Please help me make a decision about getting a PlayStation!
DS is 11, just started year 7. We don't own any game consoles and never have, just a laptop and an iPad (now broken). DS has a Nintendo DS at ex DP's and for a year has had a smart phone which I bought.
I don't generally restrict his time on his phone, he can go on it as much as he likes whenever he wants. I restrict what apps he can have, no snapchat, social media etc
He mostly watches a lot of YouTube.
I don't restrict because he's involved in two sports that means he's in training 4 times a week after school and has sporting events each weekend.
He does his homework, eats his dinner and apart from being a cheeky so and so is generally a well behaved kid.
Also he plays in the garden and with his brother so he makes the choice himself to do other things. He can at times be glued to his phone for hours but I don't mind that as it's not all the time.
We've had arguments a few times at bedtime about him getting off the phone but nothing major.
He has wanted a PlayStation for years, I've always said no as I thought we did just fine without one and I've always been concerned about gaming addiction.
An adult friend warned me years ago about how it ruined his life and suggested I never get one for DS! Extreme I know but I've always had it in my mind.
Another friends son is 19 and hardly leaves the house because of it.
With all that said I'm starting to come round to the idea. He wants one for Christmas/birthday as they're very close together.
I've heard endlessly from DS that all his friends have one and it's not fair that he doesn't. All his friends indeed do have one or the equivalent.
He does deserve a really great present as he works so hard and is doing so well but I can't help feeling that I'd live to regret it!
What is life really like with a PlayStation in the house?
If we did get one is it something easily restricted to weekends only/set times?