Put Down the Controller

He's 4.5 - well, almost 5. He's full of fire. He's all energy and all boy. He NEVER stops jumping, flipping, running and punching. He has even taken to watching TV upside down. He stands on his head on the couch. I'm beginning to wonder if I watched TV like that if I'd be thinner...experiment time!

He's obsessed....OBSESSED, with the Wii. Matt and I somehow stood firm and didn't buy one until this Christmas. M and S were 7 and 8 respectively. They seem to do better with it. O is another story entirely.

As soon as his eyes are opened it's "Can I play WEGO STAR WARS" if I say no, it's "Can I play WEGO BATMAN then". When we tell him no watch out. Stomping, screaming and crying insue. It is typically short lived, as most of O's tantrums are, but it's not pretty. It obviously is a problem for him.

Days he plays for a long time, he's a mess too. He crys more, yells more and paces. He starts doing his "wego" moves on me. Trys to punch and kick like the men on the game do. At first it was...cute. Now, it's annoying.

I've been monitoring his play much more lately and he seems to be doing better. I don't want him to be addicted to these games. He LOVES electronic games - so much in fact that he said the following things to me:

"Mom, why won't you let me play any ELECTRONIC games today?"

"Ok, I played Candy Land, Imaginext and played in my shaving cream. NOW can I play Wii?"

I fear I haven't worked with him like I did the older two boys. He's so much different than the other two. His personality is so much different even. We've always said - as horrid as it sounds - he's been the most like a "regular" kid. The other boys are brilliant and tons of fun, but they weren't without their eccentric things.

Although Owen did have an irrational fear of birds and balloons. The balloon thing was soooo annoying! Had to leave more than one birthday party with a screaming toddler. It did save a lot of money for his birthday parties though! He still isn't a big fan of balloons.

Maybe, he's too much like a "normal" kid for video games. Stupid electronic games.