Just read about parents limiting their children playing games.

It's called parenting for a reason. If they want to limit their kid's use of TV, games and internet I say great. Make them read books instead of shooting imaginary stuff up. IMO it's simply parenting.

My parents used to do this, but then I bought my own laptop and now they can't complain.

you know, i learned a language on games, and perfected another, and i hope to learn a new one, and all of that without any kind of effort, and i'm not the only one out there, i have friends in the same situation as me, anyway this is to say that games are not all bad, but they are not all good too, moderation and caution are the key, don't play too much, and don't play just any game (be careful of some games).

That's what parents do. Get over it, I fail to see what's so shocking to you.

They shouldn't limit, they should let them do what they want but encourage them to do other things.

I've used to play Runescape looong time ago and that taught me lots about stuff as I wasn't speaking English very well. Now I can go outside and say 'Mom! It's an oak tree!' (not really) but you get my point.

I am neither for it neither against it. They are the parents.

Limit game time? when I was little I was encouraged to play games by my optician, I had to wear a patch over one eye and games helped strengthen my weak eye. heh.

I played and still play alot since I was a kid. And im a sucessfull proffesional . So wtv.

Parents are stupid and uneducated and simply don't care anymore. Oh well.

Bill Gates was doing that, too (dunno like it is now, that was something I heard a few years ago).

My computer time as a kid was limited mostly because my dad wanted a piece of action, too, and we had only one machine, so I'd usually play after school and then let him play when he came back from work, maybe after he had a little nap or something. Other than being fair to my dad and letting him play, too, I didn't really had any limits. Was always responsible enough on my own to do homework etc, was acing everything at school, and I suppose at the end of the day that made parents not really care what I did with my time.

When I was young, my mother used to take my power cable whenever she decided I had too much, or when we'd have guests over. Now she's playing Farmville the way I used to play games when I first started.

Just my 2 cents.

It depends on the kids. I see some guys who just can't live without a pc and games. They have no friends, no social life, nothing. On one side you might say.. they ruin their own life.. but what if this is just how they want to live their lifes? IDK. Sometimes i feel bad for parents who have kids like this.

My parents used to limit me to 2 hours a day of tv or video games in total, but I'd have to spend at least 2 hours outside doing anything at all, even reading a book, to earn those 2 hours. .-. Yet, my parents literally sat there like all day playing games. XD

A kid needs to focus on education, self-discipline, and learning patience. Especially kids born to children of the 80s and 90s, the first generation of people who grew up in a world where video games have always existed.

I grew up around video games, and was allowed to ignore my schoolwork far too much. As a kid, you just can't understand the real world properly.

Parents don't pay enough attention to their kids today. They constantly vote for more and more of a nanny state. It's what adults want today, as far as their votes are concerned. Doesn't matter what they say, only what they do.

Children shouldn't have free time until all of their schoolwork is complete. After that, I say let them play video games. Just pay attention to their weight.

I had that 1 hour limit. I couldn't understand back then why. Now I do. If I could play as long as I wanted, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on my homework e.t.c. But the real reason my parents used to do this, was because they wanted me to go out and play with the other kids and not spend my day inside, in front of a pc. Also, those parents didn't even know what playing games actually was and everything new, is suspicious at least. But all that was 15 years ago. Now the times are different and from what I can see, both parents and children have a huge problem of restraining themselves in all areas, especially the mobile phones.... Why the hell a 8 year old kid needs a mobile phone?

Ofc there were exceptions, like holidays, weekends e.t.c. but on school days, 1 hour was the limit and now I am glad they did that.

Its really weird. I've seen kids who are limited to an hour of gaming a day but can watch as much tv as they want. i don't know what outlook these parents have on gaming. it doesn't really make sense

I don't think it's fair or even really "nice" to do. As the comment above me states, gaming is limited but television isn't? One, there's no logic to that. Two, why would you make your kids STOP an innocent hobby that brings joy to them? School is hard and stressful enough. They enjoy to relax when they have the chance. Most parents look down upon gaming and computer usage but those same parents will usually spend all their spare time watching tv. They complain about video games and computer being a waste of time and an addiction and blah blah blah, but it's no worse than watching television. In fact, being on the computer or playing games would use your brain if anything. It keeps the brain more active than television ever could. I think there's just a sort of hatred older generations have towards the evolving technology, a hate that stems from how it's "ruining" the youth and changing the times.

Build my own computer, in my own room. Problems are nil.

Damn, wrote like three paragraphs and instead of hitting edit I deleted it.

To sum it, it which you have never seen, up: moderation and paying an attention to the content, whether it's the TV/books/games is the key.

Limiting game time for kids is a good idea, but not to 30 min O_O 2-3 hours per day (with breaks every hour) seems way more reasonable to me...

I see it as TV is just casual entertainment (More or less boring, unless you have cable :P) - But gaming can be quite addictive, and can cause a greater downfall for that child opposed to just "Watching TV"

Frankly, I am all for limiting, people should be doing far better things than gaming for endless hours anyway, especially children.

Honestly, the only way i fit games into my schedule is by playing either an hour here or there for longer games, or doing a whole play through in one day. As for reading, I read only for my classes, then audiobooks when I drive.

If I were a parent I'd set a limit of two hours a day, then do anything else.

Everything is worse if it becomes one's only way of communicating/entertainment, limiting (imo of course) involves not fully understanding the reasoning behind doing said action. Last time i heard something along the lines of "stop using the computer" it was usually followed (after many inquires) by the reason that: "it's not socially acceptable".

Which brings me to a known pattern: When something becomes socially acceptable, it gets easier to recognise it as a common thing, perhaps later on videogames will become the next "TV", with content so dumbed down, the whole idea of "escaping in your own universe" "roleplay" and "expand your perspectives" will become just another cliche. I seriously hope this circle does not continue that way, but there's a big chance from what i see.

The 80's called, they want their hot topic back.

(wittiest thing I could come up with on short notice, sorry)

needs to be 2 or 3 hours not just 30 minutes or 1 hour, so I kinda agree.

Lemme guess: non-player parents?

My kids can play all they want. I just play with them. Which means it's a family/social thing, which means I have a perfectly clear view on what they play, what they may or may not play, and it's all fun and games. I guess some people would be in an outrage just by seeing it, but even though they're both about 10, it's not a problem for us to play Killing Floor, for example. They don't have nightmares about it. Heck, they're laughing out loud at headshots. They also play MP with RL friends of mine every now and then.

That doesn't stop them from socializing with their friends, reading books, playing outside or board games. Fact is, they regulate themselves in a very interesting way. They either feel like playing on the computer, or don't. End of the story.

One kid isn't another. Such things are entirely dependent on the kids. And that's something I'm afraid most parents don't understand.
Here, what I DON'T understand: how their mother lets them sit on the couch all evening long watching TV. There's no value in it, no cooperation, no socializing, no problem solving. That's reducing your kids to a vegetative state.