To wonder how many people here don’t have a games console

[Ofti]

Bit of a thread about a thread, but no judgement on yes/no. I see a lot of assertions that kids will be ‘weird’ or outcast without access to a console.

I know there’s phone gaming, PC etc as option but (to satisfy my nosiness ) how many here have children of 6 or older and no console?
YABU- I have a console
YANBU-I don’t have a console in the house

Personally we have 5 children, 3 primary age and 2 adults, and never have had a console Or gaming PC. No bans with friends or anything though, they can play games on other devices and have in phases. I’m just wondering if this is as unusual as it seems on here. I didn’t think it was, but maybe it is. DH and I grew up without and just haven’t really thought about it a lot or been nagged much over them. I’m not anti-gaming, only as it’s not a lure for me I haven’t splashed out. Played drunken Xbox boxing etc over the years at parties etc though.

[NoBoatsOnSunday]

It comes with caveats though - after school activities are expected, like football and scouts. There has to be a balance.
I agree with this for kids. I don’t like setting arbitrary time limits on gaming, but just ensure they’re regularly partaking in a range of activities.

[TheGuv1982]

Both kids have PlayStations, switch and iPads that they use for games.

I like it, it lets them interact with their school friends out of school, be creative and the switch games are great for family fun.

It comes with caveats though - after school activities are expected, like football and scouts. There has to be a balance.

[NoBoatsOnSunday]

I don’t think I’ve ever not had a console in the house. DP and I play together quite regularly and I’ve even partaken in some online gaming with my grandmother (who lives in a different country):

I find it a little hard to wrap my head around someone not having any interest in games; it’s akin to not having an interest in books or tv/film (except that games are probably even more diverse).

[FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine]

@ArtixLynx

its a 3yo thread.

And?

It's been recycled and is an active thread again.

[willstarttomorrow]

I have an only DC and it has never really been on her radar. We got a Wii (are they even still a thing)? free with a phone contract once, but apart from brief bursts of golf/just dance etc. she just had no real interest. Any online stuff has been using her ipad, then phone and now laptop (she is 16) but she is not a gamer.

[AnxiousPancreas]

My DCs are too young (3.5y and 5m) so don’t have one. I’m mid-20s and never had one growing up but DH did, as did most of my friends. I want to get a Wii but I feel like it’ll make me a lot more middle-aged than I should be 😂

[ArtixLynx]

@FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine

Who cares whether the op cares.

its a 3yo thread.

[FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine]

Who cares whether the op cares.

[Ionnn]

I dont think the op cares any more

[FlorenceAndTheVendingMachine]

I've got a Series X and I don't have any kids.

[Muddlingmiddling]

We have them in our house. I think they can teach positive things to kids and are no worse than mindless TV or tablets.

[terrelontane]

I've never touched one in my life. We don't have a TV either.

[Yerroblemom1923]

We don't have a console. Not v tech savvy anyway

[LaPoesieEstDansLaRue]

DD13 here and no games console. I don't have any strong feelings about them but she's never shown any interest in having one, although occasionally plays at friends' houses I think.

[Hibbetyhob]

We don’t have one - dc are 6 and nearly 8 and haven’t particularly expressed interest yet.

I’m happy to hold them off as long as possible. They have plenty of other things to keep them occupied.

[HopeYouStepOnALego]

Me, DH and two DDs (19 and 21). The only games 'consoles' the kids ever had were Nintendo DS and a Wii. Never asked for Playstation or XBox and DH has never been interested in them (thankfully!)

[AwwDontGo]

We got the consoles before we got the kids. Eldest child taught himself to read playing Banjo Kazooy (can't spell) All kids grown up now and still all game but have plenty of other interests too. All have good jobs and all have good relationships with their partners as far as I can tell.

I love the fact my adult kids still get together online to play computer games even though they live in different parts of the country. My two sons socialise several times a week online. My daughters join in too although not quite so much. I see it as a positive part of our families life. It's relaxing and it's great fun.
Its not difficult to regulate how your kids access online gaming if you want to. There is no excuse for allowing kids to play online unregulated.

I can't imagine a childhood without marioparty and super smash bro 😅 (old skool!!)

[blubellsarebells]

We've not got one.
Ive only got one tv and i dont want that taking over by gaming.
Nothing against gaming but im not keen on tvs in bedrooms.
If ds asks for one i would think about it and probably would allow it, hes got xbox at his dads.
We have got an old ds knocking about somewhere but its not been touched for quite a while.

[pontiouspilates]

My kids are older (15 & 18) we've had PlayStations, Game boys, wii fit and an XBox in the past, but nothing now. Both occasionally play SIMS on a laptop, but none of us have ever been 'gamers'

[Ragwort]

No we don’t have one, my DS briefly had a PS2 but I got rid of it when he went to uni (he briefly asked where it was when he came home for lockdown ).

I have never played on a games console in my life - no idea if I am missing out or not - just doesn’t appeal. And I completely understand that my hobbies wouldn’t appeal to a lot of people.

[RainySaturday]

Yanbu.
Dd19, dd14, DH& me here

[MassDebate]

YANBU.

Two kids, 6 & 9. No intention of getting one and neither kid has ever asked for one. Eldest finds it a bit sad that friends use them when they could be outdoors playing sports 😂

[Ninkanink]

I've never met a habitual male gamer who wasn't both semi-addicted at the expense of other things in his life, and socially inept into the bargain.

I think the pool of habitual gamers you’ve met is likely to be quite limited...

My DH isn’t socially inept, nor addicted. He’s also one of the most well-balanced, well-rounded and disciplined people I know.

He has an extremely demanding job and gaming is one of the ways he de stresses and switches off his mind for a bit. It’s also a way he can keep in contact with his brothers who live far away, and spend time with them even when they’re not together.

[Sonichu]

"
None. I know very few women gamers but I've never met a habitual male gamer who wasn't both semi-addicted at the expense of other things in his life, and socially inept into the bargain. It's not a habit I would countenance any of my children forming."

Good luck with that 🤣

[SionnachRua]

I see nothing to disabuse me of the opinion that it creates maladapted people with stunted imaginations and limited intellectual resources.

I got a great laugh out of this comment 😂