President Obama's Father's Day essay this past weekend in Parade, "We Need Fathers To Step Up," showed that the President has video games on his mind -- and we're not talking about the latest Xbox releases. He wrote that even in rough times, parents need to be active in their kids' lives and interests.
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"We need to turn off the television and start talking with our kids, and listening to them, and understanding what's going on in their lives.
We need to set limits and expectations. We need to replace that video game with a book and make sure that homework gets done."
Obama also mentioned his concerns about the effects of excessive video game playing on children's health in a recent talk to the American Medical Association about health care reform. In regards to preventative health care, he said, "It means going for a run or hitting the gym, and raising our children to step away from the video games and spend more time playing outside."
Even when he was on the campaign trail, Obama and Michelle were outspoken about video games "raising our kids." Check out this video of them discussing Grand Theft Auto IV.
On the other hand, he's also been known to sneak in a few rounds of Wii bowling with his daughters, as well. Last January, the New York Times noted that the sports fan "has gotten in a little practice in bowling lately on the Nintendo Wii his daughters received for Christmas. Mr. Obama, who famously struggled in bowling during last year's Democratic primaries, said he performs better in the video game."
Do you agree with the Obamas and their stance on video games, health, and education? How do you get involved with your kids' gaming habits?
