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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...not to buy my 5.5 ds either a wii/ds/game console...

62 replies

Aliway · 09/04/2013 21:47

when it seems virtually every child in his peer group has one. It is all they seem to discuss Mario/skylanders etc... Thats it really :-)

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 09/04/2013 21:50

you big meanie

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/04/2013 21:53

virtually every child in his peer group has one

That's what he tells you

Like every other boy is my DS class had Call of Duty (in Yr 6)

Of course they did DS, of course they did.

snowmummy · 09/04/2013 21:54

YANBU. End of.

ilovepowerhoop · 09/04/2013 21:55

to be fair most of them probably do have some sort of game console.

Itsjustafleshwound · 09/04/2013 21:59

The two schools of thought ... Either don't or do it under strict controls.

I have bought my son and daughter a wii - it is restricted to a short time on weekends only when my son has earned his stars ....(done what has been agreed)

My son responds well to the threat of having this right removed when I want him to do things ... He is a real 'stick' personality

auntmargaret · 09/04/2013 22:00

YABU. And a bit of a Luddite.

suebfg · 09/04/2013 22:00

YANBU. My DS isn't allowed one but he does play on our ipad sometimes.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 09/04/2013 22:01

I told my two aged 6 and 4 that they were far too young for such extravagant presents. My friend then bought her 5 and 2 yo's an iPad each.

Original poster

Aliway · 09/04/2013 22:03

Feeling a bit down about it - took him to play at a friends place today with two other kids, they were talking non stop about games and he couldn't really join in they were correcting his 'mistakes' when he tried to join in. He started to cry ... I am a bit worried that this carries on at school. It seems to feature more with the boys (in this instance) that many of them do appear to have these games as I have seen them with them and discussions with other mums.

OP posts:

Itsjustafleshwound · 09/04/2013 22:04

Wii to share .... Not each !!

HollyBerryBush · 09/04/2013 22:06

Everything in moderation. It is very isolating when your peers have a common interest and you can't join in.

TigerSwallowtail · 09/04/2013 22:06

DS just turned 6 and uses the family wii, I don't think I'd buy him one all to himself at that age as they're so expensive and I doubt he'd use it that much aside from playing Skylanders. He has his own iPod touch but it's 2nd hand, so I'd probably buy a games console just for him 2nd hand rather than brand new.

Original poster

Aliway · 09/04/2013 22:06

itsjustafleshwound- that sounds like a very good idea, a bit more balanced and a workable compromise...

OP posts:

Itsjustafleshwound · 09/04/2013 22:07

I suppose my issue is that instead of just saying 'no' perhaps by ensuring the games are age appropriate and time is limited, it isn't exactly going to fry their brains ....

ilovepowerhoop · 09/04/2013 22:09

we have a family Wii and xbox - it is in the living room rather than in a bedroom and the kids play it together. They do have 3DS consoles too and can play some games against each other/play them against their cousins when we visit them. It means they interact rather than being in their own wee world.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/04/2013 22:13

My DC are older (DS is 13, DD 11) and they each have an iPod,
DS has X-Box
DD has Wii
DS has a Nintendo DS
DD has a DSi.

I can honestly say the iPods are the most used out of all of them (but DS loves his X-Box)

BTW before anyone is horrified at me spoiling my DC, they are all birthday or Christmas presents (the more ££ they used their Christmas money to pay half and DH & I paid half) That way they look after them.

iPod are the cheapest out of them all too.

Original poster

Aliway · 09/04/2013 22:14

HollyBerryBush- I am very conscious of what you are saying because this is what I think is happening to him it was very apparent today.

OP posts:

TigerSwallowtail · 09/04/2013 22:39

Would you be willing to get one for the family instead and keep it in the livingroom so he could use it but it wouldn't be solely his? That's what we do, DS is supervised when playing it and can't play it for long periods at a time, and we can watch Netflix and on-demand things with the wii too. There are also lots of fun family games you can get for you all to play together.

If it's the price that's overwhelming, there are good pre owned deals in lots of games shops.

chandellina · 09/04/2013 22:40

I have no intention of ever buying any type of game player for my now reception age ds. Fortunately it's not an issue so far, I can how it could be, but hopefully being the odd one out will build character. Or he's welcome to pick it all up at friends' houses.

HollyBerryBush · 09/04/2013 22:46

As far as I'm concerned, the xbox is the tool of Satan and I was sooooo happy when it got the ring of death thing and died.

Now, people can sit with bosom hoiking a'la'Les Dawson all they like, but the world moves on, media moves on.

When mine were the age yours are now life was more simplistic. A Gameboy Colour and you shoved a pokemon cartridge in it!

I'm no advocate of unfettered internet access, which sadly a lot of these devices now have - and children are canny enough to get round them.

Just remember, ICT is on primary school curriculum, children are exposed to media and are media savvy far quicker than we are.

YellowandGreenandRedandBlue · 09/04/2013 22:48

What I think is he is your child and you should do as you think right.

Bollocks to whether other kids have them.

When I was a kid we had no telly. Everyone talked about telly. Didn't matter, we were still friends.

If they are friends they will find common ground. If all these kids have to talk about is consoles, maybe he needs more interesting friends. The fact they laughed at him sounds like they were mean.

Don't compromise your parenting values just to fit in. if you are really not in favour, go with it.

YellowandGreenandRedandBlue · 09/04/2013 22:49

Sorry, I see they weren't laughing, I misread, but otherwise my post stands!

lecce · 09/04/2013 22:58

I have been thinking of posting something like this as I think my ds1 (6) may be having similar experiences to yours.

It annoys me (though I know I'm being UR) that people seem to start them so young on these things. I'm by no means a ludite and ds has a leappad and some access to the laptop, but it saddens me a little that some of his school friends seem to only be interested in skylanders, angry birds etc

Ds loves history, dinosaurs and science and loves using his imagination, playing about with random objects enacting and combining stuff he has read about in books or seen in documentaries. However, other dc don't seem to play this way and it seems we need to encourage him to develop these other interests and pay out a considerable sum for the kit, when he is happy playing with a broken fishing net, various bits and bobs, lego and his dressing up stuff.

Sorry for the rant - YANBU in a way, but I know how you feel about wanting him to fit in...

willyoulistentome · 09/04/2013 22:59

I bought my lads a wii and it has been banned so many times, cos ds1 had AS and I can't get him off it and he can't play cooperatively. I wish to god I had never gone there. However the AS makes it harder than it should be. If you are confident you will be able to stick to time restrictions then it won't do any harm if it is used in moderation and the games are age appropriate.

Fakebook · 09/04/2013 23:00

My dd is 5.5 and doesn't even know what a game console is I think. We do however have iPhones and an iPad and the laptop in the house on which she can play educational games or those stupid cake/cookie/candy floss making games.

Has your DS asked for one? I think there's nothing wrong with having computer games as long as you set a specific amount of time a day and stick to it.

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