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Most Parents Don't Game With Their Kids
A recent study, reported on by MSNBC, has found that a sizeable percentage of parents don't play games with their kids. Of those that do, many only play for a small portion of the time their kids are gaming, or have no real understanding of what their kids are playing. "Besides those who simply don't play the games with their children, another 30 percent say they spend less than an hour a week doing so. All told, about three in four parents of young gamers never or hardly ever touch the stuff. 'I don't think it's good for them, the violence, the obsession,' said Karen Kimball, 55, of Hale, Minn., another nonplayer who estimates her 17-year-old son plays 25 hours weekly. 'No longer is it, Let's go out and throw a football.'" I wonder how many parents object to their kids watching 20-25 hours a week of television. Is this a sign of current popular attitudes towards games, or honest parental concern over the 'dangers' of gaming?
Of course I don't game with kids. I'd pwn their n00b 455es all over the screen.
The guild I help lead currently has several parent/child members. I think its great. I just have to remind our 16-22 age crowd that there is a 12 year old in the guild and please be mindful of that fact.
:)
I can't wait till the day I can play games online with my kids. I'll finally have a 2v2 partner for Arenas who I can ground if they suck
I am billdar, and I approve this message.
count me in the 43%...
The wife and I tried playing D&D with our 3 year old, and the kid stabbed the cat with a pencil.
No more gaming with the kid till she learns fluffy's instestines are not pencil holders.
My sister-in-law isn't allowed to play Xbox with her son because she makes him cry. "Get the powerup, Tyler! Get it! You missed it! Jesus, Tyler, it's like you're not even trying..."
Anyone who loves or hates any language, platform, or manufacturer, doesn't know what they're talking about.
Well, that seems to be easy then. Make the kid a mage or sorc and tell him/her that fluffy is a familiar. People tend to take care of those, what with the penalty for getting your familiar killed.
;)
'Course, I guess it can backfire. Next thing you know, the kid could decide he/she wants a bat or a pig as a familiar. And may Mielikki have mercy on you if your kid wants to be a Druid or Ranger
A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
I am their parent.
We don't have to share interests, although it is nice. However my main priority when it comes to my kids is gaming in the real world.
One time I caught my son chasing his sister with a whiffle ball bat -- it's not heavy enough to really hurt somebody, but it certainly can sting like the dickens.
"Here, give me that," I said. "We're going to play a game. You are going to take this bat and tap me on the shin. But the rules of the game say I can tap you back on the shin just as hard."
So, my son takes the bat and gives me a tiny little tap. I take the bat and give him a tiny tap. Then he gives me a slightly harder tap which I return. Then he gives me a look that plainly says he doesn't believe I'm serious, then gives me a painful whack in the shin. I take the bat and promptly give him an equally painful whack in the shin. He then gives me light tap which I return.
This goes on for a while, and my son is literally whooping with laughter, when my wife walks in to see what's going on. She snatches the bat out of my son's hands. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" she yells.
"I'm teaching our son about the Golden Rule," I reply. "Also, that it hurts to be whacked with a bat."
One other time, I walked into the room and caught my daughter calling my son a "shithead", for which I remonstrated with her.
"Do you want me to apologize?" she asked.
"Of course I want you to apologize," I replied," although I realize I can't keep you from insulting each other."
"You mean its OK to insult each other?" she asked.
"Of course it's not OK," I replied. "I simply recognize I can't stop you from doing it. I insist, however, that we don't use potty language in this house."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," I replied, "let's play a little game. Try insulting me without using potty language."
"Er,'You are a stinky idiot.'"
"No, playground language isn't acceptable either," I said. "How about, 'You are a fetid addle-pate.'"
We went back and forth a few times, and were just getting into the swing of things when my wife came into the room. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" she cried.
"I am teaching our daughter not to use vulgar language," I replied. "I am also working on her vocabulary."
Sometimes I wonder if women understand child-rearing at all.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
When I'd whoop his ass and do my "You just got fucking owned dance!" srsly he's super weaksauce. Tore him up hardcore, Little guy needs to practice more before he runs with the big dogs.