Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want my lo to play on the ds

49 replies

maypole1 · 01/06/2011 10:13

Dropped lo off at holiday club and I asked the play leader if he wouldn't mind making sure my lo is not on a ds at any point in the day.

Lo dose not bring one, but several children do I was told yesterday that he was on a ds for a whole hour.

Even when I dropped lo off their were about 6 children sitting their zonked out on their ds Shock

The leader looked at me as if I am mad Confused and said what do you want me to do

I said well if Los on a ds it won't be los so tell lo to give it back and join an activity and that if I wanted lo sitting playing ds lo can do that home from free

Btw I have also to lo I don't expect to be told lo was on ds today or i will be very cross

OP posts:
ZZZenAgain · 01/06/2011 12:16

understood the OP to mean he has a ds at home but she didn't send him to a club to do that

(If it is any consolation, we had a bunch of barbies and even two kens, they were naked almost all the time and in a big box. They added no thrill to our childhood. I guarantee it. Only thing my sister and I ever did with them was strip them off and put them in the box).

ZZZenAgain · 01/06/2011 12:17

come to think of it dd is the same. Only thing she has ever done with barbies is take their clothes offand put them in a big box

Original poster
maypole1 · 01/06/2011 12:23

Didn't realise it would be such a hot topic, they have chill out time
So not expecting him to be swimming all day, but even the leader had to admit it was becoming a issue to then get them off and re group also whist they were doing activities they were hiding them in the pockets so any quite Moment pulling them out and going on them.

I just want to get what I paid for I don't like that as I was walking in several children were heads down walking in whilst playing on it didn't say hello to anyone then sat in the corner and carried on. Playing.

They had all sorts surely ds can bet left at home for a few hours as i assume these children have been playing them all the way to the club and are on them when their picked up

And I really being unreasonable to expect lo to be doing whati paid for actives lo has a ds at home lo can play that for free.

Oh and for the poster who asked the leader looked at me like I was crazy

OP posts:
Original poster
maypole1 · 01/06/2011 12:26

Fatlazymummy Biscuit

OP posts:
Mumwithadragontattoo · 01/06/2011 12:27

I think YANBU. You are paying good money for the holiday club and they should be doing the activities not playing computer games. Am actually surprised they allow them at the club due to risk of getting damaged etc. Playing basketball while playing on the DS - how ridiculous. Not sure I'd be using this club again. I'm not sure why you're getting such a hard time here.

diabolo · 01/06/2011 12:33

fatlazymummy you said - I don't see why an 11 year old is at a holiday club anyway. Surely they should be able to look after and entertain themselves at that age

You think an 11 year old should be looking after themselves, alone, all day during school holidays? And that this is somehow preferable to going to holiday club?

Some parents, myself included, send their DC's to holiday clubs sometimes, so they can be with their friends, have fun and do some sport during the holidays. I just can't see what is wrong with that.

Mandy2003 · 01/06/2011 12:36

It's a long time since DS went to holiday club (mainly cos it was so unhygenic the clothes he wore there got covered in stink and had to be thrown away at the end of the week!)

But if a parent is paying for their child to do activities and all the staff are doing is sitting round while the kids play DS then something is wrong. Have you spoken to the Supervisor, Leader whatever? Suggest that the kids should have their time be better organised eg. an hour's DS after lunch, whistle blows and DS get put away. No argument!

Original poster
maypole1 · 01/06/2011 12:46

Mandy that seems like a good compromise

Thank you diabloo the mind boggles somtimes

OP posts:
MsFC · 01/06/2011 14:31

He's ELEVEN and you still call him 'Little One'?? Poor child.

MmeLindor. · 01/06/2011 14:36

I think that you are being a bit unreasonable never to let him play with a DS as it makes it all the more appealing. Most 11yos I know (and most younger children too for that matter) have one.

The holiday club should not be taking the easy way out and not engaging with the children, but an hour of chilling time is ok. I woudl be concerned about them allowing children to use them all day.

onehellofaride · 01/06/2011 14:39

I have to agree about the DS children are forgetting how to play. When I was that age I could play for hours either on my own or with my friends using imagination to make games and I want my DS and DD to be able to do the same. They grow up too fast and FWIW I wouldn't expect a holiday club which is being paid for to let children play on DS etc for any length of time

PinotGrigiosKittens · 01/06/2011 14:44

OP, I think YABU for (a) using the wanky term LO to describe an 11 year old and (b) for not letting him play on the DS. It no biggie.

duckdodgers · 01/06/2011 14:45

YABU to still be calling your 11 year old DS a "LO"

JamieAgain · 01/06/2011 14:48

LO = Learning Outcome. Therefore quite appropriate, I'd have thought ...

aldiwhore · 01/06/2011 14:48

Although I totally understand you begrudge paying for your 11 yr old son to play the DS all day, try looking at it from his point of view. The very word 'activities' would make my blood curdle at 11! I assume you are not paying for him to have a whizzo time doing activities but actually its childminding whilst you work? Again I understand why you'd not want him to be playing it for the whole time, but poor kid. 11 years old and his 'mummuy' is having a word with the leader of the group and telling her to remove any DS he may be playing on. How embarrassing for him. He's in pre-puberty, he's at high school, he's not a baby anymore.

NettoSuperstar · 01/06/2011 14:48

Lo, is horribly twee, particularly for an 11yr old.
He's playing on the DS, not swigging down cider, leave him be.

Original poster
maypole1 · 01/06/2011 14:58

aldiwhore wrong I am a sham am at home ALL day my lo sorry dd not familiar with the terms likes activities I thought I made that clear they offer rock climbing, swimming,potholing all sorts

Thats why I am so cross to find out their having the ds out it's not like they don't have stuff on offer but just to allow to sit on the ds poor show in my eyes from my view I would be like first thing games and phones away please we won't be having time for them, and crack on with the activities.

I guess I was just being a bit mean expecting dd to do activities when their o offer and play ds at home Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
maypole1 · 01/06/2011 15:01

Also adwhore I did explain the leaders are having trouble themselves with this

Their have been fights between the kids, accidents the the parents shouting the odds when they get lost or broken.

Every time you go to pick up their are at least 2 or 3 kids sitting out due to ds rage.

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 01/06/2011 15:03

Well that puts a slightly different spin on it.... did he want to go to holiday club? I'm a SAHM too by the way, it wasn't a dig either way.

I'd be pissed off that instead of rock climbing they were sitting about doing nothing, yes. But I really couldn't embarrass my son by disallowing him to play the ds (though wouldn't let him take his own) whilst he was there if others are doing it. I'd probably not use that holiday club again as its not what was advertised.

I realise its a bit of a back peddle from me, but there is a difference between 'a place for kids to be supervised' and a holiday activity club that is advertised as almost an 'adventure week'... not sure if that's clear or not really lol but I'm back peddling all the same.

However, your son is a pre-teen, and lo is slightly cringey as although he'll always be your baby, he's not a little one any more :)

aldiwhore · 01/06/2011 15:04

And I will read the thread better in future Blush

Original poster
maypole1 · 01/06/2011 15:10

It's ok I think most people assume I just am looking for somewhere for dd to be warehoused while I work but dd is so active and I thought as well as family days out every holiday dd always spends two days of the week at the centre.

Yes dd loves the club and asks to go every holiday dds made so many friends as dd goes to a school out of the area I feel this has really helped make local friends.

OP posts:
LordOfTheFlies · 01/06/2011 15:11

I would have thought as well that DSs ( toy not Darling Son!) would have been banned at holiday clubs..A boy used to bring one to Karate and the sensei always told him off.
But is was verrry cute when about eight boys climbed pyramid style to catch sight of a tiny screen.(won't go into health and safety of climbing on chairs!)

Original poster
maypole1 · 01/06/2011 15:14

Well thanks ladies i Will not mention it again to the leaders I see if anything is said when pick dd up at 5.

And just hope I have not shamed dd Blush

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 01/06/2011 20:05

I wouldn't use that particular club again though, now you've said its only two days!! I'd write to the organisers too.

Not your child's fault (really confused though now, boy or girl???) but yes, I do agree, the organisers should ban phones, ipods, ds's etc especially as its advertised as a club thats doing rock climbing and canoeing etc.,

New posts on this thread. Refresh page