Have video games and internet ruined our kids?

The best of all worlds are both. Video games help hand and eye coordination and memory. The internet has it's dangers but using a computer is essential for the student in this world as it is every where.

We own a sail boat and it gets everyone out in the water, in the sunlight, and with fresh air and we all help out. It can get physical. My biggest challenge is getting up and down the ladder to the saloon.

We can take our children to parks, the beach and other places where there are no computers and we can give them bikes and roller skates so they have outside activities.

I think the only thing that can be impacted is their imagination. When we didn't have much in the way of toys my sister and I made doll houses out of boxes. We used scraps of material as carpets and wallpaper. It was fun. Also if the kids don't read books, they miss out on imagination too.

No, its common sense with being a parent that is ruining kids in society today. Many parents lack common sense and don't put limits on what their child/ren view or do in today's world.. that's the problem! :)

In some ways yeah I think so

I had Atari growing up, but I still spent a good deal of time outside. Also, it was much safer for children to be outside unsupervised when I was growing up. So there is that factor to take into consideration as well. But yeah, overall, I think the majority of kids spend too much time playing video games and being on the computer. There should be more balance to it.

I read an article about video gaming being compared to alcoholism in that one needed a 12-step program to get away from the online gaming world. The article stemmed from a husband and wife who were charged with child neglect because they spent 12-16 hours a day gaming and didn't care for their two children - including feeding them, bathing them, etc.

I believe you have to make half and half. My children loved the games and the internet. But my children loves to go outside more. They never were cooped up in the house on games,internet or even tv. In fact they have so much to do they have very little time for those things.

Everything in moderation? Our kids do need to be outside more. They also need to have their imaginations developed - not have a computer think for them. My 11 year old step-daughter arrives every other weekend and almost immediately says, "I'm bored." We're expected to entertain her. When I was a kid - and even when my 23 year old son was a kid - we never would have considered asking an adult for ideas about what to do. Yuck. If we weren't playing outside, we were making things - paper dolls, doll clothes (even after we had outgrown dolls, we made clothes for younger siblings or neighbors), painting, drawing, reading. We created a neighborhood newspaper - and without copiers had to hand print each copy. Or use carbon paper. :-) We made our own board games...if we weren't playing ones that already existed. My son and his friends used to make obstacle courses - indoors and out.

I guess I grew up with the internet and TV and would much rather be inside when the weather is hot and gross than outside. When I was a teenager I did do other things besides play video games & play on the internet, but it was about half and half and I think I turned out ok. I probably need to play more video games....I have absolutely no hand/eye coordination.

Did you know that some medical school recommend their surgeons in training play video games to help them have a steadier hand during surgery?

I think it does if you don't control what your kids are doing. My son will play his DS nonstop. He won't do his chores, will half way do his homework and almost get lost because he is playing the DS instead of paying attention to where the family is walking. I have to make him put it away and make him take a break.

Sadly, we don't like in a great neighborhood and most times, I am thankful my 9 year old rather stay inside with me than go outside.

On the other hand, my kids are able to play educational games online. My 10 year old has to do this fifteen minutes everyday as a part of his homework.

They learn stuff online. The video games they play are non violent. I don't find it to be a problem unless they want to do it 24/7.

Michelle, I agree with you 100%!

Today's world is different than the world that you grew up in. You cannot let your children play outside (even in your own backyard) unsupervised because it is not safe (even in nice suburbs). Kids also grow up a lot faster these days and they are simply more interested in computer games.

I remember having a Atari as well but I went outside too. You're right about being outside without parental supervision, it's needed now.

I agree with you Marilyn, there was always something to do, I enjoyed playing with dolls, my friends and I would sit on the porch and play cars. If I was first, the first car that came by was my car and the next one was hers, things like that, lol

Rebecca, my husband is 37 years old and he has a PSP and a XBOX 360 and works hard everyday to provide for our family. It needs to be a balance.

I'm not blaming any parents or video games for children's bad behavior, I'm just saying that in my time, children were outside all the time and in the house less.

Jaye, I understand what you're saying, my children can't get online(except school related) or play video games on weekdays, they only do this on weekends. My son goes outside because he's 18 and he's a boy but my girls are watched and only go outside when we go outside. They go in the backyard on occasion but my 5 year old complains of the heat and bugs, lol

All children need outside time,they all need to run and play.Most of the grand kids don't get on the computer until they have had supper.

I defiantely think that all of this stuff we have now days is ruining us all. I remeber my Grandma baking from scratch and I cant live with out my kitchen aid. I remember playing out side but now there are too many creeps out there who are after our kids. Pornography is so easy to get now, and kids are growing up so fast. We are all getting fatter by the minute, at least I am. I think we should all bo out playing freeze tag, or kick the can. Anyone up for a game?

Adele, I forgot about the skating and jump roping, I still have a few scars.

Misty, I'm up for a game, what game do you want to play, lol?

I think there are good things and bad things about both the internet and video games as related to children. I think they are ok but only if montered by parents. Unfortuantly some children are given free access to both unsupervised. Children and adults should be encouraged to get out and get exercise and have fun while doing it. Participating in sports they enjoy is a start.

I think that it is up to us to set limitations on how much TV, internet, video games...that our children are allowed in the course of a day. I don't think that these things ruin them, unless we, as parents, allow them to.

I do believe that the internet can be a great resource for learning, reading, writing, being creative...which makes it hard to just lump in there with TV and video games. The internet can serve to be a positive or a negative depending on how it is being used.

A certain amount of supervised is beneficial. Spending all of their time there is not.

It depends on how the children seetheir parents spend their own free time. We watch some but not alot of TV. My children are only permitted four hours a week on either TV or video games. Their V-Tech is a different story. They are allowed one hour each on that which is sept. from the other allotment.

We are big sports and out door people.

I'm not keen on them... I know they're fun and I play together with kids (older ones) but with younger, you need to be careful that it doesn't become all-encompassing

My kids love to play outside. We havea big fenced in back yard, several parks in the neighborhood, they both are on the soccer teams and they both love frisbee golf. We are blessed enough to live in an excellent neighborhood so i konw they are safe in the backyard but I still supervise. I think a lot of parents don't let their kids play outside more because of all the sicko's in the world these days and they know if their kid goes out they need to watch over them closer and the video games and tv and internet are an easy fix. WE love being active with our kids and go our with them.

We also limit their videogame/internet/tv time. Isn't that what parents are supposed to do??? During the week they get one half hour of tv/videogame/internet a day and only if their behavior was good at school. We have family time and story time and do other special things to fill the rest of the time. NOt to mention the teams and activities they are involved in (Daughter is 6 Stepson is 9) they are very active children. On the weekends we try to go out and do stuff but if we are unable to the kids "earn" their game/internet/tv time by reading. For every minute they read they earn a minute of play. FOr the older one we say for every minute he reads out loud to his younger sis he earns 2 minutes of play.

Both kids love puzzles too so we have jigsaw puzzles we work on together as a family too. They like playing their portable game systems when we are going on car trips but prefer to be outdoors having fun. PLaying with the dog, chasing the dog, swinging, jumping running and enjoying themselves. Right now my 6 year old is in the other room practicing her jump roping because she is opting to do a fundraiser where she raises money to fight cardiovascular disease and gets people to sponser her jumping. IT is an optional thing at the school but she is really really excited about it. She wants to put her own money in it. I am grateful she has such a strong desire to help others and such a generous heart. Our kids love games / tv / internet as much as the next kid but our PARENTING has them loving other things more!

I do think it has contributed to kids, in general, not getting as much exercise.

Yes, I hate tv and video games!

My kids know how to have fun...they're not afraid to be silly and get their hair wet in the pool...

Just peeking in to read more of the comments, i found this one interesting

Thanks for your comments and I'm glad this was interesting to you Kimber.

I'm afraid kids will soon stop reading altogether. It's sad!

Its up to the Parents to moderate their childrens gaming and internet time. I am 33 and I have an XBOX 360, Nintendo DS, Sega Game Gear, & others I play daily and I also Own and run a small business. It's my way away from the everyday. My children have access to all of it as well. I do NOT allow them to live on their games and make them have time to play with toys, outside, and take them places. Parents need to stop making excuses for why their children are Fat, troublemakers, or anything else and take responsibility for their parenting skills. I am so tired of hearing because of Bevis and Butthead, my child burned down the house. Come on, Did you take the time to teach you children that playing with fire was WRONG? Or did you let Bevis and Butthead do that task?

BTW, I had every gamesystem growing up and I played outside MORE than playing games cause MY Father wouldn't allow me to sit in front of the TV.

coming from a "kid" point of view...

Video games are good, they teach alot of hand eye skills, memory skills and lots of others. Guitar Hero is great for that.

Just have to get past some of the violence and if the "kid" doesn't know it is for entertainment only, they shouldn't be playing.

My children do both (computers and outdoor play) and I don't see it as a problem. There are rainy days and days when it's 105 degrees in the shade in the summertime. Kids don't need to play outside when it's like that.

I am thrilled to see my kids comfortable on a computer and the internet and do not limit computer time. It's a necessary skill in today's world. The more at home they are with technology, the better off they are.

My boyfriend plays video games way too much for someone who wants to make more money, have a political career and have kids someday. He works part-time and seems to play video games full-time. It's not fun playing with him because he always wants to trounce me and always seems to push violent video games at me. I am into old school early to mid 80s games. If I can't play a video game without having to wade through a tutorial and guide book, what's the point? Atari games were a joystick and button. Or the paddle controler and button. Simple. I played a lot of video games as a teen, but I was also interested in different things and as I got older, found I didn't want to take the time to play video games, because I had too many other things to do. I know more women are playing video games, but I wonder how many really successful men and women play video games and how much they play them or used to play them. It's a nice escape once in a while, but when it starts to become your main topic of conversation, and when you talk about your video game opponents and how bad you plan to kick their asses, it's time to get a life.

Video and other games can do bad or good thing depending on how your child plays it. Some games really can help like this article which literally helped out a starving student. Check out the link: http://articlebin.com/view-WOWGOLDSAVESTHEDAY_HowRMThelpedaStarvingStudent-7228.html

I think it all depends on the parents. All our kids have their own Nintendo DS and we have the Wii in the living room and a PS3 in our room. Our kids do play video games - but not ALL day long. I think the Wii is great because we all play together and the kids love when we are there playing with them. They do play outside, color, and do other things. As long as they aren't glued to the TV or a video game I think it's perfectly fine for them to play them.