I hear over and over about how difficult it is for parents to set limits on teens playing video games.
Teenagers feel entitled to play video games whenever they want to. They believe that parents do not have authority to set rules about video game usage. They complain that their parents are “nagging” them and they make life so difficult that parents often give up.
Here is a very inspirational story about a client of mine who refused to let her 16 year-old son sit in front of the computer with headphones on doing interactive video games. He was not doing other activities that he used to do and he was angry so she felt that drastic action had to be taken. Here is her story.
“I couldn’t stand seeing my son shut up in his bedroom with the door closed while he constantly played interactive video games. He would get angry with me when I tried to restrict him. He was irritable when he wasn’t playing and he couldn’t figure out what else to do. I knew he wouldn’t be able to control his usage because he was addicted to the gaming. So I took drastic measures.
I took away his computer.
He still has his smartphone to play games on, yet he can’t play the same intense interactive games. He has become more pleasant and cooperative. It’s been two weeks since I took the computer away and to my amazement he hasn’t even asked for it back. It’s summer now so he hasn’t needed a computer. During school, he will use a computer that is blocked from any video gaming capabilities.
I believe my son is glad I have helped him stop his video gaming obsession,”
Mom of two teenage boys
Learn how to keep control of video games in your home.
Learn How to Keep the Connection While You Set Effective Limits
©2016 Cynthia Klein, Bridges 2 Understanding, has been a Family Success Coach since 1994. She works with parents and organizations who want more cooperation, mutual respect and understanding between adults and children. Cynthia presents her expertise through speaking and private parenting coaching sessions. She writes the Middle School Mom column for the Parenting on the Peninsula magazine. She works with parents of 4 – 25 year-old children.
To learn how Cynthia can help you solve your specific challenges, contact Cynthia at bridges2understa.wpstagecoach.com, , or 650. 679.8138 to have a complementary 45-minute discovery session. Why keep suffering? It’s time to change!
