How Do You Get Your Kid Away From Video Games in the Summer?

so far we don't have to impose any rule for the kids because even if they love video games, they are still interested with outdoor activities, specially the beach. good thing we are only about 30 min away from the beach.

It's so passive -- that's the one I try to avoid as often as possible.

Rita Arens authors Surrender Dorothy and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak. She is BlogHer's assignment and syndication editor.

House Rule:

1) No TV (insert computer/game) on until 7pm (and only after all chores and homework are completed).

It was the rule. We followed it. And I am so grateful for having had that upbringing.

One Friday night, I loaded up my life and headed out... ( http://isledance.blogspot.com )

My oldest son is a tech-lover. LOVER. Thankfully, he stopped arguing with me about computer games when I set auto-timers. Apparently if the computer just stops working, he doesn't view it as MY MOM IS SO MEAN. Who knew?

As far as other gaming and summertime goes, we've had a few arguments. We have a rule that we can only play the Wii after dinner, before bed anyway, but being summer, my husband and I have wanted to get them outside to run and such. So, we installed the new rule that it has to be raining (or still too wet from earlier in day rain) for us to play a game before bed. It works most of the time. We broke the rule yesterday since we had a sick little dude who didn't need to be running around because I didn't want to clean up anymore vomit. Ahem.

Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )), from Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ), is a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.