3 Ways to Motivate Your Video Game Fanatic

Video games can be a fun release for kids, but letting them consume your homeschooler’s life isn’t healthy. As a parent it’s both important and tricky to teach your student responsible gaming habits. Though he may not always appreciate it, doing so helps him develop important life skills and a more diverse collection of interests. Here are three tips from AOP for motivating your student to balance game time with real-world activities.

Teach time management.
Encourage your homeschooler to maintain control of his schedule by teaching him to be aware of time spent in the virtual world. Request that your child check in with a parent every 10 or 15 minutes to confirm that he’s watching the clock in addition to playing games. Whenever he misses a check in, it’s time to take a break.

Integrate education into screen time.
With gadgets that fit in your pocket, gaming is no longer limited to a computer or television screen. Encourage your homeschooler to branch out in the types of games he plays. For educational, on-the-go fun, introduce your homeschooler to the best learning apps for iOS and Android devices.

Discover his hobbies and nurture them.
Above all, the best way to help your homeschooler manage his gaming obsession is to help him develop a healthy variety of other interests. If he enjoys music, enroll him in piano or guitar lessons. If he likes to play basketball, sign him up on a local team. If he likes to travel, make a list of local sites to visit as a family, such as zoos, museums, or national parks.

How do you guide your homeschooler’s video gaming habits?