Every parent has a moral obligation to provide guidance, encouragement and support to the development of their children in key social and academic skills. All of which cannot be achieved without constructive discipline. A firm yet consolatory regimen. A swift backhand to the face. You know, routine behavioural supervision. Children possess an intuitive acuity for manipulation, that if not properly mitigated can be disastrous for the dynamic of parent/child sovereignty. A situation only exacerbated by the meek concessions of relatives, giving in to the exploiting needs of the child. Totally undermining the authority of the parents.

Often the most effective means of discipline is keeping them engaged with an activity. Taking them to the park, on bike rides, puzzles, the coast (weather permitting), theme parks (partner consenting), or indulging in one of their many imaginative fantasies by portraying a big, ugly ogre, determined to devour them. Sometimes though it is much easier to plonk them in front of a tablet, and let a virtual baby mesmerise them with obnoxious interpretations of nursery rhymes. But as we edge closer to winter, outdoor activities become more untenable. And as much as you try to keep them engage with literacy, simple mathematics and other stimulation’s, the distractions provided by gaming is hard to replicate.

It’s only within the past 6 months or so that my 5 year old has shown any interest in gaming. She cast cursory glances at the screen when I was playing, but nothing that really captivated her. Though most controller’s are rather bulky for her diminutive hands, she has adapted amiably. Resting it in her lap, gripping the left stick between her thumb and fore finger, allowing her to navigate environments with reasonable composure, despite the inevitable camera issues she faces. Her favourite game to play at the moment is “Astro’s Playroom”. Though she struggles with the intricacies of rapid movements and jumping between platforms, she has demonstrated a remarkable adeptness when it comes to the haptics. Like adjusting the position of the controller when climbing. Watching her play and figure these things out, it’s easy to derive a great sense of satisfaction from her accomplishments, even virtual ones.

Every parent unfamiliar with the attraction of gaming, would probably consider the addictive nature of them a detriment to their child’s development. That continued interaction encourages obesity or nurtures indolence. To me it’s about moderation. You can still stimulate intellectual and sociological growth, without depriving them of the inherent fun provided by gaming.

The Chinese government is imposing sanctions on how much time teenagers are exposed to online gaming, in a specious attempt to reduce addiction. But how much time a kid spends playing computer games shouldn’t be determined by governmental regulations, but by the parents that should be moderating them. How is it that parent’s are seemingly exempt from responsibility and complicity, but at the same time powerless? Don’t you find it strange that a government, even one as authoritarian as China feel inclined to impose such restrictions on computer games, but the same philosophy isn’t applied to solving homelessness or gun control?

If gaming for longer than an hour is considered an addiction, them I must be suffering from a 30 year debilitation, that has subsequently resulted in me working a stable job, with a partner sympathetic to my “affliction” and raising a child together. Playing games for longer than hour doesn’t seem quite so bad.