Talking heads
With Whitmore High School head teacher, Innes Robinson
Bringing children up with a competitive dad in the house
My wife and I decided not to buy presents for each other this Christmas.
A sensible move. Luckily for me though, Santa seems to have a sixth sense and got my boys exactly what I wanted, a Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart. Within 10 minutes I was having the time of my life, mercilessly winning race after race against my two small children.
We were worried about them getting a games console though, and like all parents tried to put in rules that would stop them from getting obsessed.
Rule 1 – you can only play it together on the big screen (lasted about half a day)
Rule 2 – 20 minutes at a time max (went well for two days then fell apart during a difficult level of Lego City)
Rule 3 – Daddy always has to play too (a rule put in by me, which has been very successful)
But are games good for children? I think like most things, moderation is the key. A bit of time playing a game together as a family is probably a really good thing for a child. Even when your dad refuses to let you win.
One thing is for certain, it is almost impossible to completely shield your child from all forms of gaming. It’s just another reason why we are so passionate about having no phones at Whitmore and ensuring as many pupils as possible take part in extra-curricular activities at school.
At least then, parents can allow their child to enjoy their games after school, knowing they have had a range of real-world experiences to fill their day.
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