off and dump the plants over.
In the past couple weeks my son's developed a big fear of Dandelions, lol. He can handle the yellow flowery part for a little, but once they start to close up he is TERRIFIED. I couldn't tell at first if it was just a game, but no he is sincerely terrified of them.
And there are LOTS right now, so on the weekend we went and bought a good puller and decimated the ones in the yard. He enjoyed that a lot!!
Do your kids play more than one hour of video games a day? Are they older than 3 years of age? I am conducting a research study on children's health and video games. I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't mind taking some time to take my survey! I attend USC for graduate school. Your responses are completely anonymous. The survey also asks some questions about nutrition and exercise. If you are interested in taking my survey, please follow the link.
One critique about the survey (just finished). It seems to imply that you only have one child. I have 4 so at times it was a bit tricky to know how to answer since each child is a bit different. A couple of them don't play video games hardly at all, one does sometimes, another more than we'd like (and we are making him cut back).
In the past couple weeks my son's developed a big fear of Dandelions, lol. He can handle the yellow flowery part for a little, but once they start to close up he is TERRIFIED. I couldn't tell at first if it was just a game, but no he is sincerely terrified of them.
And there are LOTS right now, so on the weekend we went and bought a good puller and decimated the ones in the yard. He enjoyed that a lot!!
We have Irish twins with our first two. LOL I remember how shocked we both were when she was pregnant again. We waited a few years before having another, realizing she was as fertile as the Nile river valley.
Yeah that was one of the things I realized about my survey - that it assumes you have only one child. That was my fault and what I have recommended parents do is to either take it more than once (for each child) or focus on only one child. My survey is geared towards children between 9-12 years of age.
Lamaga, I think I would need your email address if you would like to see the results. I haven't "closed" the survey yet so I don't know when you'd be able to look at them. I will need to check with my advisor for permission first!
Browncoat, that is really great that your kids play educational games. That's my topic exactly! I would love if you could fill out my survey Thanks again to all of you for sharing!
Even if your kids don't play "educational" games..that's fine too. Everyone learns differently but I am definitely interested in your thoughts! I also have an open-ended question where you can post your thoughts in the survey.
My kids play a lot of video games, but they tend to do so in spurts. My oldest started when he was 3, after he had a tumor removed from his lower jaw and couldn't go outside, so I bought him the Gamecube.
My kids play more than an hour of video games a day, but they do go outside and play, they usually play the games when their friends aren't home, it's raining/too cold or hot, or they're sick. It's my boys that love the games, my girl isn't into the gaming, she doesn't have the attention span or care to learn them.
We have Irish twins with our first two. LOL I remember how shocked we both were when she was pregnant again. We waited a few years before having another, realizing she was as fertile as the Nile river valley.
My hubby goes around boasting about how he can just look at me and get me pregnant...
Speaking of children's nutrition, last night at the farmers market we overheard a mom asking her kids, as they walked to their car with bags full of fresh produce and local goodies, "Who wants to go to McDonalds?!?!" The incongruity was startling.
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Re: This question is for parents... 
