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!

‘no fighting games’.

You do realise even innocent Minecraft - whilst fantastic for engineering problem solving skills, design and programming skills - also involves learning how to make bombs to blow up ‘people’ and killing ‘people’ and animals in-game with axes, swords, etc.

More important is learning how to disable the in-game Chat functions especially with Xbox where live chat can scroll across the screen unrestricted.

Xbox will be your guilty pleasure as your child is babysat in silence for hours. If you try to restrict playing time to ‘just 20 minutes’ you’ll soon kickstart what’s to come where your child will demand longer screen times and become emotionally frustrated or even angry when that’s denied.

Personally I think it’s a great idea, however lay down some good ground rules start as you mean to go on.

Another vote for switch....we have a ‘family’ one that we play Mario Karts and Trivial Pursuit on and DD has Animal Crossing which she plays on her own. We’ve had it about 3 years now. She knows that it’s only for weekends, holidays, travel etc and is really good at setting her own 30 min timer.

My ds is 7 nearly 8 he has a pc and a ds he does not want a console but every kid in his class has one if he wanted one I would get an older one not the new release so there is plenty of child friendly games on xbox and just don't buy live, my son have unlimited access to his pc we have all the child protections on though and are in the same room as him

I wouldn’t at age 7. My DS got his Xbox when he was 13. Before that he had a Nintendo DS, then a kindle fire. So many other creative things for a 7year old to do and play with.

@Rosieandtwinkle

Another vote for switch....we have a ‘family’ one that we play Mario Karts and Trivial Pursuit on and DD has Animal Crossing which she plays on her own. We’ve had it about 3 years now. She knows that it’s only for weekends, holidays, travel etc and is really good at setting her own 30 min timer.

Just did a post about my 6 year old wanting a switch.

Can I ask what switch you got and what games you have that you think are family friend and encourage playing together rather than alone?

Do you use an actual timer for it?

@AIMD

Mario Party is the game we have the most fun playing as a family. It gets them jumping around too, rather than just sat there

I think my 38 year old husband is too young for an xbox but thats a different thread...

...Nintendo Switch all the way.

Maybe get him his own tablet to start with. Most kids have them these days, there is a lot they can do on them, not just play games.

I’m got my 8, 6 & 3yo an amazon fire each for Xmas. We really struggled during the last lockdown as we only had my iPad between everyone. A lot of school work is online these days. My DDs school is taking part in a time stable competition this week, mine love times tables rockstars but until they get their own tablets they can only do it one at a time and only when I don’t need it. They do their IDL, reading quizzes, homework research and log into class dojo to keep upto date with what there teachers are posting all by themselves.

I’ve also got my 8yo a robert to build herself and code which she will need a tablet for.

Whether you like it or not, the world is becoming far more technological, children are learning more and more through devices and will miss out without access to them.

@Sailingtelltales he only wants football games such as FIFA. He doesn’t know what mine craft is yet!

Think I’ll start by getting him a switch then! I’ve never been into gaming or anything so I have no clue.

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

My DS got a sega megadrive at 2 .5yrs old! (this was the early 90's). He loved playing Sonic, hence why I got it for him. He's now 31 and has never been "addicted". IMO people are more likely to get addicted to things which have been too over controlled, meaning they go overboard when they can make their own choices. DS learnt to self regulate at a young age and would often choose to play a board game with the family, or go out on a bike ride etc but probably because he knew he could play after or the next day.

I don't know what's available for 7 yr olds (my DC were all 7 before the advent of these things, thank God).

I do know, though, that once you have bought one, OP, you are on a slippery slope to arguments, whining, procrastination, etc, etc - unless you are spectacularly lucky, and have children who don't sneak back on it after their allotted time, and don't say "but it's not fair - the wifi wasn't working, so I only had half an hour of actual playing", and don't tell you that "everyone else" is allowed as much time as they like on their console... and so it goes on.

One of mine was about 13 when he bought an Xbox (saved up for ages, had money from all the family for Christmas and birthdays etc). There was more than one occasion when I heartily wanted to take a sledgehammer to it.

On the Minecraft thing - there are two modes, survival and creative. I only allow my DS to play creative, where there isn’t fighting etc. Just building and creating.

@mnahmnah

On the Minecraft thing - there are two modes, survival and creative. I only allow my DS to play creative, where there isn’t fighting etc. Just building and creating.

And this is the exact type of info parents need! Thanks.

I think a lot of this stuff is better when you help children access it in safe way rather than try to restrict all access to it.

I think it’s a shame that parents apply hard and fast rules to technology without considering it’s benefits.

My DS had an iPad mini at 4, a PlayStation 3 at 7, first laptop at 7, a Nintendo Switch at 9, a new laptop at 10, a new iPad at 11. I think we’ll get him the new PS5 for his next birthday (12) when the hype has worn down.

DS is a bright kid and has taught himself to code using his first laptop. He learnt to read mainly from playing educational games on his iPad and he’s very self motivated doing his schoolwork. His maths skills are excellent and he attends summer courses for gifted and talented children. He has dyspraxia so finds using a keyboard enormously helpful for doing his schoolwork.

The idea that using tech early will encourage addictive behaviours is laughable. It’s no different to our parents complaining that we watched too much tv.

My first games console was an original Playstation with Spyro The Dragon and Crash Bandicoot when I was around that age. Been a life long gamer ever since

@Bunnymumy yeah you’re right, 7 is really young

Ds had an Xbox 360 at 7, there are plenty of age appropriate games available including Minecraft. Which model are you considering? I am on the waiting list for a series X for ds Christmas present.

The idea that using tech early will encourage addictive behaviours is laughable. It’s no different to our parents complaining that we watched too much tv. hmm

It’s not laughable. Not all children will develop such behaviours, but some will, with knock on effects on school work and their social interactions. Obviously people can do what they want individually, but hard and fast rules seem to work in our house when it comes to things I don’t want my child to do. I just say no.

Yes, he's too young. Get him some mechano.

You know children can do both, right?

7 isn't too young, IMO. I'd buy it.

I think it depends on personality. My son got a Switch when he was 8 and he can take it or leave it. He plays for 15 minutes here and there and then goes off and does anything. He really enjoys using it on long car journeys though.
I don't think I would get him an Xbox that young.

I’m not sure it’s true that the younger they have it, the more likely they are to get addicted - I’ve tended to notice more obsessive behaviour from kids who’ve had to wait whilst all their friends have them and then have very strict time limits, which they’re constantly fighting.

We always had an Xbox and PlayStation and got a wii when our kids (16 and 14) were young. Dd was only ever interested in the fun Mario Kart/Wii party/platform type games. Ds has gamed regularly since about 5, starting with Lego games, minecraft etc. We didn’t have time limits but it’s never been problematic. He’s also always been very active, he’s now into fitness and he also spends a lot of time playing piano.

It’s been very beneficial socially in his teens and also at the end of primary, when he was home educated. When he was primary age he used to play with his dad a lot too and we’ve always played the Nintendo games as a family.

The only game I’ve ever had an issue with is Fortnite - far too stressful and addictive. Thankfully ds and friends lost interest after a year.

My DCs predate screens and we didn't even have a TV so I am probably biased. 7 is far too young. It makes me really sad to see children attached to screens when they should be interacting, running about playing.

My nieces and nephews are like possessed beings playing computer games. Generally well behaved, well mannered children have huge tantrums if they are removed.

Not healthy.

Another one saying hold off, they are highly addictive