Breaking the Video Game Habit

I remember to this day how much I fought against getting video games in my home. I held the boys off for as long as I could but between them and our neighbor at the time, I eventually lost the battle. I think my son was around 8 or so when we got an Xbox.

In the beginning it was easy to limit his time on the game and to monitor what games he was playing. As he got older, it got more difficult, but I could still maintain some control. His last two years of high school were difficult and now that he is an adult, forget it. Some days it seems like I barely see him. He is always online with his friends.

I guess I can be happy that he does not play those dark and evil type games, although some have been questionable to me. Mainly they play NBA games and such. What does bother me is that he seems to have nothing else going on since he started college. All of his friends have scattered and he is mainly getting his entertainment from the games now. Ugh! I hate it!

So how do you break someone from the video game habit? It has become such a way of life in our children. I hate that they are like hermits and hate doing things. It is a constant battle that I want to help him break.

Do you know or have kids that have been through this? What tips do you have to help break the video game habit in teens?