If there's a hell for lazy moms, I'm going there

[lilbunnygirl]

I bought my child a toddler video game today and the main draw was that Cash can play it by himself. As opposed to the damn Finding Nemo game that I have to play for him every time Daisy takes a nap. It was on Baby Half Off and I was like "Oooh $10 and he can play on the computer while I'm doing other things" - like he doesn't watch enough tv these days, now I'm going to add video game addiction to the mix. *sigh*

http://www.clicktoy.com/

[Bootysaurus]

Not lazy.

Making him figure something out is not lazy...it's good :thumb: Better than just watching TV!

[Farah]

You're not going to hell.....you're going to the Mommy Lounge :hehe:

I should get something like that for Charlie.

[AmsterDamsel]

Is it an educational game? Have you tried putting him on Starfall.com? He'd probably have fun clicking around the alphabet on there and I believe he could do it by himself.

[AmsterDamsel]

I just went to the site and it looks like an interactive storybook. That's not a bad thing! :)

[AmsterDamsel]

Oh and video games aren't always the villain people tend to make them out to be. Some of my highest readers when I taught fourth grade were avid video game players. They mostly played RPGs which have a high amount of reading in them. Several times we'd come across a word in our literature circles that I thought the kids wouldn't know and they did because they had seen it in a game!

I may be biased because I am a big gamer myself and video games pay the bills around here. :)

[Elaine]

Whatever it takes Lily. Whatever it takes... :hehe:

I don't think video games are evil either. Years ago my nephew learned to read by playing video games with me when he was 3 or 4 years old. He'd have me read the words to him and eventually he figured the words out himself. They also teach them thinking skills and hand-eye co-ordination. :twothumbs:

[Mari_Posa]

Whatever it takes Lily. Whatever it takes... :hehe:

I don't think video games are evil either. Years ago my nephew learned to read by playing video games with me when he was 3 or 4 years old. He'd have me read the words to him and eventually he figured the words out himself. They also teach them thinking skills and hand-eye co-ordination. :twothumbs:

I have to agree here. My niece and nephew are constantly on the computer playing games, some are totally mindless and some aren't. I think as long as everything is done in moderation, its ok. I know there have been days when Sara did nothing but watch dvd or netflix and I felt like I was going to hell for being such a horrible mother. There are some days when things need to get done that a distraction is necessary. As long as its not constant, then there is nothing to worry about. :support:

[Paula]

I'm a big fan of everything in moderation too.
Randy has one video game, he plays once in a while when I need quiet time.

[AshleyMommyto2]

Whatever it takes Lily. Whatever it takes... :hehe:

I don't think video games are evil either. Years ago my nephew learned to read by playing video games with me when he was 3 or 4 years old. He'd have me read the words to him and eventually he figured the words out himself. They also teach them thinking skills and hand-eye co-ordination. :twothumbs:

I have to agree here. My niece and nephew are constantly on the computer playing games, some are totally mindless and some aren't. I think as long as everything is done in moderation, its ok. I know there have been days when Sara did nothing but watch dvd or netflix and I felt like I was going to hell for being such a horrible mother. There are some days when things need to get done that a distraction is necessary. As long as its not constant, then there is nothing to worry about. :support:

Ditto!!! Your a good Mom Lily!! :support:

[lani-elle]

I was gonna say the same thing about moderation too. So I let Melanie watch Sesame Street AND Dora this morning (1.5 hrs) THEN I made her watch Little Einsteins because I had to clean dog diarrhea from the kitchen floor. It doesn't happen everyday.
Certainly makes you wonder what mom's did before modern technology.

[lilbunnygirl]

Certainly makes you wonder what mom's did before modern technology.

Oh gosh, tell me about it. When the power goes out around here, it's panic time

[Elaine]

Certainly makes you wonder what mom's did before modern technology.

Oh gosh, tell me about it. When the power goes out around here, it's panic time
I don't know how many times I've said that to my DH. I'd never get dinner made if it wasn't for Treehouse! :hehe:

[dixielanddelight]

No no no no. I'm going, not you.

DS is a MARIO FANATIC!!!!!!!! He plays that game all day sometimes. Some days I restrict him, like if he doesn't eat all his meal, no Mario. But then he "pretend" plays Mario. He plays Super Mario Wii, Super Mario DS, Mario Galaxy, and we also have some of the older Marios from when I was little downloaded onto the Wii. He's obsessed.

It gets him to leave his sister alone and keeps him from being so needy, which drive me crazy sometimes!

[Jojo]

If I could find something that would make Matthew sit and enjoy I would buy it too. I'll be joining you there ;)

[Ashley]

I must really suck then. Oh well. :hehe: Everything in moderation makes sense to me. It's the same with parents who overschedule their kids with sports and after-school activities every day after school. There's a nice balance in between it all people. Plus, educational video games can be really helpful- Tyler has a super why game helping him learn how to read. (It turns out a computer is more patient than me. Shocking right?)

[Mom2RyCarCo]

Certainly makes you wonder what mom's did before modern technology.

Oh gosh, tell me about it. When the power goes out around here, it's panic time
:hehe:This made me laugh because when the power goes out I just don't know what to do! My boys love Disney movies;) we do alot of outside play also though. It's hard to keep all 3 of them entertained:p

[Paula]

I must really suck then. Oh well. :hehe: Everything in moderation makes sense to me. It's the same with parents who overschedule their kids with sports and after-school activities every day after school. There's a nice balance in between it all people. Plus, educational video games can be really helpful- Tyler has a super why game helping him learn how to read. (It turns out a computer is more patient than me. Shocking right?)

Does SpongeBob count as educational?
He is my go-to guy when I need peace and quiet.

I don't know what about that lil sponge mesmerizes Randy so much...but I know it is not good!

[Bootysaurus]

What did moms do before modern technology? They put them to work or ignored them or had an older child watch them :thumb:

My grandmother tells me stories of helping her dad clean out the barn when she was 4! :lol: It's a dam nightmare trying to get Dylan to wipe down the bathroom.

[lilbunnygirl]

I think my guilt stems less from the fact that it's a video game and more from the fact that the main draw for me was something he can do by himself. I feel bad that I want him to play by himself so much these days, I used to do everything with him and we'd play outside all the time, etc.. and since I was pregnant and now with the baby, I just want to sit on the sofa all day. I think I'll feel better when he starts pre-school and is at least having fun and playing on a playground with his friends 3 times a week

[AmsterDamsel]

I think my guilt stems less from the fact that it's a video game and more from the fact that the main draw for me was something he can do by himself. I feel bad that I want him to play by himself so much these days, I used to do everything with him and we'd play outside all the time, etc.. and since I was pregnant and now with the baby, I just want to sit on the sofa all day. I think I'll feel better when he starts pre-school and is at least having fun and playing on a playground with his friends 3 times a week

I think its a good thing that he has something he can do by himself. I think it is a very important that children learn how to entertain themselves. Its great for the imagination!

[AmsterDamsel]

Does SpongeBob count as educational?
He is my go-to guy when I need peace and quiet.

I don't know what about that lil sponge mesmerizes Randy so much...but I know it is not good!

I used Spongebob all of the time when I was teaching writing to my fourth graders. Plus, I read an article recently about a kid who saved someone's life by using the Heimlich maneuver which he had learned by watching Spongebob. So yes, he is educational! ;)

[Paula]

Thank God, I'm doing something right...

I get that guilt too for asking Randy to play by himself.
Like I should entertain him all the time...but it is just not possible. We do a lot together, but he is going to have to learn to play by himself...and I need to learn that is ok.

[lilbunnygirl]

Is it an educational game? Have you tried putting him on Starfall.com? He'd probably have fun clicking around the alphabet on there and I believe he could do it by himself.

Thanks for this link, I just showed it to him & he is going to town! He loves the alphabet, he can read all his letters so he is having fun telling me which letter he is going to do next and what each letter stands for.

[Andrea]

Is it an educational game? Have you tried putting him on Starfall.com? He'd probably have fun clicking around the alphabet on there and I believe he could do it by himself.

Thanks for this link, I just showed it to him & he is going to town! He loves the alphabet, he can read all his letters so he is having fun telling me which letter he is going to do next and what each letter stands for.

Cool site, thanks!!:))