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.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Depends if you count the 12 year old XBox which hasn't been plugged in in a few years, and we aren't sure if it still works.
DDs are 7&8 and have an Amazon Fire each, and access to a laptop.

[PickUpAPickUpAPenguin]

1 adult, 3 kids. Haven't lived in a house without a games console since 1987?

[ProtectAll]

I have never really been into computer games and neither has DH, this is despite or maybe because because we both use IT for our professions. In the evenings we exercise, eat and collapse in front of the TV for an hour or so.

I like being on MNet and other forums, researching & planning travel, and reading. I occasionally play games on my phone such as candy crush but not an hour a week, mainly if I am somewhere I can’t surf the internet or read

Our D.C. are now adult but as children did have a DS each that they used from time to time mainly when we were travelling and a Wii that was used occasionally.

The D.C. that left home first bought a PS4 but I know hasn’t used it for 12 months because it is in my cupboard. They do now have a switch. The other isn’t interested.

[dadmode]

In many cases I would argue for allowing children access to consoles/phones. Not so much in your case though.

-"DH and I grew up without and just haven’t really thought about it a lot or been nagged much over them"-

The reasons for allowing it centre around not wanting the child to be excluded. If your kids aren't nagging about it then they're probably not being or feeling excluded.

[RingaRosie]

I’ve never played a computer game, or a smartphone game. I don’t look at the TV either, I don’t know why really...
DH doesn’t do computer games, he doesn’t have a console. He likes comics / online role play. And films / TV shows.

[HeronLanyon]

Segamegadrive vintage hère. Was briefly quite addicted to it 30 years ago (25?). Haven’t had one since but do have a plug in little retro controller loaded with 3 vintage sega games - Ecco the dolphin, sonic,earthworm Jim. Get it out maybe once every other year for some fun.
I know if I had a console I would play a lot and lose a lot of time. Fun but life feels too short for one - been through big bereavements recently.

[Nosuchluck]

DC are 19 and 21 and we have 5 consoles!

[SionnachRua]

I have a Switch and a PS4. Give me a game over a movie any day of the week.

[teenagetantrums]

My children now young adults and left home. They both had a Nintendo game cube thing and a handheld Nintendo. Can't remember the name. My DD really wasn't
to bothered by consoles. My DS went on to have playstation and Xbox. Still a big gamer today at 26. I dont think it did him any harm.

[emmetgirl]

I don't have one. I'm 53 and DP is 55; not sure if that's relevant!

[Ofti]

Oh, it’s far more even than I thought

@dadmode the second one is the only one to ask, I’ve always said they’ve had permission to use birthday money for them but they’ve never been willing to splurge it all on one thing! By ask, I mean a rare comment, not repeatedly focusing on it.

DH and I can be different (when we were kids we were in villages in the Soviet Union, different world!)

[kikisparks]

2 adults, no kids yet, 5 consoles (xbone x and PS4 are his, switch, old xbone, and wii u are mine). We both use consoles most days but also do lots of other things too.

[Bluewater1]

No consoles here, never had one, don't want one

[Ilovecats14]

My son has a full on gaming pc with 2 screens, xbox one, whatever the latest playstation is, nintendo switch, latest phone. We have got a Wii but it's never used. Sounds spoilt but he is an only child 🙈 and it has built up over time.

[Londonborncatty]

Play games on phones and pc though and have iPhones etc so not a moral decision, just never been that bothered.

[CherryPavlova]

No. Of our children - in 20s- only our son has one. He doesn’t use it much but takes it on deployment.

[midnightstar66]

Well we have an x box but it's been turned on maybe twice since it arrived 2 Christmases ago. Dc are 7 and 10

[ArriettyJones]

We have DC from early twenties down over a 15 year age spread, (so born from mid nineties onwards).

I’ve never allowed consoles, feel completely unabashed by it, and won’t change my mind.

The only other thing I feel so strongly about is light entertainment bollards of the X factor, strictly come shagging, Ant&Dec variety. So that kind of crap has always been banned too. Nonsense about missing out gets spouted about that too,

The two who are now over 18 have both said that they felt mildly left out via consoles n the odd occasion, but neither choose to have consoles, and neither plan to allow their children to have them, because they both know friends with problematic long term attachments to their machines, as much as anything, I think.

The whole “it’s not fair” narrative is parenting peer pressure. Everyone is allowed quality standards, child rearing beliefs, religious customs, etc.

[YouLando]

Two adults here, one 10 year-old DD. Never had a games console. No intention to get one.

[greysome]

I never had a games console as a child, and never had any interest in having one (I'm 32). Still have never had one as an adult and dd is 4 so probably too young to be interested yet. However I don't intend on buying one unless she expresses a great interest and is quite substantially older. She plays a few educational games on the tablet, via CBeebies or bite size but isn't particularly interested in them.

[Borris]

9 yo DD here and no plans to get one

[cliffdiver]

DDs are 6 and 8.

We have an Xbox, bought just before lockdown.

They're allowed 30mins each day (but only if they haven't been on their iPads) but rarely ask to use either.

[OrangeSamphire]

11 year old here. Has never asked for one or seemed interested.

She plays roblox on her laptop sometimes. None of the children or young people seem that interested in games consoles round here. Not sure any / many have them?

[snowybean]

We were given a Sega Megadrive in 1995. Ive also had a Sega Saturn, a Dreamcast, PC and a Gameboy.

I was only allowed to play them until 6pm. After that it is was time to 'improve myself' (read/draw/learn).

But I'm now 31 and play Xbox or PC whenever I like 😏

[snowybean]

I will let my girl do the same once she's about six or seven