mecreature wrote: kids these days are using the technology right out of the box. They must get up to speed and stay there.
I seriously have to wonder sometimes how we survived as kids 20, 30 or more years ago. How? We had no cell phones, no video games, no portable music devices (well, there were boom-boxes, but they were never very portable!). Yet we still had loads of fun, and we USED OUR IMAGINATION to entertain ourselves. This is what we strive for with our children.
But today's kids are not growing up 20, 30 or more years ago. We made due with what was available to us. However, there are more things available now to kids than we had. That's like comparing apples to oranges.
"But daaaaaaad... no other kids have 8-track players!"
There is a really good book that you might want to read (parents & older kids) It is called "Play Station Nation". It really opened our eyes to what we thought was just a fun time (computer games) and since have put our games away. The kids complained loudly at first but our lives are much calmer for the change. Someone else recommended the book to us and I took my own sweet time buying the book because I didn't want someone else to tell me how to raise my children and what they should and shouldn't do but I finally did buy and read it and I wish I had done it a year ago. You may agree or disagree but don't close your mind to learning about the consequences of game playing not just now but well into the future of your children. Take a close look at the picture on the cover of the book and I am sure most of you will recognize your own children in the same stance as the child on the cover. Also, google the book and read the reviews. Please do yourself and your child a favor and read the book and then perhaps you will revisit you decisions on technological game playing.
carmichael wrote: Take a close look at the picture on the cover of the book and I am sure most of you will recognize your own children in the same stance as the child on the cover. Also, google the book and read the reviews. Please do yourself and your child a favor and read the book and then perhaps you will revisit you decisions on technological game playing.
Actually, I don't see my son in that picture. My son talks to me about what he's doing, invites me into his world. I'm in the same room while he's playing. I can see what he's doing, what he's learning, why the games fascinate him. I've seen nothing but positives from my son's game playing. I prefer to live in the present with my son rather than in fear. Technology should be embraced, not feared.
We have found that with the Grandkids they enjoy the life in the campgrounds and playing with other kids, swimming, hiking etc. They were 7 & 9 this summer when we took a 3 week road trip qnd there was a lot of travel time when they would sometimes play with their DS's but that became boring too. So in general, it was a non issue with them
Sneakers145...my statement was "most of you will recognize" not ALL of you and I was making a statement about the posturing of children as they are playing and what this body language says...going through the halls of school each day after school is out and the kids are waiting for one practice or the other many are playing some kind of hand held video game and I have yet to see one of these kids seated straight up in a chair playing or standing straight. They are slouching either against a wall or in a chair or are lying on a hard bench with the game extended above their head...most are so deep into game playing that when spoken to there is no response. This is an observation made and was passed on to the OP as she was asking for opinions.
sneakers145 wrote: I see what he's learning. I've seen nothing but positives from my son's game playing. I prefer to live in the present with my son rather than in fear. Technology should be embraced, not feared.
I would love to know WHAT exactly is your son learning that will be of any benefit to him in his education, or his adult life? What positives does it really have?
I do live in the present, and I do not fear technology. I will not however, "embrace" it and allow it to infiltrate my life, or the lives of my children. I respect technology, and I am educated enough to utilize the gadgets that I NEED to make my life easier or safer.
I don't need games. I have an imagination. I can read. I can go outside and do any number of things. I will not let my kids get lost in the "time suck" that is video games.
Yes, this is a subject I feel very strongly about.
Yes, this is a subject I feel very strongly about.
As do I.
You may not see the value in gaming, but your kids do. You are not them; they are not you.
Things my son has learned from gaming:
a) hand/eye coordination
b) learning problem solving skills, trial and error; perseverence - games are difficult and hard to master
c) Increased his vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing and spelling; also began to read complex game manuals to learn new strategies to play.
d) Keyboarding skills
e) Math, geometry, algebraic thinking
f) social skills, etiquette, cooperation and team play, was part of several online guilds and talked with guild-mates during the game
g) Geography, world landmarks, map reading skills, reading coordinates, terrain, etc.
h) html code and programming
i) exposure to foreign languages and cultural differences
j) laws of physics and motion, auto mechanics
k) spatial relationships and spatial reasoning
l) military strategies and history, and questions of morality
m) setting up online auctions, similar to ebay. Learning about supply, demand, economics, and pricing
These are the main ones off the top of my head, I'm sure there are more.
I've been following this thread for a while, since I have 3 kids ans will soon get into these arguments. I have only one piece of advice: You know your kids.
If you are concerned about your kids not interacting with the family and playing video games instead of doing things with you, ban them. If you want one more option for rainy day activities and you're sure that the kids will still get what you want them to get out of camping, then bring them.
I'm fairly confident that if video games were banned while camping that you'd get about an hour of whining and complaining and then they would find something else to do. Conversely, if you let them bring the video games, you might be able get some peace and quiet for yourselves.
You know your kids and how they would act. Use your best judgement.
sneakers145 wrote: You may not see the value in gaming, but your kids do. You are not them; they are not you.
Things my son has learned from gaming:
a) hand/eye coordination
b) learning problem solving skills, trial and error; perseverence - games are difficult and hard to master
c) Increased his vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing and spelling; also began to read complex game manuals to learn new strategies to play.
d) Keyboarding skills
e) Math, geometry, algebraic thinking
f) social skills, etiquette, cooperation and team play, was part of several online guilds and talked with guild-mates during the game
g) Geography, world landmarks, map reading skills, reading coordinates, terrain, etc.
h) html code and programming
i) exposure to foreign languages and cultural differences
j) laws of physics and motion, auto mechanics
k) spatial relationships and spatial reasoning
l) military strategies and history, and questions of morality
m) setting up online auctions, similar to ebay. Learning about supply, demand, economics, and pricing
These are the main ones off the top of my head, I'm sure there are more.
Wow! If gaming is this great, man, we should just stop teaching in school and just let the kids play games all day! They'd learn everything they need to know! I'm gonna go pull my kids out of their charter school and go buy a gaming system, and they can just play all day! I am sure it'll look great on there college applications!
I'd love to see you back that list up with proven research! Research that shows "gamers" are healthier, more physically active, and better educated than "non gamers".
I am done with this argument, my appologies to the OP who simply asked about playing games in the camper, and has had the thread digress to this.
And BTW, my children despise gamers/gaming. They refuse to hang out with kids who do nothing but sit in front of the TV and zone out. Their choice, not mine, I have never influenced the decision. And thankfully, we live in an area full of families who also refuse to let their children play video games, so they have no shortage of friends.
Offline
