“Gamer with Kids”. Do those words really go together in harmony? Video gamers who grew up in the 1980s with the Nintendo Entertainment System or in the 1990s with a Sega Genesis probably have kids of their own today. You love video games, the great memories that your childhood brought, and you want to keep that alive in your adult life, as well as impart some of those feelings to your own children.
In this new generation of multimedia, there are many online kid’s games as well as video gamers you can play with children in a cooperative setting. Here are some of my tips on Balancing Kids, Life and Video Games.
Keeping Your Priorities Straight
One tip to juggling it all is make sure you keep your priorities straight! Video games are fun and addicting, but you should make time for everything in life including your children, so why not include them in a gaming session (as long as you play age appropriate video games). There are many video games to play with children – educational and enjoyable for the entire family.
The latest smartphones offer the ability to play online kids games, and this is a great way to spend quality time with your children as well as get some of your digital multimedia fix. Families incorporate movie nights – why not make video game nights?
Put the Kids to Bed, Get Your Gaming On!
If you have a 5 year old and want to fight the Covenant with Master Chief in Halo 4, put your child to bed first. Then you will have the rest of the night, uninterrupted. This will give you the opportunity to spend time with your kids and be in the moment while they are up and awake, and then have your gaming session in the evenings when it’s time to unwind and have some fun of your own.
Parenting is hard and we all need a little personal time so if you love video games then you shouldn’t have to give them up entirely. Just schedule the gaming time around your child’s schedule!
Reduce the Gaming Time
Limit yourself! If you’ve grown up with video games and find it hard to quit cold turkey, then try to limit the amount of play time. There’s no reason to stop completely because if you like it you should make time for it! However, there has to be a time when you put down the controller and enjoy some quality time with your kids without the distractions of a digital device.
If you’re a gamer with kids and playing 70 hours a week perhaps it’s time to reduce your gaming hours. It may seem hard at first, but it’s tough being a gamer parent so you should find time for everything you enjoy in life and enjoy your kids while they’re young and incorporate them in fun! For those that find it difficult, there are many online kids games and game to play with children that you can balance both worlds and create meaningful memories.
In today’s digital age, it’s easier to stay inside and entertain yourself. If you’re a parent that loves to keep up with the latest electronic device or next-gen console, you may find it difficult to balance children, work and gaming!
If you’re a gamer with kids it can be a tricky full-time job. However, there is no reason why you can’t have the best of all worlds and still be a responsible parent!
