I occasionally like to monitor ads placed on my blog. If I were a louder voice in the blogosphere, I might control ad selection, but for now, Google AdSense is my helpmate. It works OK. Google does a spooky job of marrying blog content to ad relevance. Today, as it happens, I was impressed with an ad for a new-to-me product called PLAYLIMIT. Recently I posted a column titled "Are Video Games the Plague of the 21st Century?" In the article I explored the current societal fear that video game play has become addictive in large numbers. Although I argue both sides of the debate, I concede that parents have a real challenge on their hands when it comes to controlling game play as well as TV viewing.
Having grandchildren who are 4 years old and 3 years of age, the lure of video games concerns me. Fortunately, when it comes to TV viewing, my daughter and her husband, along with various sets of grandparents, make it a point to view TV with the kids. But those days are numbered, aren't they?
As my grandson enters kindergarten in 2008, video games will be a hot topic; Pandora will be permanently out of the box. So, what's one to do?
How about this? ACCORDING TO ITS WEB SITE, WWW.PLAYLIMIT.COM:
Playlimit limits the amount of time children play video games and/or watch television.
Provides a control point for stopping games.
Provides a renewable reward that can be used as an incentive for good behavior.
Provides a mechanism for sharing time on games and/or television.
As further explanation, PlayLimit offers the following rationale:
"PlayLimit allows parents a simple and convenient way of limiting the time their
children spend in front of a TV. Many studies have shown that too much TV is bad for
children. Even educational video games and programs, if not restricted, can reduce
children’s ability to think and learn for themselves.
"How can PlayLimit help? Simple. By giving kids tokens for a specific time period, parents set a definite limit on how much TV their kids can watch. What’s more, the tokens empower kids to manage their own time, so parents no longer have to be the“time’s up police!"
"Once children understand their TV limits, parents can encourage other activities
such as reading, drawing, and sports to fill the void. And that’s the ultimate
purpose of PlayLimit — to be a positive experience for both parents and children."
For children and adults, ours is an abundant age of digital candy and many parents and grandparents have been caught with our long-john trap doors flapping in the breeze.
The thought pops in mind that PlayLimit simply may be another electronic device to haunt our lives, but I do value the self-disciplining structure it appears to offer.
I have not personally tested PlayLimit within my own family; this article is not an endorsement of the product. However, as we all adopt new parenting skills to meet the demands of the age in which we live, it seems as if PlayLimit, at well under $100, is worth a shot.
Has anyone out there tried PlayLimit?
Please send along anecdotal details on PlayLimit or other creative and unique (non-punitive) methods of dealing with video game excess.
A bruised wrist from falling out of an apple tree beats carpal tunnel anytime.
graphic courtesy of www.playlimit.com
