I wanted to buy Jason a PS2 as it seems like the standard gaming console that most kids have then and I was also curious about this gadget too, being an IT man and also started gaming on the PC.....!
But Mum would not have any of it for fear that it may get out of hand for Jason. We have heard of parents having to lock up the console and only let their children play on weekends only. So when the weekend comes, the children refuse to go out with the parents as it is playtime with the gaming console...ha..ha..ha...!
But one day we met my wife's uncle who just returned from his posting to Hong Kong and China, and he told us that he has been playing such gaming console as it was family entertainment and it was the thing that kept him sane after work in a foreign land...... He was a bachelor then though but he still play them with his children now.
After some convincing and influence from this uncle, we bought Jason a PS2 console but we told him that we do not want to have to lock it up but regulate the playing time instead.
( In fact, we bought it one year later as we decided to donate the money to a girl who was dying from her illness and she wanted to buy a notebook or PC to use before her days were up. Her case was reported in the papers and we were proud that Jason was agreeable to it. I think Jason was only 5 or 6 years old then. )
Initially, my wife insisted that he completed his homework before playing it but it caused more problems as Jason could not focus on his work and thinking of the PS2. I decided to switch strategy and let him play 1 hour first and then start his homework.
We never have serious problem managing him playing on the PS2. He grew out of it eventually. We also got him an Xbox one Christmas but it was my idea though. Both these consoles have been sold to our Philipino housekeeper now and kept.
Jason has moved on to PSP and I was the one who suggested to have one! Now, his Mum is also playing a game most evening.
I was curious about PSP as I read about adults and celebrities having one. I was looking for an external storage for my digital photos when we travelled. It did not meet my expectations so I never used it until yesterday when I decided to watch a movie that he asked me to convert for him for his recent trip to Ipoh. I was watching it on the MRT and I found that the quality was good and it helped to 'kill' time.
>PSP is a fantastic gadget...!
This Christmas, Jason wanted a Wii console to play 'Guitar Hero' and I also thought it was a good idea as the family can play tennis, golf and Wii Fitness together at home. But when I worked out the cost of it and then he also wanted a ME-20 for his electric guitar, he has to choose either one and not both as they are really expensive. Well, he chose the ME-20 and I also think it is a better choice too as he should benefit more from it than Wii console.
So at the end of the day, I think we cannot avoid these gaming consoles but must learn how to manage it and use it for the family entertainment purposes rather than let your children yearn for it and lost control over it.
I have attended a Parenting Talk and I was shocked that there are parents who banned their children from watching TV and no PC and gaming in total. They shared that when the children went to school and got exposed to other kids, her children were amazed or thrilled to learn of Power Rangers, PS2, etc and started to yearn for them since they are not available at home. Their children also seems 'strange' to their classmates.
Now do not get me wrong as I think parents have to decide what is best for their family and I do not blame them for their actions. A family counsellor was also in support of such actions and that to keep the children away from such undesired elements as long as possible. And they based it on studies done in US.
In my opinion, I think we need to move on with the changes in the world and we, as parents, should exposed such changes to our children and guide them in today's world and not run away from them. We cannot hide them from the world outside there but to help prepare them for the challenges ahead of them.
Just my opinion only.
Happy parenting..... and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2009David
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