Kids only want to watch tv and play video games. They don't like to play with their toys?

I have a 4 year old son and 5 year old daughter. All they want to do is watch TV and play video games. They have all the latest toys, puzzles and books but all they want to do is play video games and watch TV. I do take them to the park and swimming etc but my concern is when they are home I would like to see them play with their toys. When I was a kid I use to play with my toys for hours and have an excellent imagination and nobody taught me how to have an imagination or how to play with my toys it's something I figured out on my own. My kids refuse to play with their toys even though they are barbies, batman, superman spiderman etc. They have no imagination. I've tried to teach them how to play but they show no interest. Is this because they are a different generation and video games / TV are so much more appealing? I'm scared my kids are going to damage their eyes and I would like them to be able to entertain themselves so I can have some quite time to myself.



So am I expecting the impossible? Any suggestions? Or should I just keep letting them watch tv and play video games?Kids only want to watch tv and play video games. They don't like to play with their toys?
Not healthy, at all if there play M rated games then you really should do something but if its kitty then just limit the time. Now how i stopped with the game addiction, all i pretty much did is play games All day. The reason is because there hocked to the game, so its like they can't stop like a circle in just goes round and round. So i started going to the movies, outside more, bowling and it worked, now about your problem. There very young i mean 4 and 5 i didn't start play video games till 7 i mean you have to be responsible take the game away tell them when they start doing other things, they get it back. Trust me thats how my parents stopped me from games XD. Now there to young for video games cause there gonna start playing more and more till they can't stop. Now not all kids like to play with toys lol. some will draw, toys, board games, puzzles, theres is video games which is not an option. Now did you buy them video games at that age or do you have your own system. They had to see you playing a game or they must of played. Yes video games and Tv are getting updated BIG TIME! which is why more kids be on Tv or video games, just take them both away sure they might cry which will happen but you might have to hit them or something or play the video games with them teach them that they not the best thing to do play with them with there toys, books, puzzles then they'll like to do that. I really don't know what to say all i know is don't let them play video games like that at that age.
Damage their eyes? More like their attention span and ability to learn as effectively.



Turn off the t.v and say no to video games. Give them a time limit each day (probably 1 hour tops) and then turn it off and keep it off.



They also learn from you. Are you watching lots of t.v. and using a computer all the time? If you constantly have "screen time" then they learn it from you.Kids only want to watch tv and play video games. They don't like to play with their toys?
I love toys especially woody and buzz and i played video games and watched spongebob if you have kids by them some cool toys and maybe they will get into them if not no big deal what ever it is that they have fun to enjoy there selves and just have a restriction of how much video games and tv they can watch and make sure they excercise
they will only play video games as long as you let them

start a rule of 1 hour of telly a day or something and see how that goes off tell them they have to do something else the rest of the time

you could od it as a family thing everyone gets to watch telly for a certain amount of time only that would also be really good for mum and dad or an interesting challengeKids only want to watch tv and play video games. They don't like to play with their toys?
The only way to get them off the TV is to take it away. I would limit their time a day to an hour with TV and video games, let them know that it isn't a punishment. But with it being summer they need to find things to do besides watch tv.
i have a 4 year old daughter and I am a single working parent. What I do is I limit her tv/game usage. 45 minutes a day tv at most. Any electronic devices must be used after dinner time and less than an hour a day. She rides her bike and plays with her friends.
Limit or completely get rid of TV and videogames. It's that simple.
Turn the telly off!
They are young enough that you can set some limits without TOO big of a rebellion. Simply impose some new rules--one hour (or whatever you think is appropriate) of TV and/or video games per day. Then be strict about it. You're in charge. It will be hard. It will take awhile before they stop fighting you about it. Much of parenting is hard, though, isn't it?



And yes, too much TV or video games is unhealthy for two big reasons 1) it creates "passive" learners, meaning your kids will learn more from watching others do things and not learn the skills themselves, and 2) it doesn't encourage a physically active lifestyle which can lead to problems with weight, health, and self-confidence.
it takes no imagination to watch tv or play a video game, or to play with any electronic toy, so just limit their usage of those. tell them they can have one hour of tv and video game time a day, after that hour the tv goes off and the games go away and they have to pay with their other toys. be lenient, like if they have a special show on that lasts an hour and a half, let them watch it, but dont make that an everyday thing, make it like a once a month thing, so they know this is not a punishment. it has nothing to do with a different generation, im 17 and i was never glued to the tv as a kid and i still am not, because my parents practiced moderation, and all of my little cousins play with their toys. tell them they have to go out and play in the yard, they can bring any toys they want as long as they dont need to be plugged into a wall. the simpler the toy, the better, because then they need to use their imaginations, when i was little the best toy in the world was a large cardboard box, we could turn it into a spaceship or a car or a house or even a tv and put on our own shows.
My aunt gave my cousin's 1 hour of tv time. They all had to decided what they wanted to watch and they only got an 1 hour unless it was family movie night. My husband is a huge gamer, I've expressed that I don't want my daughter to get in to that. I told him that if he doesn't support me in this I will take the tv and the video games and lock them up. And that's what I'd do if my daughter was like that. My best friend would be locked out of her house when she was younger because her Mom wanted her outside. Just some "suggestions" :P However I'm a young Mom, I wish my Mom was more strict with the tv. Or you can try and take away there toys and see how well that will go over. Good luck.