If a parent wanted to designate a time period for the child to play the computer/etc... , why not just get a egg timer? I mean.... sheesh... that's a heck of alot cheaper and would have multiple uses!
My daughter and I play Toontown together. Sometimes, we won't play together, but majority of the time we do. And that usually goes for about a hour each day on average. On the weekends, if it's too hot/cold to be outside, or all the chores/errands are done, then we might sit and "spaz" out playing most of the day.
If you don't want your child to be "babysitted" by electronics, either don't left them have it, or learn to play it with them! You'd be learning together. As well as, you would be helping them (in the case of the gaming consoles) helping there hand eye coordinations. Some games are about solving quests and such. That helps them to think about the ways to do something.
I'm a "gamer" mom. I wouldn't use this due to the fact that I'd be right there playing as well. Even if I wasn't right there playing, I don't have much problems in the "time's up!" deal. You set a firm rule on when it's time to stop, either child stops or you pull the plug and put the item up for "time-out". You don't have to punish the child, just put the item away until you feel that it's sufficent.
Bringing up the case of where you'd be saving data and it would cut of the console, whoops. That's a really, really bad idea. If you want to make a mortal enemy out of your child, unplug the box after they've done completed that quest/beat that uber mob, and they'll hate you for life.
I know I would!
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This post is the view's of the poster. Your tendancy to agree or disagree is common.
