Everything in Moderation

Our boys are 12 & 15 and they love their Xbox games. I have the same concerns as many other parents. My biggest concern wasn't the actual content (but then I don't let my kids play Grand Theft Auto) but rather the amount of time spent in front of the Xbox. Everything in moderation. My boys know that if they want 2 hours on xBox, then they need to first give us 1 hour of reading. Do they love me for this? No. Do they love their Xbox and agree to our conditions. Yes. Do I give in on snow days and relax the rules - of course. My children are kind, thoughtful, respectful boys who help out around the house, with the dog and volunteer with us. If their behavior were different, so would be my rules regarding the xBox. We are a No XBox home Monday - Thursday. Between school, sports and homework, there is really no time to fit it in (of course, the boys would disagree on that)

The best thing that we did was to band together with the other families of the boys with whom our boys are gaming. We live in a small town and as parents we all seemed to be throwing our arms in the air in frustration over the time spent on the xBox. So, we agreed over the summer that we would put a curfew on the xBox in all of our homes. This was a huge thing over the summer when things can become more relaxed with no school. As parents of teenagers, we wanted to be able to go to bed and know that our teens weren't up at all hours gaming. It was agreed that after 10:30 pm - no Xbox. When we all agreed there was no whining since none of the friends were allowed on after that time. I am, of course, talking about xBox live.

Xbox Live can also be a positive thing for our children, especially for teenagers. Teenage drinking starts earlier and earlier with each generation. For those that don't want to be out hanging in town and exposing themselves to the peer pressure to drink, a lot of the young teenagers choose to stay home and play xBox with their friends online. I try to encourage my older son to invite his friends over to play xBox together. We order pizza and keep them happy with great food and a great playroom in which to play. When this is not possible the boys play, each at their own homes. I can hear them chatting and laughing as I walk (frequently) through the playroom under the guise of getting the laundry or other tasks. I love having my teenager under my own roof where I know what he is doing and with whom he is interacting. We can't protect them from everything and know that teenage brains make teenage decisions, but if a few years of xBox mixed in will keep those potentially dangerous social situations minimized - I'm all for it.