By Renee Martinez, Founder of Raising Boys World
Is anyone else frustrated by the power video games can have over your children?
When my oldest was first born, I swore I’d wait until he was 2 before I’d let him watch TV, much less play video games. We read lots of books, painted, cooked and played outside. Then came Baby Einstein. Yep. The first of that memorable video collection was a blessing to a mother who was probably just shy of losing her mind. Watching the videos always cracked me up. The music, the cheesy half-hidden-hand holding the toy or bouncing a puppet before some scared child trying to appear happy. Each new video came with a snazzier more professional look and a promise of a few moments of peace for me. I say peace as if my life was crazy, which it really wasn’t, but I guess I needed a little break. Soon, we began to meet all kinds of imaginary and annoying little characters on PBS. Our cold winter indoors had become a little more manageable with the addition of our new friend, the television.
When asked by friends if or when I planned to buy my son’s first video game and what would it be, I would tell them that I didn’t see one in his future. At the very earliest might be at ten. Well, much to my chagrin, when my 33 year-old brother was ready to upgrade to a new gaming system, he so kindly offered his up to my poor deprived children – in front of them. You can imagine the excitement on their faces and the disdain on mine. At this point the oldest was 7. It wasn’t well received when I suggested wait three years to accept the kind gift. So, I gave in. One of the rules: only the 8 and 5 year-old are allowed to play – not the 2 year old. Suffice it to say; I now realize why I was so opposed. It has the potential to become a serious brain trap if you let it. At first, I had a rule for the amount of time allowed to play per day. Then, I realized that more and more time was being requested and spent on the games. Honestly, if I let them, I think my kids would just camp-out in front of the TV to play games. What I find frustrating is that, we have all these wonderful toys to play with in a lovely playroom, an unfinished basement where they play hockey and outdoor play equipment for summer. We have books galore too. And yet, I’m told (daily) that there’s nothing to do in our house. Apparently everyone else’s house is more fun, the 2-year old annoys the older guys too much and the video games are the solution to all their boredom woes.
Honestly, I write this soliciting your response. What do you do in your home? I feel that it’s me against the Playstation and the Wii. Oh, did I mention…we have a Wii too. They’d been asking for one and I told them, “no problem, save your money” thinking they’ll never really have enough. Well…holidays and birthdays, they were on a mission. They bought one in November. They try to convince me to use it for longer time periods by telling me its exercise. I suggest they go outside instead. I hate to be the mean mom, but I just think that there are better things to do, am I wrong?
About the Author: Renee Martinez consults and speaks professionally on social media marketing, integrated marketing communications, public relations and branding. She is the president of Ruby Marketing Communications (www.rubymarcom.com), a boutique marketing communications company that specializes in providing branding, social media strategy and integration, and creative services. Her blog (www.lisac95.sg-host.com), provides resources on everything marketing and social media for her active audience.
Renee has contributed as a featured monthly columnist in the monthly jewelry industry publication, JCK, on matters related to internet marketing as well as in InStore Magazine as a featured blogger where she writes about developing effective marketing strategies for the jewelry industry using social media. She is the founder of: Social Media Biz Summit (www.socialmediabizsummit.com), the first large-scale SM conference to come to Buffalo, NY; #jewelrychat, a weekly twitter chat for the jewelry industry and www.RaisingBoysWorld.com. Renee teaches social marketing courses at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY for the business school as well as offers small group social media marketing training and educational seminars for businesses in Western New York and beyond.
Renee has dabbled in the internet marketing arena since the early 90′s and is not ashamed to call herself a “marketing geek”. From chatting in AOL, “sharing” music on Napster, and teaching HTML classes before it was considered “cool” to developing comprehensive social media strategies, effective public relations campaigns and managing online communities (most recently Chevy Girls Buffalo).
She enjoys being able to help people find their voice online and to create buzz about their product or service that will give them the results they desire.
Renee can be found on Twitter (@reneemmartinez) and Facebook (http:/www.facebook.com/RubyMarCom).
