X box rules for 13 year olds

[pollycazalet]

X box is a constant source of conflict in our house. DS and I have wildly conflicting ideas of how long he should play on it. It's further complicated by being a real social thing - he plays online with lots of friends and I can hear them all having a great time chatting and laughing.

What are your rules? My problems are:

• DS never wants to come off (let me finish this game!)
  
• I don't understand it (i need to finish xx level or I'll lose all my points/ coins/ weapons - really?)
  
• i do see a difference in playing alone for a long period and playing/ chatting to friends and this probably makes me a bit inconsistent.
  

Grateful for any advice.

[secretscwirrels]

My rules when DS1 was 13.
Two hours maximum a day, in two separate "slots".
Never on a school morning.
No x box on Wednesdays.
Only play / chat with real friends, never with random people.
I stuck to these quite ruthlessly for about 2 years.

As he got older he resented these restrictions so much that I gave in and lifted them when he was 15 or so. He managed to self regulate fairly well, usually having two long late night sessions at a weekend.
We live very rural and the x box has allowed him and his friends to socialise where they couldn't physically meet up.

[pollycazalet]

Thanks secret.

[BastardDog]

My ds is 13. I set the family timer thing. 7 hours a week during term time. 14 hours a week during school hols. No Xbox after 8.30pm. You can set a daily or weekly limit. I've gone for weekly as I'm trying to teach him to take responsibility for regulating his time on it.

[tittytittyhanghang]

DS1 is 13 also. We are pretty lax with his xbox, there are no rules. During the holidays he can play as much as he wants. Hasn't stopped him going out to play with his friends. Outwith holidays it is usual, after homework done and off at bedtime. Again doesn't get in the way of him going out. He seems to be out most nights (and days in the holidays too).I totally get the "let me finish game" which can be annoying but i remember my days of sega and needing Sonic to get to the big ring to save so i kinda understand!

[pollycazalet]

Is the timer on the Xbox dog?

[BastardDog]

Yes, it's in settings. You can pass code protect it.

I used to get all the "just need to finish this level" comments. But the family timer displays a countdown on screen so its up to them to save the game or level before the time expires.

[BastardDog]

My ds is not like yours titty. He will xbox to the exclusion of all else, even eating, given half a chance.

[secretscwirrels]

The timer is no good if you have more than one DC using the x box.
I did use little digital timers for a while.

[CointreauVersial]

DS has been fairly unregulated up until now, but following a poor school report he will have a Mon-Fri XBox ban from September.

[FoundAChopinLizt]

Ours have computer/console time between school and dinner but after homework , then nothing after dinner. They take turns between four of them so no one ever gets to play for hours.
Nothing in morning or on Fridays. Weekends more flexible, depending on weather and what we are doing as a family, but still nothing after dinner.

They don't mind the rules, they find other things to do and often have more fun without the console.

[threesugarsplease]

Dog would you mind talking me through the settings on the xbox to limit time. I don't have a clue and I know DS will not be willing to help with this.

[bigTillyMint]

DS is 12. Initially we had 1hour slots only, but as he plays on it so infrequently, we relaxed this - he tends to have an evening on it with his friends about once a month, or a couple of hours on a Saturday if he has no sport going on. Fifa is all he is interested in!