My kids have for the first time started to play these online games but what I have noticed that they are addictive and the kids are doing less and less around the house and spending more and more time on the computer playing them.<br />What i am concerned about is a total loss of fitness from my kids as they are getting less and less exercise. Do any parents on these forums allow their kids to play these games, Also I have been told some of the games are brainwashing our kids if not giving them nighmares.<br />What do you think.!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/default/confused.gif" />

Depends on the games they play.<br /><br />There are memory games and strategy games as well which are good for the mind. <br /><br />But there should be a time limit on computer play times...

Well I can tell you this!!!<br />My daughter plays the online game called Runescape and it is addictive. You have to chisel her off the computer to get her off. Now as for my daughters friend, he is worse, you physically have to put a bomb under his seat to get him off it. Now, this is what I have observed in the last few months and this is a fact:<br />Never allow the kids to play this game too close to their sleeping time. Why? They won't sleep. Example, my daughter can never see past 9.30 at night. She is like her mother and likes her sleep, so on a few night, I deliberately let her play until 9.00pm, yes and even her mother was in this plan to prove a point that it affects your sleep. She went to bed at 9.30 and she had the hide to come down stairs (10.30)complaining that she can't sleep and when you tell her it was the game, she denies it. But this test was done a few times without telling her what we were up to. Now the next varies from kid to kid. Some are affected more than others but I have noticed they talk in their sleep and the talk about the monsters in the game and when they mention the three monsters in the game in their sleep, what does that mean? In simple language their brain must still be thinking about the game whilst they are asleep. Another reason and I have to agree, kids today are unfit. I am 55 and I can outrun my daughter and my daughters friend and when I come back I AM NOT HUFFING AND PUFFING. The problems today lie totally with the parents. The parents work and don't give a shit what the kids do. Heaven forbid some kids must spend all day playing these games and you wonder why they become fat when they feed their pathetic faces with food or if they are not fat a 55 year old can out run a 13 year old which you would think this would not be normal. This is clearly not on. I tell my daughter 1 1/2 hours is max playing this game, get in the pool for a swim, we will go for our 3-5km walk and when you come back sticky, back in the pool again. If this is not followed, there are no computer games in my house. Again, it makes me sick to see some of my daughters friends are in such a poor condition. Any parents reading this, please take note. Its not normal for a 55 year old to outrun a 13 year old and I cannot catch my 9 year old, so you work that out.<br />You must balance life with a bit of everything, but any parent that allows their kids to sit in front of a computer and play these online games for hours on end each day, you should get a reality check!! because this is not on...<br />Thumbs down to these online games without control.<br /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/default/mad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/default/mad.gif" />

These online games are not allowed over our house its simple the kids spend to much time on the net and do nothing else and you're right Phil you have to jack hammer them of the computer to get them off and depending what games they play it can effect them as they know they are playing other kids on the net and not the computer itself and these games stick into their brains and you wonder why some have nightmares. As for interupting their sleep yes that is 100% correct, to much brain activity going on to let them sleep or have a good sleep.

I just banned my kids from playing them recently mainly because I was sick and tired of telling them to get off.<br />Yes my son also had problems sleeping, see the problem is most online games are very intence and require a lot of concencration and this is where the problem lies the brain doesn't want to shut down if played late in the evening. And if there is any violence in the game well I won't say anymore make your own decision. If played a limit of 1 Hr only.

My kids only use the internet for school work and nothing else only Australians allow their kid to be Brainwashed like others have said. My childern are all under 15 and I make them work hard in and out the house if not they will become lazy pigs like most Australian kids.

Did you read the papers today, I bet it was in most states, Its all about the condition of our kids today and how many will dies of Heart attacks at or under the age of 30 ans these games are not helping<br />get the kids out the yard!! no yard disconnect the Computer.

Tatally banned since the kids stopped doing their chores.