A lot of parents are concerned about the amount of time their kids spend playing games. A few in-console options can keep usage under control.

Xbox 360 owners can go to the “System Settings” tab in the Xbox Dashboard and select “Family Settings.” Set a four-digit passcode as the administrator (parent), which will be required to access locked content (such as games that are rated “Mature”). Then activate the “Family Timer” to limit the total amount of time the console can be used per day or week.

Parents of kids who play on Nintendo Wii or PlayStation 3 cannot set time limits through the console’s settings, unfortunately. But each machine will let you set a PIN (numeric password) that can prevent kids from accessing games with content that is inappropriate for young children (such as games that are rated “Teen” or “Mature”). The Nintendo Wii can also prevent online multiplayer games for parents who don’t want their kids interacting with other players online.

For Windows Vista and Windows 7 PCs, click the “Start” button. In the search window, type “Parental Controls.” Create a new user account and enter a username and password before selecting when, and for how long, the computer can be used.

Some other general tips:

• Set a time limit before the game begins. If you want your child to play for only 30 minutes, tell him that’s the limit and set the kitchen timer. When the timer goes off, so does the game -- no questions asked.
• If you’re hearing “But I’m almost done with this level!” be aware that most games let players save their progress. If the game doesn’t allow saving, you might allow your child to turn off the TV set while leaving the gaming console on until your child is allowed to play again. (But this does consume electricity, so it’s not ideal for long periods of time.)
• Keep the video games or computer games in a high-traffic room so time limits and content can be better monitored by parents and babysitters.
• Consider investing in an electronic timer that can turn off the console at designated times.