Being unreasonable to buy 5 year old a Nintendo DS?

[pyjamaramadrama]

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?

DD1 (5) got her first DS 2 Christmas's ago. We then upgraded to the 3ds as the newer games she was wanting. We had 3d turned off and she played the games great. She loves the Cooking Mama and Mario's with the odd Lego as DP plays them with her.

She has now progressed to wanting an Ipad or laptop (we went for the Laptop for her own use as DP and I both have one) and going to get a Ipad for "family" use mainly DD and I

We limit screen time and she still plays with her crafts and books and other toys. She does prefers computers though. Her 3ds is ideal when I need to go to hospital (main reason we bought her one) as she sits quietly and either plays that (we bought Kiddie headphones which don't go to loud and it's own bag) or draws or goes to sit with the nurses (we go to hospital regular so they know her and let her "help" with the work). It was one of the best things we have bought her as she loves it and very careful with it usually.