It was frustrating me that Isaac wanted to play Pokemon on his gameboy for alot longer than he was allowed. It was a constant battle of "Isaac, you need to put away your gameboy for a little while and do something else" or "Isaac, your electric time is up for the day. How about you go an make something with your lego". I really don't like being a nagging mother, but I also didn't want him playing Pokemon all day.
Since Elizabeth has turned 5, she's been allowed to play Pokemon as well. She's picked it up very quickly, and the two of them will happily play a Pokemon card game, which I'm much happier about than them playing on the gameboy.
However, there's been a recent development which makes me even happier. Isaac has started making his own Pokemon cards. I love the thought and creativity he uses to come up with his new cards. Jan A once said to me that you need to use kids' favorite things, and incorporate them into learning. Pokemon is still an obsession, despite my trying to branch out this past Christmas - but now I'm happy to say he is learning new skills through it. He spells out his own words, draws his own pictures, and creates cards that are "realistic" in regards to strategy (although Ben did have to sit down at the beginning and explain that a card with 700 health points was not fair to other players)
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We now have our first electronic gaming console (besides our PC's and my 15 year old black and white gameboy with two games - super mario and pacman). We got a wii for Christmas. We have a total of 5 games - Wii play, Wii sport, Lego Star Wars, Monopoly and Big Brain Academy. From Christmas time until school went back there were no wii rules. When we thought they'd had enough we told them to hop off. Emily got bored easily and we didn't have to worry - she would stop after a while and go and do something else without being asked. Jesse (in typical Armstrong male style) only plays Lego Star Wars and would happily continue to play it until a) he suddenly realised he was malnourished or b) he fell asleep still holding the controls in which case he would probably wake up and keep on going. So we have been monitoring him and saying stop now Jess and go outside for a while. Now school is back and we have had the wii for a while, restrictions have been brought in. Half an hour screen time each if all jobs have been done, with the option of inviting the other sibling to join you for your half hour if their jobs are done to our satisfaction. So all in all the possibility of 1hour total screen time all up. Jesse is finding this hard!! But at least now we have a punishment sufficient to scare him into doing things. It's amazing how quickly he falls into line under threat of an "indefinite wii ban"!!! - Mel
Mel - I cannot help but laugh at this. It sounds so much like our household. The threat of an "electronic ban" holds alot of sway.
It's ironic though - I love the days there are electronic bans. The kids play so well together and I have so much more fun!
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