Most schools let out for summer this week. That means a familiar sight will soon fill living rooms across the nation: kids laid out across couches with controllers in hand and eyes glued to the big screen. How will you balance your kids' time with games?
Let the fun begin!

Let the fun begin!

As I mentioned previously in a feature about a balanced gaming diet, kids' gaming habits need monitoring. Just as you won't allow your child to eat ice cream all day, neither should you leave him alone with war games for hours on end. Here is one sample of a balanced summer diet of video games:

For the early grades

Pure fun: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic games

Team Work: My Sims

Action: Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure

A little homework: My Word Coach

For the middle grades

Pure fun: Echochrome

Team Work: Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Action: Need for Speed: Carbon

A little homework: Brain Age

Don't forget to have some game-free days and include plenty of outdoor and family time. My summer rule of thumb is - every hour on the computer or TV or video console gets traded for an hour outdoors or helping mom in the yard. I find my kids actually enjoy the break. And, I enjoy the company - and help.

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