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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Being unreasonable to buy 5 year old a Nintendo DS?

26 replies

pyjamaramadrama · 25/10/2013 21:26

I was going to buy 5 year old ds a Nintendo. But now unsure.

A few people have put me off saying that video games are bad for their eyes, ruin imagination, kids are better off playing outside.

I agree, but wasn't planning on him being on it all the time. I was thinking that they are good for long journeys.

Then I got to thinking is there ever a time when a video game would be necessary, or even a good thing?

Do your kids have one?

OP posts:

CrockedPot · 25/10/2013 21:30

Mine do - aged 8 and 6. 8 yr old was first, naturally, about three years ago, and 6 yr old had his last year. They play with them sporadically, not at all 'addicted' to them, they also go swimming weekly, play football, go to beavers/cubs so I consider them to be a diversion that they go to from time to time. Don't worry about it, they are just toys.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 25/10/2013 21:30

TBH I would get them a tablet as they are much more versatile as well as being useful for the rest of the family.

Screens with games / video / music are good for long journeys and entertain and help the whole family. As long as you aren't locking him in a darkened room with it 18 hours a day he'll be fine.

My DS uses my ipad - but he still gets plenty of non-screen time and playing outside. As did my nephews who had DS's when they were the same age.

AgentZigzag · 25/10/2013 21:31

DD2 is 3 YO and she's been playing on DD1's DS for a while.

She's bloody good with it actually

It never stops her from doing anything else.

Not only will they learn crucial computer skills, but it's good for them to learn how to regulate their time on them too.

MuffCakes · 25/10/2013 21:32

Both my dc have 3ds and iPods from about 4/5 they're now 6 and 7, they dont really get used day to day but anything like long car journeys, hairdressers, barber shop waits, if me and my friends go out for food all the children connect their ds's and do stuff together on them. iPods get used for picture taking, music, videoing, face timing granny and their auntie and games on rainy sunday afternoons.

It's not took over their lives, they still play and use their imagination and once the novelty wore off its not their favourite go to first toy.

honeybunny14 · 25/10/2013 21:33

This is one of my ds main things for xmas hes 6 i dont think it will put him off playing outside as he loves the out doors i think your ds will love a ds lol

mrsjay · 25/10/2013 21:34

I am sure my youngest dd got her first ds at 7 and dd1 had a gameboy from my much younger sister before she got her first ds about 11 get him it keeps them amused for hours the 3d isn't for young children thhough but you can switch it ogg

mrsjay · 25/10/2013 21:34

off*

onetiredmummy · 25/10/2013 21:34

Ds1 (8) had his first 3ds on his 8 th birthday. The 3D function can't be used for children under 6 as it damages their eyes.

He has an hour a day on it and its his choice whether he uses it in a chunk or splits it into shorter sessions but when the times gone its gone.

He also goes to Cubs and does other stuff so it's not a problem

fanoftheinvisibleman · 25/10/2013 21:35

Ds only uses his sporadically. He probably went nuts with it for a few weeks but soon settled down.

Word of warning though, 10 minutes in the car is enough to induce travel sickness with him so it is banned for car journeys (he is fine without it).

mrsjay · 25/10/2013 21:35

my dds are much older than yours and it didnt affect them yes the novelty at first but they do put it down

cathpip · 25/10/2013 21:38

We have just bought our son the Nintendo ds 2d, it plays all the 3ds games but in 2d, this was for his 5th birthday. He is allowed 30 mins a day.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 25/10/2013 21:38

My youngest brother was identified as SN at primary school and one of his biggest obstacles was his co-ordination skills and fine motor skills. Guess what helped him improve these?

Twas when he was 8 or 9 and started playing computer games!

My two oldest have a DS. DD (11) isn't that fussed with hers. DS (8) has a 3DS that he loves. He's into Pokemon and this has led to him drawing them, writing stories about them, playing imaginary games with his little brother. We've also got a Wii, which they love to play together, and I'm getting a WiiU for all of us for Christmas.

We're a gaming family (I also have a 3DS and love the Zelda games) and we're not socially backwards or lacking in daylight benefits.

OP, if you want to buy your child a DS and you think he'd like it and, most importantly, you can regulate what he plays and how long he plays for, it's completely down to you.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 25/10/2013 21:40

My youngest was 5 when he first got a DS - his older siblings were getting them and it didn't seem fair to leave him out. He has always managed very well with it, and I think it has even helped improve his reading, as a lot of the games have chunks of text that have to be read to play iyswim. We helped him read them at first with some of them, and he picked up way more words than he would have known without it.
We were quite selective with the games we let him (all the children) play, but some of them are lovely, and educational in various ways, and definitely improved his general knowledge and understanding of some things, as well as his vocab, reading, and fine motor skills.
Things like a "zoo vet" game spring to mind as examples of that.
I haven't let any of my "littles" (now 11, 8 and 6) have a 3D one though, the advice is not to use the 3D thing when they are young, and I knew that just telling them not to, and trusting them wouldn't be enough; they would be bound to want to try it, so we just got ordinary DSs.

mrsjay · 25/10/2013 21:40

My youngest brother was identified as SN at primary school and one of his biggest obstacles was his co-ordination skills and fine motor skills. Guess what helped him improve these?

my dd has a co ordination disorder the ds really helped her eye hand ,

dietcokeandwine · 25/10/2013 21:43

DS1 has a Nintendo. Bought for his 7th birthday - he is now 9.

The is-a-video-game-ever-a-good-thing question is a tricky one, and 5 is possible a little young (imo) for a Nintendo, although lots of kids have them at this age and younger. There are various downsides. They are quite addictive. DS can, at times, be stroppy in a way he never normally is when asked to stop a DS game. Like so many of these things, excessive use can be a real problem.

But. But, but, but. Everything in moderation and all that. With careful control, there can be benefit to the whole Nintendo thing. I tend to allow an hour or so on the DS on a weekend morning and then it goes off until after lunch when he is allowed another hour; there is always a balance of activities to the day and he is never allowed on the DS after tea. He still plays outside, does after school clubs, is very imaginative, makes Lego models, enjoys reading books, etc etc. A short time spent playing a Nintendo game can be a good activity for periods of down time during the day. And it's great for long car or plane journeys. And, as DH has pointed out to me, quite often with some of these games there is quite a chunk of text based stuff that they need to be able to read, so they are encouraging them to read as well. They also have additional features that can be quite fun (DS often makes little moving cartoon sequences, drawing figures and then recording voice tracks etc on his).

The other thing that has been a benefit is the way DS's participation in various games has helped him socially at school. He does not find socialising easy (aspergers) and is not into the whole football/rugby thing. But having a Nintendo means that he can join in chats about Pokemon and so on.

So I would say provided you are sensible about the amount of time he's allowed on it, it can be a good thing. Everything in moderation.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 25/10/2013 21:46

MrsJay - yes! Hand-eye co-ordination, that's it. I never remember the correct terminology. Helped my brother a treat. Not that the Sega Megadrive was intended for that purpose, just a helpful bonus that DM wasn't expecting

mrsjay · 25/10/2013 21:48

well it all helps doesn't it

Retroformica · 25/10/2013 21:48

I think you need to work out how much screen time he already has and how much you want him to have.

Personally I think they are antisocial and addictive. I know plenty of boys who live on them. Prefer Wii

ConsideringTheFuture · 25/10/2013 21:50

I really don't like ds type video games. But I know that many people do and that's their choice.

My ds's are getting the Tesco equivalent of an iPad each for Xmas (they are 3 and 5).

They use iPads in school and IMO are just as fun but so much more versatile. They can go online, download educational (and non-educational) things, take their own photos with it.

Original poster

pyjamaramadrama · 25/10/2013 21:53

Thank you, very helpful replies.

I'd read that the 3d was not so good for developing eyes. So was considering 2ds, cheaper too.

I like the idea of weekend mornings being allowed ds time.

I also haven't looked into games too much so will have a think about what games would be suitable.

I guess it is just everything in moderation, and even though I guess they're not 'needed', it's the times we're in.

OP posts:

macnab · 25/10/2013 21:53

Our DS is 5.5 and was given one a few months ago. He loves it and its great for car journeys, waiting rooms etc. Our DD who's just turned 3 loves it too although doesnt quite know how to 'win'. The only problem I have is them fighting over it! We just limit the time they are allowed use it and its fine. DS still plays with pals and by himself, loves drawing and crafts and all the other stuff 5yr old boys are into. He has told us Santa is bringing a tablet for Christmas. Its just the age we live in I reckon...

GalaxyDefender · 25/10/2013 21:59

Do look into getting the 2DS. It's cheaper than the 3DS (under £100), doesn't have 3D capabilities but still plays the most recent games (very few have any real use for the 3D), and doesn't have a hinge for small children to snap. Far, FAR better for parents to get for their kids.

More on-topic, video games are just like any other form of media, really, only better
It's really not that different from letting him watch suitable TV or reading a book, as it sort of combines the two!

As far as suitable games go, off the top of my head, a 5yo would probably like Pokemon, Mario and maybe a Zelda game out of the Nintendo library. There's also a load of franchise tie-ins like Disney if he's into any of that, and plenty of games designed to be educational too.

thegreylady · 25/10/2013 22:19

dgs got one last Christmas-he was 6.He is 7 now and plays with it sometimes but is not addicted.

TheFuckersonInquiry · 25/10/2013 22:22

I would get the Nintendo XL. I would set up the parental controls and would block Internet access completely until your DS is older. I would then establish very clear and consistent rules for when your DS can play. I would have a pin on the gameboy and I would not tell my DS what it is so he can't sneak off and play for hours on end.
I would also get a clear timer and set an alarm whenever he plays.

If you are clear and consistent from the beginning you shouldn't have a problem.

I gave my kids a five minute warning when it was going to be time for them to stop playing and, then, if they complained when I told them to stop playing I would ban them from playing for the following day. If they then continued to complain they would be banned for a week. They soon learnt
My kids all loved their gameboys and they used them throughout their childhoods. They were invaluable for travelling.

Gameboys are only a problem if you let them be a problem.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 25/10/2013 22:22

YY to the 2DS. Personally, I only bought my 3DS because a) I like the bigger screen (it's an XL, dontcha know) and because there are certain games that I wanted that are ONLY available in 3D format.

But I always have the 3D turned off on mine because it makes my head ache tbh.

2DS is an excellent alternative to the eye-hurty 3DS and cheaper to boot!

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