...in not allowing my dd (8) to have all the latest gadgets??!!!

[justgivemeoneminute]

My DD is 8.5yrs old - she's a bright kid and up until now has been happy with her library of books (she's a real bookworm) and our pc which she loves to use.

But she's now constantly asking for a mobile phone and a Gameboy.....just because her mates have them.

I don't see the point in buying a mobile phone because she's too young to go out/down the town etc on her own and a Gameboy, in my view, teaches her nothing and does nothing for her eyesight.

Am I right or wrong??

I let her play with her mates, she has mates over for tea, she's going away on residential trips soon, after school clubs, discos...so its not a case of me holding her back but I just don't see the point in forking out for electronic gadgets!

Buggy - we live on and near very wide, busy roads but I don't bother with the buggy most of the time (daughter is 2.8). Just hold her hand to cross the road - have been doing this for several months now.

mine are 2 and 4 so no video game things here

I hate them and do does dh but if they want one in the future, who knows?

I think some of the games are educational, are they not?

(re buggy - I used to walk to playgroup - 20 mins each way, along a main road, with dd1 and dd2. dd2 (1) in buggy, dd1 (3) walking. But I do shout for England so any movement on the hand/buggy holding front resulted in a almighty screech)

I hate all these gadgets and will resist them as long as I possibly can. A result of this is our house is always very messy as there are toys and 'making things' everywhere. People I know with play stations, gameboys etc seem to have tidy homes. I know what I'd prefer ultimately although the mess drives me crazy.

lol at the black and white attitude to computer games and yet we are all on here...

get with it people some games are fantastic

and you CAN limit how much they play

I love 'em

replace the words "Gameboy and Mobile phone" with "My Little Pony and Littlest Petshop" and you have my dilemma

oh we have those too

dd1 has 'grown out' of them and donated them ALL to dd2

(it is dd2's birthday next month and dd1 keeps dragging the Argos catalogue out and saying YOU WANT ALL THIS DON'T YOU DD2??" trying to get stuff for herself. So crafty, so young)

I agree that they don't need a mobile phone at 8. If my dd wants to take one out on occasion, I let her borrow one from me, but I'm not letting her have her 'own' phone yet.

As for gameboy-type things, I don't think they do any harm.

For phones I would probably say when you go to secondary school - whatever year that is, am not up on schools yet - Year 9 is it?

then it would be a Big Thing, you are growing up etc

It's all about limits.

You choose whether they have stuff, or they don't. Fine.

If they have stuff, then you limit the amount of time they're on it.

FWIW, mine have got gameboys (usually only used these days if we go on a journey, and they're great for this), and playstation which is used infrequently. The boys' choice these days.

Eldest does have a mobile phone. He had it for his birthday before he started secondary school. Rarely uses it, tbh. Younger two would love one, but they get the stock answer, not til you're at secondary.

I'm sure gameboys, phones etc don't do any harm BUT its when I see kids permanently using them, walking along high streets with their eyes glued to gameboy screens, or playing music on their mobiles whilst walking to school....surely they don't actually need to be doing this? Maybe I am old fashioned!

I actually hate seeing kids with their noses in gameboys, mobiles stuck to their ears - I think its unsociable and rude.

One of DD's 5yo friends has a PAYG mobile

5yo DD has recently got a Gameboy Advance. Got it to use when travelling mainly. She only plays wit it every so often, so limited play, no a problem IMO. No different to the VSmile Pocket she had previously as we select the games she is allowed and how much she can play it, and when.

Gameboys can help improve fine motor skills, but do need to be rationed carefully at a young age.
Mobile phones should wait until at least a teenager, so good for you in not giving in to peer pressure.

BTW, DD bought the GBA herself with money she had saved up from various soruces. Her choice.

I do have dd telling me she'll save for this and that...which is fine but I'm still telling her no to gameboys, phones etc. I'd rather she went and bought herself a new book, something crafty or even bought herself a new pair of trainers. She's been going on about 'heelie' trainers and I've said no to them - they cost a bomb and I know we'll end up in A&E within a day or so!