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Original poster

Video gaming party

91 replies

Countrylifemama · 13/11/2021 22:44

Hello!

I’ve got a video gaming party setup for my 8 year old son. The company will provide various consoles and age appropriate games - have this for 1.5 hours. They will be supervising the kids and doing mini competitions; handing out mini prizes etc.

Just wanted some thoughts on whether I should cut short the gaming to 1 hour or 1 hour 15? I’ve been told by the company that the kids play with each on the games so it is interactive etc… we will have enough controllers for parents to play etc too I think ..

Should I then get other traditional party games too? Bearing in mind it’s 2 hour party etc?

Just stressing about it now :/ and wishing I did something alternative

Also are the controllers of Nintendo switch similar to ps/Xbox my son has Nintendo at home and not sure they will guarantee that console

Sorry for the long message! Thank you x

OP posts:
ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 13/11/2021 22:53

My DC are grown now, but I would certainly have rolled my eyes if they had received an invitation to a gaming party.

I've spent 10 years working in schools and daily gaming is at least partly responsible for some hefty deterioration in academic and social skills in young boys and definitely responsible for some poor behaviour and impulse control issues.

It's bad enough that so many parents let their children game daily, but to make it a birthday treat too is lacking in imagination and ambition.

What's wrong with a soft-play or a trampoline park at 8 years old? Something physical to use their bodies and maybe try something new? How about a forest walk and some fire-making or shelter-raising?

Sparklingbrook · 13/11/2021 22:58

My two DC would have loved a gaming party has they been around when they were 8. Sounds great, I’d go for one hour 15 and not worry about other entertainment.

hopingforabrighterfuture2021 · 13/11/2021 22:58

Hi OP, please don’t feel bad about a gaming party. We had one for my son and they all loved it. Yes, gaming all the time isn’t ideal but honestly please don’t let anyone make you feel guilty!

We had 1.5 hrs of gaming and then 1 hr of food/games and some time outside and it was fine.

Have a lovely time!

aSofaNearYou · 13/11/2021 23:00

Time seems to pass very quickly when gaming so I wouldn't cut it too short if I were you.

Oneborneverydecade · 13/11/2021 23:00

We had a gaming party when DS was 8. The kids played for 2 hours with a break for food. I don't think they would've been to impressed to have stopped for a game of pass the parcel or musical chairs tbh.

FWIW there's no trampoline park in our town, ime 8yo boys are too old for soft play and early January is not ideal for fire making or shelter making in the woods. But hey ho I probably lack imagination and ambition

Maddiemoosmum0203 · 13/11/2021 23:01

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 13/11/2021 23:03

DS's friend had a gaming party for his 10th. They loved it. I don't think you need to feel guilty at all. Maybe if you want to get them outside, meet in a park first while they're all hyper rather than dragging them away afterwards.

milkysmum · 13/11/2021 23:03

The boys will not be impressed if you cut short their gaming to ask them to play musical statues / pass the parcel etc..
1 1/2 hours gaming is not much, so leave it at that and then food afterwards- job done.

Angryattrackandtrace · 13/11/2021 23:03

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder as OP has already stated she has booked this party did you think your negative message would actually help or are you just wanting to have a go at someone tonight?

Op is go for 1hr15 and the rest of the time just be done free play time 😆

Kids will love it. It’s something different to the usual party!

MissDollyMix · 13/11/2021 23:05

Precovid my ds went to quite a few gaming parties. They’re seemingly the party of choice for boys 7+. That or football parties. As long as the games are age appropriate most parents are just happy that their child is being entertained by someone else for a couple of hours. Don’t worry about organising alternatives. Just let them chill together for the two hours. They’ll have a great time.

Notthemessiah · 13/11/2021 23:15

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

My DC are grown now, but I would certainly have rolled my eyes if they had received an invitation to a gaming party.

I've spent 10 years working in schools and daily gaming is at least partly responsible for some hefty deterioration in academic and social skills in young boys and definitely responsible for some poor behaviour and impulse control issues.

It's bad enough that so many parents let their children game daily, but to make it a birthday treat too is lacking in imagination and ambition.

What's wrong with a soft-play or a trampoline park at 8 years old? Something physical to use their bodies and maybe try something new? How about a forest walk and some fire-making or shelter-raising?

Interesting that you stress daily gaming as being the problem, whereas presumably every other day is not so much of an issue. Must have been a fairly exhaustive study to be able to be that precise (and to be definite about it) - I look forward to reading it.
AlwaysLatte · 13/11/2021 23:23

We did this, with a gaming bus that came to our house. It was really popular! But we didn't need anything else planned, apart from the meal. They had a few spare minutes and just ran their energy off in the garden as they do.

Amammai · 13/11/2021 23:24

Sounds lots of fun! I’d do 1hr 15. Maybe a small break half way from drinks then good and just time for them to natter about the games after. I can’t see gaming in this social way being any issue. Gaming for hours Aline from a young age without any boundaries or other experiences, yes that could cause problems but not a party of friends playing together for a celebration!

Original poster
Countrylifemama · 13/11/2021 23:31

Thank you all so much for your posts and recommendations I really appreciate it x

OP posts:
StardewMelons · 14/11/2021 00:01

Interesting how people "roll their eyes" at gaming. I'm 30, and when I was gaming as a child, a lot of games involved reading, following storys, decision making, forming strategies, teamwork, etc ... Along side imagination and fun.. The only people who don't allow their children this hobby, is people who don't understand it and are ignorant. .. Probably fine with their kids watching cartoons though Wink

Lightswitch123 · 14/11/2021 00:02

Why? Why would you have such a thing?

A gaming party??

He's 8.

How depressing

Literally do anything else

Witchcraftandhokum · 14/11/2021 00:03

ChocolateDeficitDisorder

daily gaming is at least partly responsible for some hefty deterioration in academic and social skills in young boys and definitely responsible for some poor behaviour and impulse control issues

Source please?

StardewMelons · 14/11/2021 00:05

@Lightswitch123 In what way is this depressing? Would going to the cinema also be "depressing"?

Rollmopsrule · 14/11/2021 00:06

My ds has been to a few gaming parties that age and loved them. Don't cut it short - let them enjoy it.

AJGranny · 14/11/2021 00:08

Don't cut into the gaming time for another activity. 1.5 hrs gaming goes really fast. Do make sure to try out the VR headset though so you can make a fool of yourself and entertain the kids.

anon12345678901 · 14/11/2021 00:21

@Lightswitch123

Why? Why would you have such a thing?

A gaming party??

He's 8.

How depressing

Literally do anything else

Why depressing?

OP my sons been to one and he absolutely loved it. It was really interactive, they switched the games they were playing so not just on one console the whole time and the VR headset was great.

1.5 hours went by so fast for my son, he was grumpy when I picked him up Grin

sweeneytoddsrazor · 14/11/2021 00:22

@Lightswitch123

Why would OP have such a thing?

Because presumably her son would enjoy it and it is his birthday party.

LucentBlade · 14/11/2021 00:32

I have been gaming for 40 years, I managed to have a very successful career in higher education for almost 30 years until I became disabled aged 50. DH is still a Professor and also likes gaming. Not all gamers are lazy low life’s.

Two hours is fine.

StardewMelons · 14/11/2021 00:41

@LucentBlade The only people who speak against gaming are people who have never done it... Or see some teenager on the soaps mashing a controller and shouting Grin. It feels strange to me how people who love telly and films, look down on gaming, the one form of entertainment that requires at the very least thinking Lol

unvillage · 14/11/2021 01:48

Playing Switch games for 90 minutes won't cause untold damage to any child. People are so weird about gaming these days. Eyes rolled or not, the children will have fun at a party.

The fact that you're asking about controllers worries me a little bit. No, Switch controllers are different to Playstation and Xbox controllers (all three are different to each other). What exactly are the company going to provide? Kids games are very accessible generally so easy to pick up quickly with different controllers. Worth asking what exactly will be provided.

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