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Parenting

xbox for 10 yr old?

9 replies

alegre · 04/02/2011 17:05

It's DS' 10th birthday soon and he really wants an xbox. We already have a wii, a playstation 2, he has a knackered DS.
We're not sure about the xbox and he's getting upset.

We think it's very expensive for a birthday present. However, he says he'll forgo presents from family i.e. uncle and grandparents and be happy for a contribution towards the xbox.

We think there are enough consoles in the house. Yet it seems that everyone in his class has one and he feels left out. We also think that if he's feeling peer pressure, where will it stop? Surely there'll always be something someone else has? We can't keep up with everything.

We don't think that there are many age appropriate games for the xbox and worry that many of them seem to be shooting games. We already worry when he's on the playstation that he sometimes gets a little aggressive.

I'm not sure really what I'm asking here, maybe I'm just trying to think things through...
Do many 10 year olds have an xbox?
Is a wii, playstation 2 not enough? Would you recommend an xbox?

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AMumInScotland · 04/02/2011 17:10

I think if he already has a playstation, there can't be any real need for an xbox as well. There are some games which are only on one or the other, but most genres are well supported on both.

And, as you say, there's not that much age-appropriate material on either of them!

I'd say no.

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walesblackbird · 04/02/2011 17:14

My 9 year old had an xbox for Christmas. He has Psp, a DS and a Wii and an old PS2 which no longer works.

Have to say that he loves it and at the moment I am using that to my advantage. The games do tend to be older and there are a lot of shooting games but if you search hard enough you can find games that are less inappropriate. You just have to pick carefully.

Having his x-box means that I now have no problems getting him out of bed in the morning. He now gets up, washed, dressed and cleans his teeth without any nagging from me.

If he backchats or refuses to do something then the consequence is stoppage of x-box time. Works like a dream every time.

Things that he won't do for me, he will do for his x-box. Not sure what that says about me but for now I'm going with the flow.

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alegre · 04/02/2011 17:15

Thanks AMumInScotland. Think I'm looking for some moral support - he seems so gutted that he wants to cancel his birthday .

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alegre · 04/02/2011 17:18

Hi walesblackbird. That's the kind of stuff we do as well with the PS2 etc so you're not alone in that kind of parenting . Yes, the xbox might give us an extra edge but I still don't know....

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alegre · 04/02/2011 17:25

I guess I feel like a big meanie while standing by DH on this. But that's because DS seems to have set his heart on an xbox and seems quite upset.

I know nothing about games consoles - I play with the family on the wii now and again and that's OK. Otherwise I've no interest in them.
DD shows very little interest in them as well.

I'm not sure I like the idea of solitary play and I guess I'm also worried that it'll be like an addiction. We already have to prise him off the PC and PS2 so that he goes out and gets some air.

I guess that's parenting's like that. You have to do things you don't always like doing.

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walesblackbird · 04/02/2011 17:37

It doesn't have to be solitary play on the x-box. Both my boys play on it at the same time and compete with each other or join forces and compete against other players.

You also have x-box live which means that they can play on-line against other players.

For my son it means that he can play with his mates from school while not being together - if that makes sense!

It's something you do have to watch carefully and monitor carefully but my son gets to talk (with the headset) to his friend across the road while being in separate houses.

The very helpful lady at Game - I'm clueless with games consoles - told me that as boys get older than usually their preferred console is an x-box.

I'm also very aware of the addiction thing and am monitoring it carefully at the moment. He's never been that bothered by any of his other games consoles but he does really like the x-box - because of the above I think. For now, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt as it's still new and novel but will be watching him carefully.

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flamehairedgirl · 04/02/2011 17:37

We have Wii & XBox and my 13 rr old DS is addicted to his XBox,(calling for strict time limits!) which we've had since he was 9 or 10 for family use.
His interest in the Wii was very fleeting. 10 is fine for a console in general, but there are very limited game options available for that age group for XBox, which means the next stage is he will be asking for age inappropriate games that his friends will inevitably already have,(been there).
If its a case of fitting in and having the same things/experiences as his friends, he will want to play the same games next!Then that's a whole new battle.....

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inthesticks · 04/02/2011 18:12

I'd say wait at least 2 or 3 more years.
walesblackbird is absolutely right in that there are social benefits, plus huge potential for addiction. The most popular games are all 18 rated. If you give in to buying the x box when he is 10 that would be the next thing.
Look on the teenage topics for lots of x box threads.

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alegre · 04/02/2011 18:23

Hmmm, lots of food for thought.
Thanks for taking the time.

DH isn't home yet (think he'll be home late tonight) and I think I should have waited to discuss this when he's here. DS is going on about deserving one for working hard at school and I'm finding it quite hard. Think I need a glass of wine and I'd better go and cook dinner...