Urbanmom

My son really wants a Nintendo DS. He's 7. 7!!! I don't want him to be sitting there using this thing all day long, being anti-social! Now certainly, I would limit the time he uses it, but I just don't even like the concept!! Whatever happened to playing a video game on the TV with another person, nevermind actually playing with another person. They make these things for younger and younger kids.....sigh......

PurpleFDU

I actually never owned a game system at all til I was an adult.So I don't really get the want to have these types of toys as a kid. I do know I wouldn't be buying one for my child no matter how they begged.

bun.in.the.oven

I'm sure this will come back to bite me, and be one of those things I said I'd never do, but we've decided no hand-held games until 13. I just feel childhood is sacred and children need to be out playing in the world! 7 just seems so young to get sucked into that, because once it starts, that's it!

BakingBigBabies

I do not have an age set, but there is no way that I will let my young child have one either. I don't even like the leapfrog educational games, let alone the shoot them up and kill them stuff that's out there. No need for it-interaction is what a child needs.

Urbanmom

I agree with you all, and I have no problem putting my foot down and saying no. It's just annoying that it's just another thing I have to say no about!! It doesn't help that his friend has one, and I know people who buy them for their 5 year olds.

momx3angels

My oldest has a couple of friends that are bad with video games. They don't like coming here as we don't have any. My daughter wants a nintendo DS now though. I don't know how I feel about that one. She's 11 so not at all young like some of these kids I see, but still. Hubby is dead set against them. I am sort of on the fence. As a treat, I think they're fine. As an all the time thing, they're not.

MommyDearest

I've only just caught this thread. I suppose these days we have to consider that these games are the modern equivalent of a book. Children these days will be growing up in a quickly progressing technological world and it's good that they will feel comfortable around these gadgets.

However, I would have to say that it would depend on the games they are playing. If the games were in some way educational (educational can be fun!) then the games can only be good. But if younger children are allowed to play some of the games that older kids are into, then that has to be bad.

Mami

The peer pressure that the kids have to endure when they don't have onend 'everyone' else does. The reasons we offer for saying no have got to be convincing to help our children 'buy in' to our ideals. Still 7 is a pretty young age for us having to justify anything.

Modern Mum

Well my son is getting one from "Santa" and he is only 5 - shock horror!! When I grew up I never had anything like this but children these days are more technological minded as long as it is carefully monitored and the games are of an educational level then I do not see why it could do any harm. It will enhance their hand eye co-ordination, problem solving skills and concentration. The harm that it could do by not letting them have one is they could be bullied and jeered at by others at their school. Don't get me wrong my son loves nothing better than jumping in puddles and kicking a ball and being outside whenever he can. He also loves to play with Lego, cars, jigsaws etc - just a typical 5 year old boy. A good balance is all that is needed and denial and deprivation could potentially make them go behind your back which you cannot monitor. In future years to come it could make them go behind your back about more serious things.
Experienced mother of three!!

gaily

In our home handhelds electronics and videos are allowed but we have a 30 minute a day policy. This is followed up by a reward when they stop watching and put the games away. My 3 little ones know when 30 mins are up it is time to go out and play or take out toys from the cupboard.

If they break the rule the next day we deduct the minutes they spent playing the night before of the next day. It works a dream.

Every so often they are rewarded with a new educational toy. It used to be playmobil but now my kids are hooked on a new toy called Clics.

Good luck,
Gaily