Should parents let their kids play games all day long?

Yes, it is proven that video games help kids if they want to be a surgen when they get older, because of the steady hands.

There really isn't an answer to this question.

It all revolves around what you believe to be true about gaming. If you think it's stupid then you probably won't let your kid play all day. If you think they're the best thing ever you'll let your kids play them all they want.

For most people it's a happy medium between the two.

My parents never cared and I'm fine now.

If I had children I sure would not want them sitting around playing video games all day, not always about it doing harm there are just better things they could be doing at that age. The rare times there was a system around when I was a kid there would just be a limit on it, however I never had a system for long until I was a teen and by than the rules change a bit, and only renting and having one game also effects how much time is played.

Limit them on the amount of games/consoles, so it doesn't become to much, I enjoyed my N64 and gameboy when I was young, but I was mainly outside, climbing threes and playing soccer, streethockey, rugby. If me or one of my friends would get a new game we would play it like crazy for a while, but eventually play outside again. I see more and more that kids have a ds, a psp, a xbox, game pc, etc, etc. This can become to much IMHO.

I don't think violence or gore is that dangerous. My parents wouldn't let me play violent games, but that only made it more attractive for me. Played Turok, Perfect dark, Serious Sam and GTA at my friends place and I don't think it messed me up in ANY way. IF people/children don't see the difference between games and reality there is something(non game related) wrong in general.

Some days, sure; but not every day. Children need to learn outside the classroom, because we learn best when we're children and the school system is absolutely horrible (at least here in the US). I am also in favor of kicking them off the console from time to time and making them go play outside.

There was a time when all you needed was a stick. It was a gun, a sword, a crossbow, a spaceship control stick, and anything else you could imagine. I fear kids are losing that.

I guess it's tough for kids in the city as parents are scared of them going outside and meeting dangrouse people. I was lucky that I grew up in the sticks so there was plenty of opportunities to go out with friends riding our mtn bikes in the woods, building treehouses, playing games, playing pool and going swimming.

I got into gaming later on and my parents never bothered to stop me playing, I found I continued this habit right on through late teens then uni studies. I eventually had to stop it all together. Some games take up so much time that it's hard to have a 'quick' go on them. It can be too easy to play a game all day. I and I've known a lot of people who have gamed all day then felt bad about it, only to do the same thing a few days later.

I often see kids out in the scate park on their boards and BMX bikes. Inline skating and basketball are good sports to get into as well.

It can be hard to find decent parks though so I can see how some parents may feel their kids safer in doors. A lot of sports have an element of risk and danger to them too so I guess parents may think they are protecting their kids by letting them play video games all day.

Nop, not all day long ... true, games help the brain to stay active, but playing Counter Strike and Call of Duty all day long is very degrading and tends to make the kid more stupid!

My advice to parents is to let their child play at the computer but only a couple of hours (3-4 max) a day and most important, to control what games he plays.

P.S.: It is recommended to follow the rules of age limit written on the case of the game !

Not at all...I think that parents should give kids opportunities to do other things outdoors. I had a motorbike as a kid and I thought that was way more fun than being inside playing my GameBoy. I went biking with my friends, played sports outside, went swimming, hiking, etc... But some days I would stay inside all day and play GameBoy. It shouldn't be all or nothing when it comes to this stuff, and parents should stay out of kid's affairs when they get to a certain age. When I was younger I was restricted to 30 mins of electronics per day until I was about 10 years old, then eventually when I was 15 I had no restrictions whatsoever. I could go to bed when I want and do whatever I wanted. However, because of the limits I had when I was younger and the lessons my parents taught me about moderation, I found myself able to maintain self-control. I would put myself to bed at a reasonable hour, I wouldn't play games or watch TV too much, and I wouldn't drink too much soda. It's all about teaching kids moderation. If you can do that successfully then you have them set up for a good and fulfilling future, as well as giving them the right tools to teach their children, etc...