Comments on: Video games… http://paxye.com/blog/video-games/ My journey through motherhood... Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:51:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jessica http://paxye.com/blog/video-games/#comment-3293 Jessica Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:29:48 +0000 http://paxye.com/blog/?p=2041#comment-3293 My son loves games and has since we introduced him to the computer when he was just 2 years old. We haven't really explored any of the role playing games yet but he does enjoy nick jr boost and the games that are available. I never limit what he can play although I do limit how much simply because he has a hard time limiting himself at this point and he gets a little emotionally attached to the games if he doesn't take a break and do something else for a while. Our only rule is that you have to figure it our yourself. I'll help get you started but beyond that you are on your own because I need to tend to his little sister. He's learned so much it's amazing to watch him figure out letter recognition games and he's way better at anything that requires jumping and strategy than I could ever hope to be. So I think that gaming has got a bad rap and society just needs to relax and embrace what our children find interesting. At least that's what I try to do. My son loves games and has since we introduced him to the computer when he was just 2 years old. We haven’t really explored any of the role playing games yet but he does enjoy nick jr boost and the games that are available. I never limit what he can play although I do limit how much simply because he has a hard time limiting himself at this point and he gets a little emotionally attached to the games if he doesn’t take a break and do something else for a while. Our only rule is that you have to figure it our yourself. I’ll help get you started but beyond that you are on your own because I need to tend to his little sister. He’s learned so much it’s amazing to watch him figure out letter recognition games and he’s way better at anything that requires jumping and strategy than I could ever hope to be.

So I think that gaming has got a bad rap and society just needs to relax and embrace what our children find interesting. At least that’s what I try to do.

]]> By: Sara http://paxye.com/blog/video-games/#comment-3278 Sara Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:01:35 +0000 http://paxye.com/blog/?p=2041#comment-3278 My girls love games. Maia especially, but even the younger two love to watch their dad and Maia play games. I'm the only one in the house who doesn't play. The kids play console and computer games of all kinds, but one "educational" game that they really enjoy is JumpStart Virtual World. It's an online multiplayer. The kids watch just about everything their dad plays, although there are a few realistically violent ones he plays after hours. I don't understand the appeal of spectator gaming, but the kids love it. I keep hearing good things about World of Goo. I'm going to have to put that one on the wish list. My girls love games. Maia especially, but even the younger two love to watch their dad and Maia play games. I’m the only one in the house who doesn’t play.

The kids play console and computer games of all kinds, but one “educational” game that they really enjoy is JumpStart Virtual World. It’s an online multiplayer.

The kids watch just about everything their dad plays, although there are a few realistically violent ones he plays after hours. I don’t understand the appeal of spectator gaming, but the kids love it.

I keep hearing good things about World of Goo. I’m going to have to put that one on the wish list.

]]> By: Lindsay http://paxye.com/blog/video-games/#comment-3274 Lindsay Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:15:18 +0000 http://paxye.com/blog/?p=2041#comment-3274 I meant to add that I wouldn't buy a game simply because it's "educational". I think part of the beauty of unschooling is trusting that education is in everything they do and are interested in. I meant to add that I wouldn’t buy a game simply because it’s “educational”. I think part of the beauty of unschooling is trusting that education is in everything they do and are interested in.

]]> By: Lindsay http://paxye.com/blog/video-games/#comment-3273 Lindsay Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:12:49 +0000 http://paxye.com/blog/?p=2041#comment-3273 Great post. I completely agree! I'm actually somewhat of a gamer (less so now than in the past), and NWN and Baldur's Gates are two of my favorites. I love RPGs. Bioware has a new game out that Kris really wants to get called Dragon Age Origins. There's a free flash version of it that Xavier might like: http://www.dragonagejourneys.com/ Kris and I actually kept in touch for two years when we lived in different cities by playing Everquest together... It was cheaper than long distance phone calls and gave us something to "do". And it was fantastic for learning leadership, strategy, persistence, etc even as young adults. We still sometimes play WoW together, though with Meredith now MMORPGs are pretty much on the back burner. We have a Lego game for the PS3 that she loves to watch and help out with though (and she loves Rock Band). One of my favorite games as a kid actually was an educational game, but I didn't realize it at the time. In fact, I didn't realize it until years later after I had Meredith and went in search to see if I could find a copy of it. It's called Zoombinis. I agree that most of the educational games are pretty thinly veiled, but that one was a lot of fun. My parents pretty much gave us free reign on video games and didn't censor them either. I tended to sit and play a lot, but none of my sisters really did. We all turned out fine. ;) And I got the best grades of us all even though I was the one spending all my time on video games, so there you go. Great post. I completely agree! I’m actually somewhat of a gamer (less so now than in the past), and NWN and Baldur’s Gates are two of my favorites. I love RPGs. Bioware has a new game out that Kris really wants to get called Dragon Age Origins. There’s a free flash version of it that Xavier might like: http://www.dragonagejourneys.com/ Kris and I actually kept in touch for two years when we lived in different cities by playing Everquest together… It was cheaper than long distance phone calls and gave us something to “do”. And it was fantastic for learning leadership, strategy, persistence, etc even as young adults. We still sometimes play WoW together, though with Meredith now MMORPGs are pretty much on the back burner. We have a Lego game for the PS3 that she loves to watch and help out with though (and she loves Rock Band).

One of my favorite games as a kid actually was an educational game, but I didn’t realize it at the time. In fact, I didn’t realize it until years later after I had Meredith and went in search to see if I could find a copy of it. It’s called Zoombinis. I agree that most of the educational games are pretty thinly veiled, but that one was a lot of fun. My parents pretty much gave us free reign on video games and didn’t censor them either. I tended to sit and play a lot, but none of my sisters really did. We all turned out fine. ;) And I got the best grades of us all even though I was the one spending all my time on video games, so there you go.

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