The Day I “Broke” the PlayStation: Video Game Drama

It all started innocently enough.

My husband found a great deal on a used PlayStation. He knew how much my 5 year old enjoyed playing video games on his tablet, so he grabbed it thinking it would be something that they could enjoy together. He found a Spiderman game and voila! The child was in love.

Flash forward 3 weeks.

I started noticing an uptick in oppositional behavior and a complete inability to detach himself from the gaming system. I would tell him “15 more minutes” and even set a timer. Still, he would melt down when it was time to turn it off. I’m talking colossal fits; the kind where you are chasing the child from room to room and are unable to get a word in edgewise.

Initially, I was so angry that I nearly grabbed each game disc and scratched it with my keys. I woke up at 5am before everyone else and picked up the PlayStation, examining it with a magnifying glass to see if there was a wire I could cut to make it non-operational. I was feeling very MacGyver that morning.

Eventually, I settled for slightly unplugging it and placing it back where it originally sat.

My child woke up and went to turn on the game. It wouldn’t turn on. As I filled with glee at my electronic genius, he panicked and said “Mom, my game won’t work! I need you to fix it.” I’m ashamed to say that I flushed all of my feminist training down the toilet, batted my eyes at him and said, “I don’t know anything about fixing that kind of stuff sweetheart, your dad will have to help you with that.” I full well knew that my husband would be working 12 hour shifts for the next 2 days, leaving before my son woke up and coming home right at bedtime.

2 blissful days of peace! I think I even did a celebratory jig in the back yard.

I did eventually text my husband that I “broke” the playstation and if he knew what was good for him, he would not “fix” it until I gave him the go ahead.

Here’s what happened during the great video game detox of 2019:

  • The fits stopped. I’m not saying that my son morphed into an angel, but the knock down, drag out fits stopped. We were all calmer and more even keeled.
  • He went outside. When the PlayStation made an appearance in our house, all my son wanted to do was immerse himself in the game once getting home from camp. During our detox, he was outside playing with the neighborhood kids, soaking up the sun.
  • He was more interested in books, blocks and toys that encouraged self motivated creativity.
  • I learned that he had picked up a few choice words from the clearly age inappropriate games that my husband had purchased. In our house, our language isn’t the best. But, my child was throwing down the cuss words like a drunk sailor after the entrance of my arch enemy, the PlayStation.
  • My husband has learned that when they put an age limit on a game, they actually mean it.

So, did the PlayStation stay broken?

I’d like to say yes, but after our 3 day detox, my husband wore me down and I expertly plugged the thing back in. But, we’re slowly working towards a more healthy relationship with video game systems – making small changes where we can. Below, I’m including links to several articles that I have found helpful in learning how video games impact my child and how to have a gaming system in our home in a peaceful and healthy way.

The Argument for Playing Video Games with Our Children

9 Benefits of Video Games for Your Child

This is Your Child’s Brain on Video Games

50 Educational Video Games

What suggestions do you have for healthy video game use in the home? Leave them in the comments!

Amanda Fuselier
Amanda is a native of Kenner, LA and is now an honorary Cajun. She is married to a psychiatric nurse, Joe, and is a hospice social worker so don't come to her house unless you are ready to talk about your feelings! Amanda and Joe are parents to Kael and Remy and furry parents to Luna and Spiderman. Amanda is all about that #boymom life and is enjoying wrangling her two wild men while checking out the wonderful culture of Acadiana and all of Louisiana. Amanda is a fan of all things yummy and enjoys a good cocktail. Her motto is "if I can't wear yoga pants, I'm not going".