Does anyone have a child that doesn’t have a games console?

[Greenbutterlfy566]

Does anyone have a child that doesn’t have a games console?

Mine (DS now aged 21 and DD, 16) were never interested and never asked for a playstation, X Box or whatever. We had a Wii about a decade ago but they lost interest within weeks, as far as I remember.

They did play a few games on iPods/ipads/phones for a while, but only the usual kind of solo, time-filling sort of thing - nothing obsessive.

Dd 14, no console here though I think she did play mine craft on the iPad for a few weeks when she was younger - she’s just not interested

Mine got a switch at 13, uses it sporadically now.

Two sons, one in his teens and the other in his 20s. Both quite techy but neither of them has ever owned a games console.

We have an old Wii I bought off Facebook. I bought it for the caravan as no tv reception. I paid £40 and that's all it's worth as they hardly ever use it.

They do have iPads though

Mine do have kindles at home but no consoles, my son (8) has one at his dad's though which I dont agree with as it's all he will do there morning til night but then claim he's bored there.

We have family PCs and they have a Nintendo DSi each.

They'd love a games console, but I think they spend too long on the computer anyway.

We don’t. Neither dh or I have ever had one. Ours just play. They’re on screens enough that I can’t imagine paying all that money for them to be on another one. I just turn them outside!

DS 16 and DD 15 here. Ancient Wii used very occasionally. No consoles. Both have a pc and go through phases of playing a game, then get fed up. Both are Youtube fans and will happily waste time watching nonesense on their phones. I'm so grateful they were born pre - smartphone and tablet. Both had their first phone in year 6 and prior to that had only been on the pc playing "educational" games on cd rom!

DC (6 and 9) have no devices or consoles. DP and I have a phone and a laptop each, neither is used for gaming. No telly either. Totally doable. I just don't get it when people complain about not being able to pry their DC away from screens; just don't supply them with artificial, addictive virtual experiences. DC (9) sometimes asks for a tablet, and she'll get one eventually, but there's no rush. I remember borrowing a friend's Donkey Kong game for a weekend when I was a kid, totally remember that delicious feeling of complete immersion, and also vividly recall the headache and weird diginess of sustained exposure to those gaming brain chemicals. So not for my kids.

Yes but he’s only six!

What’s so good about you tube inwood? What do they watch on it?

Not here either. DD8 has jus inherited an old chrome book from a colleague at work. She mostly uses it to write stories, compile presentations and play games like mathletics or geometry dash.

I’ve just introduced her to Canva for basic graphic design.

She’s not really that interested in games.

What's wrong with consoles? More shit on YouTube imo. I'd rather they spent an hour on Fifa than hour watching hot dogs go up someone's nose and a sidebar of topless women. People should really monitor what their children scroll through on YouTube. Even with restrictions the content is often vile.

We don't . My boys are 10 and 8. They can play at their childminders or friends houses. So they don't really pester us to get console nor they are being outcast at school, plenty of friends. At home they do sneak into YouTube to watch other people play Minecraft.

None here ever. Now 20 and 16. Occasionally mentioned it if had enjoyed playing at others houses but only in passing

Yes we have a 13 year old boy would quite like one but we reason he does not have time as he is very sporty and does 2 hours of sports every night including swimming, cricket, karate, tennis and running as he does aquathlons and with his tutor 3 times each week, as well as Scouts, bike riding and homework he would not have time to use it. We thought we were only parents on planet who refused to buy their child any sort of games console. Glad we are not alone.

We don't have a console. My kids are 6 & 9. They watch TV (Netflix mostly) and occasionally play slice fractions, ttrockstar on the tablet. We also have a raspberry pi, but I can't work it. I meet too many children who do nothing but play unsuitable games and watch moronic YouTube videos. I'm not prepared to let my children do that.

Dds both teens have never expressed any interest.

My dd doesn't. She has never been interested, more of an outdoor type.

We have an ancient wii which is used very occasionally for Just dance. Nothing else.

DD is 14. She has never been interested in games really. Occasionally plays stuff on her phone but she's generally too busy doing other things.

We have a PS4 with about 3 games, of which DS (8) and DD (11) sometimes play one game.

DS not sporty and has some coordination and social issues, so wondering about introducing more games (including minecraft) in next few years so he has something to talk about (because it won't be football) with peers when he starts secondary school, but a bit concerned about some of the rather drastic behaviour some of my friends report about their sons and gaming - extreme anger when games go badly, when told to stop etc

Before you get a console read Teen Brain by David Gillespie, which spells out the demonstrated links between addiction and gaming. Particularly for boys.

www.amazon.com/Teen-Brain-David-Gillespie-ebook/dp/B07MFXQ247?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

FWIW my kids are DDs and have never been interested. They do play minecraft and roblox on the iPad though.

DD not remotely interested, so doesn't have one.

I agree with a PP about You Tube. I'd be much more worried if mine were spending hours on You Tube - even with filters activated there are often videos pop up which are not appropriate for any human being never mind kids. I can't understand why so many people are fine with their kids spending hours on there when they've really no idea what they may be exposed to.

4 dds 12, 11, 9 and 7. Just a very old and unused wii. All dc have kindles. Only allowed one YouTube show by a certain presenter. They are only allowed to have a phone at the end of y7. They watch news round in the morning before school and TV from 5pm (usually to 7-7:30pm). This included all screens. They have kindles/minecraft. They are not bothered by not having a console, though are intrigued.

Dd in y5 has loads of friends who watch Love Island. I guess any medium has its dangers?

My mum was obsessed with Ping back in the day and her and my brother were addicted to early Nintendo and play stations. That would be early 80s, I guess? I hated it even then. My mum was prone to gambling too much.