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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not buy DS6 a “switch”

53 replies

TracyLords · 06/11/2021 14:05

I had thought he was a bit too young for one, and have been trying to keep computers etc to a minimum. He’s allowed 10 minutes a few times a week on a console (not sure which type) at after school club, and occasionally plays games on my kindle.

He’s not actually asked for a switch, but I noticed that most of his friends have one, or are getting one for Christmas. But I still feel that he’s a bit too young; but at the same time I don’t want him being the poor kid who misses out.

Aibu to not buy him one, and maybe get one in a couple of years

OP posts:
Original poster
TracyLords · 06/11/2021 14:26

@ThePoisonousMushroom. I honestly am expecting him to ask for one soon... as I see so many of his peers with them, I’m surprised he hasn’t mentioned it yet. So just waiting for the question to raise its head. I’m also conscious that I’m a bit of an older mum and a bit out of touch on fashion etc, so I don’t want him to be marked out as “uncool” or anything like that

OP posts:
violetanemone · 06/11/2021 14:28

@waterrat

I honestly say (going against others here ) hold out as long as you can. Inevitably once you have gaming system they will spend more times on screens. This is time away from developing a reading habit and from.imaginative and physical play.

He will end up getting one but the two years you wait might really be a lot less time he spends gaming. My 9 Yr old is finally getting one for Xmas and yes he is one of only a few kids without one but I'm even now dreading dealing with thr constant nature of it and how addictive it can be

I wonder why people think like this. Why do you feel that reading and imaginative play are so much better for your child than playing a video game, which is also immersive, challenging, can also be educational and creative?

There are lots of benefits to gaming, if it is done in an age-appropriate way.

Yes you see kids who are zoned out and spend hours at a time and won't come off their consoles, but that's because their parents have not managed it properly with them. Like anything, if kids have too much of it it is bad. You wouldn't give them unlimited access to chocolate would you?

If it's controlled and you also get involved in it, then it is a wonderful hobby and can also be sociable.

SmellyLikeABlew · 06/11/2021 14:30

I wouldn't buy yet if he hasn't asked for one.

ThePoisonousMushroom · 06/11/2021 14:32

[quote TracyLords]@ThePoisonousMushroom. I honestly am expecting him to ask for one soon... as I see so many of his peers with them, I’m surprised he hasn’t mentioned it yet. So just waiting for the question to raise its head. I’m also conscious that I’m a bit of an older mum and a bit out of touch on fashion etc, so I don’t want him to be marked out as “uncool” or anything like that[/quote]
Wait until he asks, he might not!
I wouldn’t buy one even if asked as I don’t spend that amount on Christmas presents (I have 3 children).

MrsGeralt · 06/11/2021 14:33

He is going to be the only kid in the class without any kind of console. He will miss out on most of what his friends at school are talking about and yes, he will be the uncool one.

My 5 year old has one and we have strict rules around usage and his behaviour while he's on it. Gaming is a fact of life for pretty much all children in 2021.

TurnUpTurnip · 06/11/2021 14:36

No he won’t be the only one my son doesn’t have one I asked if he wanted one he said no he’s 7

Robostripes · 06/11/2021 14:36

My 5 year old DS has one and I think it’s good fun, his favourite games are Mariokart, Mario golf, Minecraft and Animal Crossing. I’m not a fan of Roblox (too much rubbish on there) so I don’t let him have that.

My rules are:

  • No gaming at all during the school week
  • weekends and school holidays he can play, we don’t have strict time limits because we don’t really need them yet, he’s fairly good at self-regulating (that may change as he gets older!) Usually he chooses to go on it for a couple of hours first thing, then we go out for the day and do other stuff as a family. If I think he’s been on it for too long I’ll tell him to get off it and do something else and don’t meet too much resistance (yet!)
  • Long car journeys are a free for all, he played Minecraft for nearly 6 hours straight on the way to Cornwall in the summer - so much nicer for us all than the same journey the previous year when he moaned most of the way!
  • Except for long car journeys it doesn’t come out with us - I can’t abide children playing on games or watching phones etc in restaurants.

These rules work well for us for now and he enjoys it, but it doesn’t detract from any of the other stuff we do. My DH is a big gamer so I was never going to be able to keep DS away from it for very long.

ThePoisonousMushroom · 06/11/2021 14:36

@MrsGeralt

He is going to be the only kid in the class without any kind of console. He will miss out on most of what his friends at school are talking about and yes, he will be the uncool one.

My 5 year old has one and we have strict rules around usage and his behaviour while he's on it. Gaming is a fact of life for pretty much all children in 2021.

Not if he’s in the same class as my 6 year old he won’t be! And she seems pretty popular with her classmates 🤷🏻‍♀️.
DeepaBeesKit · 06/11/2021 14:40

I don't know any 6 year olds who have their own switch. I know plenty who borrow one belonging to a sibling or parent and will tell peers its "theirs". My DN got one aged 9, other DN is about to get one for Christmas aged nearly 9.

I do think when you get to junior school a lot if children get one then.

icedcoffees · 06/11/2021 14:40

@MrsGeralt

He is going to be the only kid in the class without any kind of console. He will miss out on most of what his friends at school are talking about and yes, he will be the uncool one.

My 5 year old has one and we have strict rules around usage and his behaviour while he's on it. Gaming is a fact of life for pretty much all children in 2021.

What nonsense.

Yes, gaming and technology is normal these days, but not all 5 and 6yo children have their own consoles to play on. Many parents won't be able to afford them, for a start!

OP - if he's not asking or one, I wouldn't get him one.

DeepaBeesKit · 06/11/2021 14:42

He is going to be the only kid in the class without any kind of console. He will miss out on most of what his friends at school are talking about and yes, he will be the uncool one.

No he really fucking won't lol.

Loads of 6 year olds don't have them! I know tons of 6 year olds none of whom have them.

NellieBertram · 06/11/2021 14:44

Mine weren’t really interested in consoles until 8/9ish.
They played some games like minecraft on a tablet before that.
I wouldn’t spend £400 on a console until you need to!

Fashionesta · 06/11/2021 14:45

My DD is 9, doesn't have one, doesn't ask for it and doesn't really play any computer games. According to PP that obviously makes her the odd one out and uncool. Not noticed it myself.

SkankingMopoke · 06/11/2021 15:09

I have a 7 and 5yo. They would like a Switch but are not getting one as we deem it an awful lot of money for something they won't spend loads of time using (we'd limit their time on it). Plus we already have a family Wii and they have an old DS each, which they have plenty of enjoyment from. They really don't need the lastest console. They have all the well known Mario Kart/Mario Party/Pokemon/Just Dance -type games.
If you did want to get a console, how about a second hand Wii to test the waters?

roarfeckingroarr · 06/11/2021 15:12

I wouldn't let a child so young have a console

Tabbypawpaw · 06/11/2021 15:15

Wow, it must depend on school or area because my year two son doesn’t have one and neither do his three best friends. I don’t know about the other children as he hasn’t been to their houses on play dates but I wouldn’t assume all of your son’s classmates have one. It’s like it hasn’t crossed my boy’s radar yet - he hasn’t asked for one for Xmas as he doesn’t know what one is or seen it in action! I’m sure the time will come.

Snoozer11 · 06/11/2021 15:46

Could you get him the handheld-only Switch Lite?

It's like a Game Boy but plays all the Switch games (bar one or two). They're also cheaper at around £200, but I'm sure there are deals often which will make this cheaper or throw in a £50 game for free.

Snoozer11 · 06/11/2021 15:51

I do think 6 is quite young but if he's gaming with his family that can be quite a good bonding experience.

ponkydonkey · 06/11/2021 16:07

My son has one hes 7 never plays it, as he's rather be out too

Bqmbiiiiii · 06/11/2021 16:08

Nope. My almost 6 year old is occasionally allowed to play on my old nintendo. Watches Netflix on the family tablet 1-2 times a week, sometimes less, sometimes more. We also watch some kids spanish videos, songs etc a few mornings a week which after a month is improving all our Spanish. (Justifying as educational).
Honestly with all that and the crazy amount of educational screen time they get at school, I really feel it is too much. No way would I get a 6 year old their own games console

Lorw · 06/11/2021 16:14

Bought our 6yo one for his birthday 6 months ago as he wouldn’t stop harping on as his older brother has one, you should see how smashed up it is as he doesn’t know how to look after anything. Massive waste of money. Does depend on your 6yo, I don’t see anything wrong with buying one and if you want to restrict screen time you can 😁

autumnalvibes · 06/11/2021 16:22

My 6 year old doesn't have one and, to the best of my knowledge, neither do any of his friends. To me it does seem too young. I feel like enough time is taken up by clubs and playing in the park to fit in homework and reading practise to then add in something to extra. I'm also weary of kids getting addicted having seen older children in the family, I want to hold out as long as possible!

Bqmbiiiiii · 06/11/2021 16:30

Hypocritical I know as mine does occasionally play on my old DS. But really the best sort of gaming to do is snakes and ladders, ludo, monopoly etc. A nicer way to connect and enjoy games together than on a console IMO.

Daffodil123456 · 06/11/2021 19:54

We were the same but we gave in & limited the time to 2 hours a Saturday & Sunday or we would all play as a family

Hankunamatata · 06/11/2021 20:17

Wait until he asks for one