Should parents restrict their children in computer gaming?

No. I learned grammar and how to type from playing MMORPGs, believe it or not. I also learned alot of my math skills from playing them too, I think it's complete BS when people say they're "not educational" or "brain numbing". The only way they're addictive and "brain numbing" is when you restrict your kids from it so much that when they finally get it, they never want to put it down. My little brothers spend 80% of their time playing video games, such as the Zelda series, almost ever Mario game (even the old NES ones), games such as Jewelquest they learned to read, basic math, and they're extremely good at solving puzzles and quickly, all from video/computer games!

I also think it is total BS that if you're a gamer you'll sit around doing nothing, become overweight and antisocial. I know a LOT of gamers who are VERY social and not anywherer near being overweight. Game cons ftw! Online gaming forums let's you meet and make new friends.

To the answers saying gamers 'stuff their faces', and 'anti-social and sadistic' please, stop using stereotypes and get some real facts.

And to the answer saying that some games are too violent/hardcore language/etc. Really? Your kids aren't mature enough to handle seeing violence and hearing "bad" words on a video game? My brothers have been killing and fighting and hearing a few "bad" words on video games since they were about 3 and they've NEVER felt the need to go out in real life and reproduce what they saw/heard, they're smart enough to understand that was a video game and this is real life, and they know the difference between right and wrong. I think it's very sad if a kid does not have the ability to understand this.

There is nothing in life that you can do that does not involve you learning something new.

And sorry for the long *** possibly lecturing answer, I grew up in an unschooling enviroment, and it honestly drives me crazy when parents try to control their kids and try turn them into what they think they should be, not just letting them be the way they already are. Especially by trying to take away TV or video/computer games, when that's what I learned most of what I know off of,and not on purpose or because they're 'educational'

I am not actually a parent, but rather a 19 year old boy. This is my generation (and my younger siblings) and I would love to share my thoughts. All of my friends are obsessed with computer and video games, and even more so with online social networks such as facebook and myspace. They often spend 4-8 hours a day staring at a screen. I find that habits these tend to take all their time, and generally result in a competitive, or otherwise crabby attitude. Outdoor play, which I love thanks to my parents limits which I will mention in a second, is very limited if it exists at all. It's tough to avoid getting caught up in the action though when all of your friends are "professional" halo players, or are all into the latest facebook trend, and that is all that is discussed at school. When I was just a little younger I very much wanted to dump hours of my day into the nintendo. Fortunately my mom caught on quickly and limited me to a meager 15 minutes. This was enough for a game or two, and made one game last a long time before I was able to beat it, and thus want a new one. No, I wasn't the most wonderful or up to date player in town, but I had the time to find other things to do such as rollerblade, go bike riding, and get a job during the summer. My siblings are now 17, 15 and 9. They are all subject to the same rules, and all are active and healthy. I'm afraid that I haven't found too much good in even the little time I have played, although I have noticed the problems. I cannot say that the issues with concentration and short attention spans, as well as the "want it now" mentality of my generation are results of video games, I think that is more the fault of parents who don't know how to say no, and hate for their babies to be in want. Video games sure don't appear to help though.

I believe that they should.

Not only can computer games be addictive, the repetitive motion can cause significant injury. Like most things in life, moderation is key.

Absolutely 100% yes

Too many children spend too much time infont of the computor or telvision while stuffing thier faces with chips. We wonder why there are so many over weight children?

Um.

*leaves addictinggames.com*

:D

I think that parents should LIMIT how much time their children spend gaming online, but they shouldn't restrict it completely.

yeah my brother is suchhh a gamer and my parents restrict him kinda but not really

It really annoys me!

And plus excessive computer gaming makes people anti social and sadistic

Yep, My son uses a computer at school an that's it...as he gets older he's only allowed to use it for school work during the week.

Yes, some of the games are very violent and have some real hardcore language in them.

Yes.