The Xbox 360 Family Timer

The appeal of the Xbox 360, especially for kids, is obvious. Engrossing story lines, combined with dynamic graphics and surround-sound audio, provide gamers a nearly unparalleled opportunity for total immersion into a fantasy world of invading aliens, rampaging dragons or elite-level sports. Unfortunately, sometimes the immersion becomes so deep that it leads to video game addiction. The developers of the Xbox 360 understood the concerns of parents worried about their kids spending too much time on the console, which is why the Xbox timer was introduced.

Here's a quick explanation of how to use the one feature of the Xbox parental control settings, the Xbox timer:

• Go to the Family Settings menu

• Click on "Family Timer"

• Select "Daily" or "Weekly"

• If "Daily," program access in 15-minute increments

• If "Weekly," program access in one-hour increments

• You will need the console's passcode to add more time or suspend the Xbox timer

That's all well and good for owners of the Xbox 360. But what about owners of the Playstation 3, Wii or other gaming consoles, for which parental controls limit access to content but not necessarily to time? Furthermore, you certainly can't use the Xbox timer to exert parental control over how much time your child spends watching TV or browsing the Internet on the computer. The importance of limiting exposure to electronic entertainment can't be argued; the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids age 2-18 spend no more than two hours per day watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Web for entertainment.

Fortunately, the Mikko Que is available to centralize parental control over kids' exposure to all forms of electronic entertainment. Devices like video game consoles plug directly into the Que, a revolutionary device that monitors usage and shuts off a device after a preset amount of time. Used in conjunction with existing parental control programs like the Xbox timer, the Mikko Que can be a valuable tool to help teach kids the importance of time management.

For information on how to limit the amount of time your family spends playing video games, watching TV or browsing the Internet, contact Mikko USA today.

Media Management for Children ... It's time.