To think he’s too young?

[Tunnocks34]

My son is 7. He’s asked for an x box for Christmas - I think this is too young personally, but I’m not sure if maybe I’m being precious over this?

He doesn’t have a tablet, or anything currently, although he has some educational apps on my phone which he is allowed to play with occasionally.

IF and it’s a massive IF I were to get him one, it would be kept in the living room, no fighting games, and time kept to a minimum and only on a weekend day.

Anyway:

YABU - 7 is fine for a games console as long as it is monitored properly

YANBU - 7 is too Young!

I'd recommend a Switch for that age.

Much more age appropriate gaming. And less online.

My youngest was on an xbox at 7...purely because we got one for eldest at 10.
No fortnite, only age appropriate games, not connecting with friends etc.. He is OK with it.. Likes to do daily but gets bored quickly and wanders off to do other things. If my eldest had it at 7 he would have been on it all the time if allowed...

Oh and yes the switch is probably better option

I'd get a handheld, whatever this generations gameboy DS is I don't think xboxes are really suitable for any kids but certainly not that age and definitely not fighting games.

Games consoles tie them to the house, whereas with a handheld he can take it to play in the car then put it away to go do whatever family activity you're doing so they're feeling like they're away from it.

A switch

I'd probably hold off on xbox n playstations till they are 12. I was raised with Nintendo but it was more family friendly...and saying that I think I would have been around 10 anyway.

I say either a switch or just stick to PC games for a while. 2ds is a brilliant console too. So many games are cheap for it now.

I’d hold off on an X Box too. Apart from the fact I think 7 is too young for one, I think they’re bad for developing brains (not just X Box obviously, anything similar) and that there are much better things to be doing at that age to develop thinking skills and empathy. A few more years free of X Box and the like would be good IMO.

My son won’t be getting one ever in my dreams, but if I did feel he had to have one, I’d be looking at around 14yrs possibly if pushed.

When I was 7 me and my best friend were staying up until 3am playing minecraft!

I think 7 is on the young side - I'd hold off for a year or two personally.

I don't think you should get him one if he only gets to use it for an hour at the weekend. Will suck all the joy out of it.
It's possible to monitor without being as strict as you are planning to be.

With big presents I try and fast forward a bit - if he gets the xbox at 7, what will you be getting for him at 11 or 14 etc? It may be that you would just get the newer whatever, but I found with mine that she wanted stuff just because it existed, but was equally as happy with other things. Switch is good as pps have said.

I would also say no to an X Box. Our DS got a Nintendo Switch last Christmas, when he was 7. All the games are primary age appropriate and it’s far easier to monitor than X Box use.

My 8yo is getting a Switch. We don't have any other console.

Pointless if he's only going to get to use it for the odd hour at the weekend tbh

Actually, I just realised you said about only an hour at the weekend. I think you'd be better off not bothering tbh.

Gaming is clearly addictive, like phone use. The younger he is when he gets one the more likely he is to overuse it in the future. I’d wait.

@jennie0412

When I was 7 me and my best friend were staying up until 3am playing minecraft!

In the nicest possible way, where the fuck were your parents?

Her parents were in their bedroom, downstairs. My parents were presumably in their bedroom, at our house.
We were in her bedroom, upstairs.

Thanks for asking

Xbox is fine, you just need to set a gaming limit. Lots of games help learning, coordination and through lockdown as an only child it's been a lifeline for my ds. He has been able to game and chat with school mates and chat to kids all over the world. It's in the lounge and heavily monitored.

I got my first video console and handheld when I was 5-6 years old, so I may have a biased view.
I would say it's fine but limited/supervised or no online playing and of course you control what games you're comfortable him playing.

I don’t think it’s too young

I’d be saving the high value gifts for when he is older and getting away with spending less while you can.

If you spend too much when they’re small then you’re setting you’re setting yourself up for ever more expensive gifts as the years go on. I’d save the Xbox until he’s about 10.

Hold off on the individual devices as long as you can is my advice. I have 3 teenagers.

I'd recommend a switch lite, my 8-year-old DS got one last Christmas and loves it and it has been compatible with all the games that he's wanted so far.
I also like how it's handheld so he sits in the front room with us when playing rather than having to sit alone in his room.