Video games take up a lot of time that children can use productively, and the lack of exercise is not healthy. Make time to steer your children away from it with more stimulating and interesting activities.
Set guidelines for curbing video game playing, such as allowing a period of play each evening only after schoolwork and household responsibilities are finished.
Be prepared to endure a battle of wills, and remember, you will win the battle if you are committed to it.
Offer the child options, such as outdoor activities, clubs, and hobby activities.
Skateboarding is a good activity to trade for those Tony Hawk games.
Provide the resources needed for alternate activities. If you want to encourage your child to spend time drawing, have paper and materials there. If the bike has a flat, or the skateboard is broken, your child may think video games are the only entertainment option.
Help your child interact with other children in the neighborhood. While most video games have a multiplayer option, other activities such as basketball, soccer, and many other sports make interaction and teamwork key.
Seek professional help if the video game playing is obsessive or interferes with housework, schoolwork, or eating and sleeping. Video game addiction is real, and very serious.
Another option is to let your child earn "credits" towards playing video games for improving grades and doing extra chores.
Consider eliminating purchases of more video games to allow the child's interest to die a natural death. People, children especially, tend to get bored with activities that don't change over a long period of time.
Tips
Be prepared to offer substitute activities to gaming, and commit all the time you have available to your child to get over "withdrawal".
Be realistic. Video gaming may be harmless in reasonable amounts, with appropriate materials, but should nine-year-old kids have access to Teen or Mature rated games?
Be aware of resources available to help you: parent groups, church youth groups, clubs (like scouting), and others.
Warnings
Society is accepting more and more graphic, violent, and sexual material for children at younger and younger ages. This may be damaging and dangerous to your child.
Excessive, long-term video game playing may cause serious medical side effects, according to some studies. If the situation is beyond your ability to cope with or control, seek professional help.
Follow these steps if you feel your child is spending too much time playing video games, not just if they're addicted to Resident Evil.
Things You'll Need
Board games, art projects, or hobbies and crafts are helpful when outdoor activities are not practical.
Supplies for outdoor activities: shoes, balls, safety equipment, etc.
