European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 24, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 scene stars and stripes june 2007 0 g co i John and his and play games together in the family gaming room in their More than fun fathers playing video games with their kids to Bond t when will Nickelson and his daughter want to spend some Quality time they fire up Nintendo Wii and play a few rounds of Wii sports or Mario party its kind of difficult picking a game for a 7yearold but she really likes to beat her dad at says Nick a stayathome dad from Hes certainly not people in the generation that grew up with Packman and Pong Are now having children of their and across the fathers and their kids Are finding the virtual worlds of video games a popular place to Many fathers say the games bring them closer to their kids by providing a convenient Way to stay in touch and talk to their children on their own a National Survey released last year by the entertainment software Assoc a a video game Industry found that 35 percent of parents play video of which 80 percent play with their were part of the though he considers himself a life Long Nickelson said the time spent with his matters much More than the games its More of a Chance to have time with he being a divorced i dont get the time that i would like with its just fun to sit Down together and try to have fun Sara says the Friendly competing Tion Doest looking Ott i like the Wii baseball because its just so fun because i always beat she sometimes i beat him at Wii he gets kind of one expert said video games equal ize the physical size differences be tween fathers and their that Means children often have the Edge in a video and they May feel More willing to youre on the kids said Arminta director of the Cen Ter for Parent education at the University of North anything that fun Between fathers and their kids i think is a really Good but Jacobson also warned that limits Are necessary because video games dont encourage reflective thinking language social skills or physical fathers could set aside a time each week to play video games but also set aside times to take walks and just she some dads have in what your kids do will always make you a better is a Way to Bond for the people who dont go out in the Sun so Andrew of joked Andrew a father of two whose web reviews video games from a parents taking an interest in what your kids do will always make you a better Par youll have a better idea about what to buy them for for Guy a marketing director in gaming with his six children began in the late 1990s with Diablo ii lord of destruct he still plays with them about two nights per week on another Guild where they can hash out personal issues and yes defeat others in online computer its allowed me to be a continuing influence and provide guidance in their and that important to said this has been an instrument that is at John idlers Home in a dining room has been converted into a gaming Center with three computers linked to the so he and his sons can play online pc games while sitting its also right next to the to so the whole family can still even if his no gaming wife and daughter would rather watch he said the fun of video games is certainly part of the but its really just an excuse to spend time How Many parents complain they dont have anything to talk about with their kids it May be Geek but were still he How Many parents sit Down and do things on a consistent basis with their kids i think its a great Way to share some one of his 19yearold Matthew plans on keeping video games a family tradition for years to it will be something i do with my kids when i have he and my dad will be invited to play with of