I could be talking to the entirely wrong group of people about this, but here we go anyways

[Zack Alklazaris]

While this kid as well as my 8 year self will kick me in the ass for this he needs to do something else. Get his interest involved in something else. Something that he can gain interest in when he gets ready for college or at the very least something that will teach him how to be social in every day life. Yes, I realize its really far in the future, but I really wish that my parents kicked my butt off the computer and forced me to apply myself.

There is nothing wrong with playing video games, but when it starts affecting your everyday life is when its time to pull the plug.

 

[Bealzibob]

Well when I was that age I found life generally boring and pointless and video games where one of the few things that entertained me and gave me some kind of purpose. When I didn't get to play and was left with nothing to do I use to get really fustrated like you kind of describe. I've never been prone to that kind of tantrum though.

I don't know, what alternative do you want him to take. I read books and did a tonne of other kid stuff as well but video games were the pinnacle and everything else was what you do when you can't be playing video games.

 

[Treblaine]

So I have a 7 year old step son. And lately as soon as he gets up in the morning or gets home from school or we come back from doing something he makes a beeline for the living room to play video games. Even though I enjoy playing games myself, there is just something about how he only wants to play video games when he is home that bothers me. Maybe it has to do with he has thrown temper-tantrums when someone else is watching that and he wants to play.

Now if anyone is wondering, he is playing super Mario brothers 3 or Mariokart.

Talk to him, not to us. Talk about your concerns and wishes.

We are not psychics and even if we were we'd at least need to get close enough to form mind-meld.

Talk to him openly and as an equal, don't patronise him any more than you need to for his age.

 

[Mallefunction]

let them throw a temper tantrum, they only throw a temper tantrum because they know it will allow them to get their own way. if you say no, don't then give in because they have a tantrum.

Pretty much this. Just put your foot down on his time spent playing, OP.

 

[foxlovingfreak]

Watch the Extra credits episode on gaming addiction. There is some mighty fine tips.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Not only that but this sounds an awfull like my cousin who use to do this to the point it started to interfere with his school work and the like. Currently he can no longer mantian a steady job and spends every minute of free time he has playing Call of Duty. I mean I love video games as much as anyone here but there's a whole universe outside the eltrionic world that no one should miss out on.

 

[Jaythulhu]

let them throw a temper tantrum, they only throw a temper tantrum because they know it will allow them to get their own way. if you say no, don't then give in because they have a tantrum.

Exactly. Let him throw his tantrum and ignore him until he stops. Put on some wireless earphones and crank the volume or something. Children will only carry on like that for as long as they know it works to get them attention and their way. For a bit of extra fun, get a spray bottle of water and every now and then give him a spritz in the face. The momentary confusion on their face mid-tantrum is hilarious.

 

[Kinarth]

Have you ever tried turning off the tv, taking your children to a side, and hitting them?

Bender Quote before I get shouted at.

 

[FamoFunk]

Rules and discipline.

Rules being only allowed a set amount of time on the game everyday (or every other day/weekends- whatever you think is acceptable)
Enforce the rules and do not give in, dipping in and out of rules is confusing and will only cause more problems IMO.

Discipline for the behaviour and tantrums over the video games, just something like time-out in another room and then reasoning in a stern, but nice, loving gentle away about why time is limited. Especially in the morning, I would never allow my child to wake up (esp a school day) and play or demand to play video games. Never give in to the tantrum, just like the rules, it'll only caue more trouble in the long run.

Do things to occupy the time that would off been spent playing games or tantruming; School work, crafts, board games. Hell, wrap up warm and go to the park if it's dry, or try and find some other activity/hobby to get in to.


Playing games at that age is fine- I know someone with a 7yo who gets to play Lego Batman once a week for a few hours, but after playing it will draw and write stories about Batman and other creative thins, maybe encourage this?


Good luck with whatever you do, I have a 2.5yo little Girl, She's already interested in games, loves SackBoy and Mario; but hasn't actively played a game properly yet.
I'm getting the Move and EyePet game for Xmas, it'll be great fun for her to join in looking after the little Monkey, but time will be limited and we do a tonne of activities otherwise anyway, so it's very balanced out.

 

[Wintermoot]

just kick him of the TV it,s your TV not his.
or get him his own TV set I,m pretty sure you can pick a small one up on the cheap.

 

[The Funslinger]

You need to pull the plug on his video games for a moment and push him to play outside. Go take a walk with him, throw a football back and forth, play basketball. Let him throw his tantrums, eventually he'll calm down.

Personnally, yeah you are talking to the wrong kind of people. Because im pretty sure that a lot will tell you that you don't need to pull the plug on his video games because they are always trying to defend video games.

Pulling the plug is a bit drastic though, and won't really help long term. Cutting back however, is perfectly fine. If he can't play at all, he'll be more likely to be defiant and do it anyway whenever he can, and even without a console, kids will find a way.

However, if you say he can play an hour and a half or so a day (for example, whatever time seems good can be decided case by case), and tell him if he goes over that, he doesn't get to play for 3 or 4 days, then he'll have his games and be happy, while still have plenty of time for other things to. Also importantly, he'll have something to fear if he breaks the rules, whereas with no games at all, he has nothing to lose. It's a matter of balance, too much games is bad yes, but completely banning won't help anyone.

He can reinforce it with the xbox's family settings. You can program it so that it shuts off after X amount of time. Of course OP should put his own gamertag under password, so he doesn't just use his.

 

[Joccaren]

In all honesty, speaking from experience (Where I was the one constantly on the games [And to some extent still am]), Completely banning him from gaming works wonders. About a 3 week ban got me behaving well and not just rushing in to play games, though after the ban was over that was the first thing that happened - so put some reasonable restrictions down after the ban too. Its a nice cold slap to the face when it comes to that sort of thing, and whilst he'll hate you for it at the time, it will work for as long as you keep restricting him afterwords.

 

[lionsprey]

well first of. is he able to do other things he thinks is fun?/are there other things he thinks is fun. if playing video games is the only thing that brings him joy then yeah make him cut down on the playing.
But if playing video games is the only available source of fun then well you should still make him play less although its going to be a lot easier since all you have to do is help him get the opportunity for other kinds of entertainment and he should play less games on his own.

 

[Rastien]

When i was a kid... crap 15 years ago >.> my old man would play the games with me for abit then we would go outside and throw a rugby ball around or walk the dogs or even just play a board game .

Rather than telling him just to get off drag him out with you to do something together only tip i can give really from past experience

Edit- added "the games" in as before it sounded really perverted and wrong >.>

 

[sumanoskae]

If your son came home and started reading fiction would you be upset?. If he became interested in fine art, would that be a problem?.

I say let him play, first of all, trying to get him to stop is just going to exasperate the issue, but second of all I don't think there's much harm in it. He's going through a process, trying to figure things out, kids do that. He'll most likely stop soon enough, and even if he doesn't, who's to say that he doesn't spend his time at school doing other things?.

 

[Koroviev]

Offer to do some different activities with him. Try to introduce him to something that he might enjoy as much as video games. I don't think artificially restricting his access is necessarily the way to go. I didn't have a console as a kid and it was a real bummer that my childhood best friend never wanted to play vs on his. He wouldn't want to play video games so much if he had other significant interests to attend to.

And I understand that he's young, but is school a priority? Because for that you should restrict access. No video games until the homework is done. Although I don't seem that harm in him playing in the morning, unless he causes issues when it is time to head out the door. Maybe consider music lessons (any instrument)? Those are the sort of skills a lot of people wish they had by the time they are young adults.

 

[quantumsoul]

I was the same way as a kid. My parents let play all I wanted and I kind of regret it. I've missed out a lot by focusing too much on games. I really wish I'd have practiced drawing more among other things.
In my case it was because I was good at them and it was stimulating enough to really keep my attention, fun is addictive.
When I was a kid I was really hard on myself and only believed in natural talent. I would give up easily on anything I tried once I saw someone much better than me. I didn't have that issue with games.

 

[rokkolpo]

He's 7.

Just don't give in.
Let him rage all out.

Be the boss!
Intimidate if neccesary.
But be sure to tell your partner what your game plan is.

 

[redisforever]

My sister gets home, and makes straight for the TV or the computer. Just pull the plug at some point. I had this problem too. Set a time after which they can play. That's pretty much it. And play with him. That'll really help.