Can I play video games?

Posted on Thu 12/17/09 in Fatherhood

Ethan is addicted to video games. Beth is a bit distraught about it, but I think it’s fine as long as it is limited and his physical activities aren’t compromised. He still enjoys going to the park, playing LEGOs, reading books, wrestling, cooking, etc. It’s just that he asks to play video games constantly. This morning, Ethan woke up at 5:30am. He came into our room, and the first words were, “Daddy, can I play a video game.” I explained that video games are for special occasions, and not for 5:30am. He explains that he took a good nap (referring to sleeping at night). I explain that there are going to be no video games and no TV this morning. He tries to slide in, “until McKenzie wakes up, right?” Sorry, buddy. He tries to re-engage the discussion several more times before I leave, suggesting that we can play after I shower, or after we have breakfast, or after I put my shoes on. I make the promise… “you will lose any chance of video games today if you mention it one more time.” He goes and plays with his new birthday toy from Grandma Mary. Despite the excessive asking, video games are currently a major player in our reward system. “Sure… you can play video games after you brush your teeth, pickup your toys and put your clothes in the hamper.” Done.

Now, no matter which side of the fence you’re on about video games, I promise if you watch this boy play, you’ll agree that improved problem solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills are a direct benefit of (some) video games. In LEGO Batman, you must perform a series of tasks in order to achieve certain goals. One such task might include destroying some objects, using the resulting LEGO pieces to build a tractor, driving the tractor over a bridge you previously built, crushing an ice barricade to reveal a change booth where you change Robin into a magnetic-suit Robin, have Robin walk up the magnetic wall only to pull a switch which allows Batman to access a ladder to reach the level where Robin is waiting. Whew….! That type of team play and cooperative problem solving is the entire premise of the game. Using the Wii controllers makes it more challenging because you control the movement of your character with one hand (thumb) and two buttons (for building and using special powers) and the other hand controls another device for attacking, jumping, and switching characters. It is funny to watch Ethan and I play, as he barks out instructions to me. Amazing, actually.

McKenzie likes video games, too. Ethan knows to give here the old XBOX controller when he starts playing, although that only worked a few times. She knows that thing isn’t plugged in, and she tells him, “No,” and demands a Wii controller. She wants to do exactly what her brother is doing. She climbs the tall chair to the dining room table to join Ethan when he plays LEGOs. When he is using the the computer, she sits on the desk and sternly asks for paper: “Pay-po!” That means she wants paper and something to write with. She loves drawing. We have a little, portable drawing hutch that she asks for. When you bring it down, she runs to a certain spot against the wall where she likes to sit and draw.

When it’s time for bed, McKenzie grabs books, asks for “Ba-ba” (bottle), “Baby” (her little baby thing from Ikea), a “Chow” (a TV show). For lunch, she asks for “Doup” (soup), and “cookie” (which is crackers). She talks about kids in her class all the time — mostly Maya and Lila. So nice when they can tell you what they want. She climbs all over the park jungle gym, which is quite scary. She does well to keep up with her big brother.

McKenzie has recently decided to start potty training (at 20 months). One day she said, “Poopoo,” and ran for the bathroom. I put her on the toilet, and she pooped. Unbelievable. She has started to tell us when she has to pee, but poop has proved to be less accurate. Aside from a few anomalies when she told us she had to go, she now likes to reach down into her pants and manually remove poop from her diaper. The first time she did this, it was at night, and rather than throw or smear the poop, she ate it. Then, she vomited. And then, she went back to bed. Other times, she uses it like sidewalk chalk, and she paints a poopy picture on the wall, her crib, herself, and anything else in arm’s reach. Disgusting. Looking forward to moving past this.

All in all, this time of their lives is exciting and ever changing. The next year should be littered with humor, parental pride, and slight frustration.