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!

@flaviaritt

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.

Is that actually true that people who have access to games earlier are more likely to become addicted as adults?

Is that actually true that people who have access to games earlier are more likely to become addicted as adults?

I believe so. Addiction distorts the pathways of decision making and affects the frontal lobe, progressively, so I can only imagine the earlier, the worse.

My ds had an Xbox from around that age.

No I wouldn’t he’s deffo too young! My step son used to play PlayStation When he was at our house when he was 7 - he didn’t have his own at his mums - he’d only get to play for a short period of time and he’d get so moody when we took it away - we had to take the controllers to bed with us at night because he would actually sneak to the living room to try and play at night - and he started moaning on days out that he was tired and wanted to go home (meaning he wanted to go back to where the games console was)

I think it definitely takes a hold over small children and it isn’t pleasant they are like little addicts!

He asked for one every birthday and Christmas - always said no! He got one this year at 12 - bought it himself with money given to him for birthday and Christmas from granny, us & his mum.

I have a Switch and a Switch Lite. My 5 year old has started to play them now and again. I think it's fine.

We've had xboxes since before the kids were born. DH plays online but only with people he knows - same as the kids do.

The online element is only as dangerous as you as the controlling parent allow it. You can set times to play and if bad behaviour or attitude happens then you remove the facility. Maybe my kids are just very biddable but ours are tightly locked down and they have strict limits of use.

That said, @Tunnocks34 what does your son want to play? I think age 7 is fine, but I also think that as we have no idea how the COVID situation is going to play out, it might be nice for him to have a way of socialising outside of school. Minecraft is all you need at this age!

I agree with PP that a switch would be more age appropriate.

My son had an Xbox at that age but he needed a lot of assistance from me as his reading wasn't perfect. I had to learn how to play Minecraft so I could teach him!
Agree with pp's - a Nintendo Switch is far better at that age and more age appropriate games.

I dunno. I feel like Xbox (gaming consoles generally) are almost right of passage for some kids - they play together with their friends and voice chat etc whilst doing so? So he would be missing out if his friends are socialising together and he can’t really participate

I let DH talk me into getting DS one last year. Same age.

He never plays on it!

@throwaway10000

I dunno. I feel like Xbox (gaming consoles generally) are almost right of passage for some kids - they play together with their friends and voice chat etc whilst doing so? So he would be missing out if his friends are socialising together and he can’t really participate

Yeah true...but not at age 7 lol. As a teen maybe.

I'd get a switch. There is more choice of age appropriate games. It's all Mario, Lego and minecraft. My ds have an hour a day on the switch. They're only allowed it downstairs and after they've done everything else I want them too - make their bed, get dressed, homework or whatever. I'm happy with that.

The console is just a tool. It’s about the games you buy for him to play on It and plenty available for bis age range, so I don’t quite get the question sorry.

A switch is much more expensive than an Xbox (we have both)
I think mine craft on the Xbox is great fun. Fortnite less so!
I do wonder if some posters have older children, it is easier to be determined not to do certain things when they are toddlers. I didn't have a computer till later as they didn't exist. I didn't have to experience what it was like to be the only child in my class who didn't have one.
Still spent hours playing Booty late into the night

Switch is fantastic for that age. Any age really, but really good from 6 or 7 up. Really nice games. You can also take it with you when you travel or visit people, whenever that is. It's small and light.
Some of the games are really good for playing with friends.

7 is not too young!

My DS is 7 and if he didn't have a ps4 he wouldn't speak to his friends outside of school. It was a life saver during lockdown.

He will be missing out if his friends all have one and he doesn't.

I'd hold off on gaming for as long as you can tbh. Yes, gaming is fun blah blah blah. But at 7 there's a whole load of other fun to be had which may become waylaid if gaming is introduced.

I wouldn't. 7 is too young imo.

Way too young. Plenty of time for all that when he’s older. I really wouldn’t.

We bought an Xbox for my son, when was 6. However, part of our reasoning was that our smart TV was no longer very smart, and lots of apps were no longer working. The Xbox gives us access to all the apps (and is more likely to be compatible with them for longer, unlike some of the TVs / digiboxes). He plays Minecraft and the Lego games mainly - he's good about putting it down when we say times up, and he knows that "Xbox rage" will mean no more access to it that day. I don't see a problem with it (plus I get to play a game or two).

I'd hold out for as long as you can. As soon as they have a console, you have constant arguments. My ds was 14 when he got an xbox (he had a Nintendo DS from about 7) and I'd wait until he was 18 if I had my time again

My DS had a PlayStation at 6 and a switch at 7. He uses both regularly.

My 10 and 8 year old share an Xbox and i really struggle to get age appropriate games, they mostly play minecraft, i wish i had gotten them a switch.

Nintendo switch with age appropriate games and strict rules from the start on usage. My dgs loves games but yes they are addictive and you have to be firm.

We also allow half hour or so on a weekday too. DS gets up early (without prompting!) so is often ready for school by 7:30! We don't leave the house til 8:40.