Why would playing with Tamagotchis seem to make my children mean?

[Cathy in IL]

It the oddest thing, but I have definitely noticed a connection. when my dds play with their Tamagotchis they ignore those around them, they snap at people, and just get a mean attitude. I have had to take them away twice this week for the same behaviors. I wonder if the fact taht they are designed for one child to play with basically alone just increases selfishness. Has anyone else noticed this sort of thing with similar toys?

[Miss Peregrine]

My kids get that way with increased screen(of any kind) time.

[strider]

My kids get snappish and selfish with too much screen time.

[ELaurie]

if they watch too much television or engage for a longish time with electronic games.

[*anj*]

Same here. I find that happens when they have too much screen time of any kind.

[yvonne]

I've noticed this with my boys, also. Their screen time is limited to two hours on Sat. & Sun. evenings.

I think the root of the problem for them, is that, playing a video game, they are in *complete control* of the little game world they're in. They can do exactly what they want, completely independently of anyone else's feelings/ideas/actions. When they return to the real world, things aren't quite as neat and clean, and it can be so irritating when your sibling doesn't passively acquiesce to your every whim or command. :)

The other problem, I think, is that they get used to immediate feedback... push the button, this happens, go to the next thing. They're relatively passively receiving constant stimuli. Drat if the world doesn't react immediately to their every action or thought! :)

[mcconnellboys]

My younger son becomes completely belligerent when he plays too much on the computer.

Regena

[Audrey]

My son gets crabby, snippy and just "yucky" in his behaviour after extended periods on the computer or DS. I hadn't really thought about it as being related, but it's very interesting to see that others notice this connection, too.

I'm going to have to seriously consider screen time limits. *gulp!* :rolleyes: