Family Game Nights Go Virtual

With the success of the Nintendo Wii and continued popularity of Guitar Hero II for PlayStation 2 and Dance Dance Revolution video games, I've suspected more families are playing video games together. Awhile ago, a friend of mine told me she and a friend have spent many a Friday night vying for time on the guitar controller with their kids, and doing a lot of laughing along with singing and playing.

The Washington Post's Mike Musgrove writes about how family game night in many homes has evolved from board games to video games. For some, the transition has been smooth because young parents grew up playing the first home video games. But for others, games with more movement and socialization built in (Guitar Hero and Nintendo Wii's many offerings) are drawing parents into their kids' fun realm. And that's a good thing.

I think a lot of parents would identify with Shawn Hirsch, a Gaithersburg, Md. dad, who told Musgrove he considered himself an "anti-video game guy" until the Nintendo Wii because it gets players up on their feet and playing together. He and his 7-year-old daughter play tennis and bowling together.

We bought the kids Guitar Hero this year, but I confess neither of us has picked up the guitar controller and given it whirl. But this article has inspired me. So maybe after I finish this post, while the kids are still in school, I'll see just how well I do on Cheap Trick's Surrender....

I think it's a great idea to play the video games our kids love with them, as long as we're balancing it with other activities that get parents and kids moving together outside. I love when we play real tennis together, but those times are far too rare, especially during the winter months on the East Coast. I definitely don't want to trade that for video game time. But added into the mix of family time, it's hard to argue with.

Are you playing video games with your kids? If so, share your favorites and if it's made a difference in how everyone gets along.