Sharing nintendo switch

[Serena1977]

My dc 8 and 7 want switches for Christmas. If they have 1 each that would blow the entire Christmas budget except a few stocking fillers. I also don't want to spend £600 on devices.

Do they need 1 each or do people really just have one per family, bearing in mind we have a playstation 4 in the living room already.

If you have one per family, how do you share it fairly with there only being one screen when its used as a hand held device?

Thanks

My 3 boys share, never play as handheld unless others are doing something and not playing, always on TV and play games that are more than 1 player.
They do play games that 1 player and take turns to have a go.

I'd only buy 1 switch, but would get another set of joycons so that they can play together easier on the same game.

In my experience they really don't work very well as a shared handheld device. The Switch Lite might be a better option, it's cheaper than the main Switch console but you can't connect it to the TV.

If they have 1 each that would blow the entire Christmas budget except a few stocking fillers

Do they know this?

When I was a kid I really wanted the Playmobil Victorian mansion. I had most of the furniture but not the house. I never ever got it. My mum says it's because that's all I would have had that year. She said she didn't want to just buy me one gift.

But I only wanted the one gift. She would buy multiple items because she wanted the "big pile of gifts". I appreciated my gifts, but honestly would have been more appreciative of getting the one thing I really wanted (which was less than what she spent annually anyways).

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

not they don't because they think it all comes from Santa. I've got myself ina bit of a hole because as they get older, the things they want are more expensive but they still expect the same quantity because Santa doesnt have to think about money etc!

Perhaps this year Santa could prioritise the gift each child most wanted. After all, he had to reduce the number of elves in the workshop due to Covid-19.

[quote Serena1977]@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

not they don't because they think it all comes from Santa. I've got myself ina bit of a hole because as they get older, the things they want are more expensive but they still expect the same quantity because Santa doesnt have to think about money etc![/quote]
Maybe Santa could be your “get out” on this one? In our house Santa checks with parents when it comes to tech gifts. The answer here would be that he won’t be bringing a Switch because they already have a PS4!

Ah ok.

We told our kids that we still have to pay Santa for their gift (he brings the Main Present and the stocking and we do a few gifts from us).

It's hard to tell. What games are they interested in?

We often play games on the TV, but sometimes they play them as handheld devices. I agree that if you only get one, get an extra set of joy cons.

I'd talk to them and see what other stuff they want. Last year, 2 of my kids wanted Switches, so they pretty much just got the Switches and just a few small things. They were absolutely fine with this.

My two (DS12 and DD9) share a Switch and do so pretty well. They rarely play games together on it but are good at taking turns with it.

One switch, one extra pair of joycons, only allowed to be played on TV not handheld (except on long car journeys).
Expect fights anyway!

My sons have their own, they are 6 and 8. The eldest got his for his birthday and they tried to share it but realistically there's only so much they can do like that. So I got other son one.

The only thing I would say is omg the games for 2 switches is ridiculous so always buy them cartridges rather than downloads as they can swap between each console.

We also bought an additional set of joycon when they only had 1 switch between them.

If they play fortnite, you can play a duo match with one on the PS4 and one on the switch. It's easy to do. Most games aren't cross-platform but Fortnite is

We have one. They take it in turns, I set a timer if need be. Only use the small screen (In their room) if the other is on a screen ban. It's the only console we have.

PS Santa can't bring electronics- interference with his magic!

We always told ours that Santa doesn’t bring electronics!! Purely to save the whole I want an iPad or expensive console! We did have to say that we had told Santa that as Obviously some kids to get iPads etc! I think we worded it as because DH is such a tech geek and works in IT he wanted to deal with all devices etc.

We have switch that is shared between the 3, doesn’t cause too many arguments as they either play together or we have other things like a decent gaming PC, Xbox 360, wii U that can also be played with and the switch is attached to a small tv in the study.

See, I genuinely can't afford to buy electronics for the kids AND a load of Christmas presents, but obviously if you can afford that it's different.

Check with mobile phone suppliers, they often have them as a free gift when you renew your contract.
I've got a Switch but Dd wanted one too, dh's phone contact was up so he renewed it with O2 and the Switch arrived a week later.

I don't see this issue with sharing. We have one switch that is a family console and only one tv in the whole house (through choice not necessity), the kids take turns or play together. To be honest I use it more than they do DH is a game dev for a global games company and I'm a gamer and streamer, so we're not averse to technology, quite the opposite, but we feel that for children, it needs to be a communal activity as it's very easy to become isolated and inhibit their social development if not kept in check. The way to avoid that is to make it a family activity, they still feel that they get their screen time, but they are also learning to negotiate, compromise, work as a team and have consideration for others.

We have two kids and one switch with an extra pair of joy cons. They either play together on it, or take turns and the other plays on the tablet or watches TV or whatever. We didn't even consider getting them one each!

As above, two kids, one switch, and turn taking!

With Santa - in this house he's only ever done the stockings. The kids know I do DH's stocking as Santa only gives (small inexpensive) stuff to kids.

We bought a second. Because I didn't like sharing.

Not helpful, I know.

If they want to play animal crossing, you can only have 1 main person have the game and the second person is a sort of secondary character. Personally I’d get two switch lites, no debating over who’s using the tv and a lot more durable than the switch/fewer pieces to lose.

They definitely do not need one each. If they still believe in Santa just tell them Santa has to think about budget like everyone else, they're old enough to start thinking about and understanding money.