Dads, Kids, Video Games and Animal Awareness
There’s something about being a man that instills in me a need to excel at video games. I’m not talking about a specific genre of video game or gaming system, I mean that I feel the need to excel at EVERY video game I play.
So it was no surprise that I found myself wanting the same for my children, especially my son, who is now at the age where he is showing a lot of interest in them.
It began with some iPhone puzzle games and then evolved into an Angry Birds obsession that was beyond comprehension. My daughter started wanting to play too but she mostly just stares at the birds on the screen and laughs when they make noises. I have no expectations for her as far as gaming goes, it’s stereotypically a male thing anyway.
Now before I continue, I want to point out to all the parents who think letting your kids play with electronics is bad, that I am a dedicated father who loves to play things with my kids other that video games. We are an outdoor family who loves sunshine and snow alike but sometimes we also like to enjoy a good video game too, so back off!! LOL.
Back to my son, he recently saw a friend playing Mario Kart for the Nintendo Wii and decided that he wanted to play too. He’d seen the Mario box at our house but never knew what it was until that day. He started asking about it but I figured at 3 years old, he probably wasn’t ready yet. I lasted about 2 months before caving the other night and on went the Wii.
Had I known the reaction this monumental event was going to get, I would have started videotaping sooner but better late than never I guess. When I said yes, Luke began running around in circles like a maniac, shouting “Mario, Mario, Mario!!!!” His sister followed suit except her shrieks sounded more like “Mayo, Mayo, Mayo!!”, of course we knew better than to give her a cup of mayo. Even trying to explain the chaotic scene, there’s no way to properly do it justice.
Now, I understand that Luke is only 3 years old but when a video game starts, a man tends to lose control of his regular brain functions and turns into a modified version of a young boy. Common sense doesn’t apply and the competitive side comes out in full force. So on day 2 of playing Mario Kart, I fully expected my son to have figured it all out and to be crushing the computer Princess in every race. This was not the case.
The reality of it is that he has no idea what he’s supposed to do and just likes playing with the Wii steering wheel that came with the game. I think the fact the he has his serious face on is what throws me off, as it looks like he ‘IS’ Mario and wants to win at all costs. In reality, that’s the type of focus kids portray with most things they do and it took everything in my power to not yell “You have to turn there man!!” or “”Shoot the Banana at that guy!!”.
In the end, cooler heads prevailed and I took some time to enjoy watching the gaming experience through his eyes. I even found out that we must be doing something right as parents because Luke stopped driving the Kart at one point to let the cartoon cows cross the road, explaining that he didn’t want to hurt them.
Point is, when he eventually figures out that he’s losing the game, he’ll probably get upset about it and I’ll lie and tell him it’s just a game. For an adult male, playing video games, there’s no such thing as “Just a game” because if it was in fact just a game, we wouldn’t be playing it. We eventually to get too old or too fat to do anything else well and this becomes a place where we can excel at something into our later years.
Don’t believe me? Ask my wife about my journey through all the Call of Duty games. Ask my Mom about her experience living with my gamer brother. As the saying goes, “You can’t take the boy out of the man”.
Do you have a funny gaming story? Share it below in the comments and don’t forget to do the Facebook/Twitter thing if you liked this post. Thanks for your continued support!!
Cheers!!
so cute!
Thanks!! I agree:))
LOL – I wrote two gaming posts this week! AND I so know what you mean about you can’t take the boy out of the man 😉
http://www.multitestingmommy.com/2012/02/xbox-360-kinect-and-my-family.html
http://www.multitestingmommy.com/2012/02/tackle-it-tuesday-mtm-vs-xbox.html
Thanks for participating in SASS again this week! (host)
I saw those and actually my wife has been pressuring me to ditch the PS3 and go Xbox. Not gonna happen but maybe there’s a way to have all 3 of the big systems….we’ll see:))
Love it! My hubby and I are “gamers” and my 4 year old twins recently got addicted to the lego games on our ps3..lol.. they are really learning to work together though, I love to see them figure out puzzles on their own and it’s getting us through this crazy winter 🙂
– SASS
http://www.didyouknowcanada.ca/2012/02/helping-your-child-beat-winter-blues.html
I try to push the puzzle games on my little guy but he inevitably goes back to angry birds and mario, lol.
What and absolutely adorable video. I love how your son plays mariokart with his entire body!
I agree with you, we never really grow out of playing video games. It’s just pretty refreshing to see someone play with the joy of a child.
Thanks!
Thanks Alex, I appreciate it! After I posted this, he played again today and did much better, That’s My Boy!! 🙂
My husband gets quite frustrated when he when he congratulates our four year old on winning a carefully “thrown” game and she replies with something along the lines of “Yay, we all win together!” I’m sure she’ll get it soon enough. I think kids develop the competitive spirit early enough on their own. (Oh and gaming is so not just a a guys thing. Grr.) – SASS
My son was hung up on knowing whether he beat the computer today. The best part about MarioKart is that you can do Time Trials and just race against your last recorded time, which means he wins more often:) Gold!
He seems like a safe driver 😉
LOL – I was getting a little upset when you mentioned iPhone puzzle and angry birds in connection with small kids – but of course it’s fine as part of the whole “game plan” 😉
My son (5) competes for everything and is a bad looser, so I’m trying to tell him that it’s not ALWAYS about winning …
SASS
Thanks Eva! The puzzles I was referring to are kids development puzzles so I don’t feel like I’m rotting their brains too much, lol. I have no answer to Angry Birds except to say they’re both over it already and we’re on a strict outdoor playing spree:))
We are a gaming family as well. DS is still a little too young for them yet, but I know he will be playing before I know it.
-SASS
I can’t wait to get a DS!! For my son of course….
love it!!..that is way too cute and as a former farmer’s daughter..thank you for avoiding the cows…you are a good man lucas!…very cute!