And I know you’re conscientious with the dosing. Otherwise Greta wouldn’t say things like, “It has always been my dream to watch this much television.” (That child never fails to crack me up.)

I subscribe to the idea that it is good to have guilt, so that we focus on what matters. The same with the food they eat, what they watch on tv, etc…

My children go to friends’ and play Wii about 4-5 times a year (sp. the boys, 9 and 4 yo). It is enough to feed their imagination and satisfy their curiousity without being glued to it for every single waking minute while at home. Last Xmas my in-laws intended to gift them a game system, which we vetoed. They got an Ipod instead. They spend a lot of time shooting home movies with it… but at least they are moving around and filming their own stories with playmobil, action man, lego, etc…

The 9 yo only reads Harry Potter. He read one Captain Underpants when he was 6 or so and didn’t want to follow up. Sometimes I pressure him to read other stuff… and I was only lucky with Calvin&Hobbes. But being now at page 500-something of the 7th Harry Potter, he has read about 3.000 pages in just 2 odd years!!! (just wonder why he still makes so many spelling mistakes though )

I’ve always meant these “waldorf guilt” posts to be a little tongue-in-cheek. Really, I’m making fun of myself and my worries over the years regarding technology and the stuff of our culture. The truth is, what started off as worries for me have really become fascinations: I’m endlessly intrigued with what my kids have learned from technology and the most base stuff in our culture.

I think you’re absolutely right that balance is key. As I wrote to Just Peaches, we need to keep in mind our own values, but we also need to be open to learning from our children, as well as from our changing world, from new research, etc. I can take what I like from Waldorf theory, but I don’t need to let it limit me and my kids.

The danger is in going forward without considering and thinking along the way.

I loved reading about what your son’s DS playing inspired! More proof of why we shouldn’t judge what interests them.

I think a little guilt is healthy–it keeps us focused on what matters to us. But ultimately we need to keep a balance between what we believe and what our kids can teach us, just as you’ve pointed out.

I think you’re on to something when you note that today’s virtual games are much like ancient mythology. There’s something very similar about them–in the powers that certain characters have over others, in the importance of the stories that surround them. I think both the tales and the games often have a particular draw to the male mind.

My first “waldorf guilt” post was about my guilt in owning a game system. I’d rather we didn’t, but my older two–teenagers–lobbied for it and paid for it. Of course, it’s the eight-year-old who actually plays the games now, but I’ve come to see the value in his play. Still, I admit to monitoring his play pretty carefully. I can’t completely let go of the guilt.

Mr. T owes him a boatload of gratitude. I have a different perspective with T, owed in no small part to my oldest.

(We probably should feel more guilty about having activities in mind that we assume will excite them–which is something I’m often guilty of!)

Yes, let’s just stuff the guilt all ’round.