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Asking all the parents in this sub, how will you deal with gaming with your children?
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If you have a normal, healthy relationship with your kid, games aren't a big deal. When she was younger I monitored what she did and who she did it with from a distance, but I also trusted her to know what was right and do the right thing and I was never disappointed.
Again, it all starts with a normal, healthy relationship.
Love to read this, totally agree.
Just talk to them :) Discuss the games they want to play, the ones you yourself like. Give clear, honest reasons why you might at any given time not want them to play certain types of games.
Make sure they're not ignorant to the threats (bad players online, ways to con you out of money, etc).
Observe them from time to time, but not like a HAWK. Make them feel confident they can always come to you if some part of their gaming experience isn't comfortable.
And get 'em to have some variety in their hobbies! But also share the fun with them!
Give clear, honest reasons why you might at any given time not want them to play certain types of games.
Not a parent yet but this is exactly how I will be. I understand that there are times (probably when they’re younger?) where you have to be forceful and get them to respect the authority itself since they probably can’t reason everything out.
But later I definitely want to be able to give them actual reasons for things, have actual discussions. Teach them how to “argue” in a healthy way, i.e. having a conversation. Or when emotions do run high they still can consider other peoples opinions and respect them if they’re worth respecting.
Off topic but I swear “therapy” should be a required class taken every single year. They would learn how to identify, process, and analyze thoughts and emotions. Learn coping skills, identify triggers.
All of these are fucking essential skills you need to even have a chance at developing & being healthy. It’s mind blowing we don’t implement stuff like this. Then again in a Capitalist country where all the checks & balances are bought and paid for and workers rights and organization has deteriorated to a shell of what it was a century ago… not surprised we don’t have enough time, energy, or focus to be able to implement important and simple things like this.
Damn this is a Wendy’s? /rant
Parenting absolutely takes energy, sometimes more than I've actually got in any given moment, but you find it and it's so enormously worth it!
My little dude and me always talk about everything and we've stayed tight and still have a lovely relationship even now he's nudging toward adulthood.
Every moment is worth it and precious as hell :)
That’s a very good point and I doubt I’ll truly understand until I’m living it lol.
Thats awesome though, happy to hear it
Start with the reasoning early. Basically before they can talk. Only that way, they will learn to process it.
Don't wait until they are older.
Yeah, it shows that you are not a parent yet. Save this thread and go back to it when you will be parent of two or more at age around 10. Not even mentioning teenagers.
Protip - you have to explain them everything from day one and not only use "authority". It will benefit later on.
That's why parenting is hard.
Yeah for some reason I thought it’d sound naive if I left out the authority part. Figured parents would be like “how are you going to reason when they’re throwing temper tantrums at 2am nonstop?? Try reasoning with the irrational!”
But yeah I won’t act like I know even the most basic basics. I know my intentions but I understand it’s like preparing/packing for the weather 5 years in advance and you only have a backpack and an outdated thesaurus to guide you
Pretty much. Beer in mind that kids will likely follow your lead on what you DO and how you ACT, not talk. First 10-12 years of their lives, they will spend doing everything to be just like you. To be you :-) Then they will hate you xD, but that's a different story ;-)