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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think it sad that such young children are being bought such grown-up presents?

265 replies

allIWannaBeForChristmas · 18/12/2007 11:49

partly brought on by the other thread, but have heard from so many people who are buying their 4/5/6 yo's games consoles/televisions/dvd players and even know of one who has bought her 7 yo a mobile phone.

am I the only one that thinks this is wrong?

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 18/12/2007 12:51

100x - I think a digital camera is a toy whether you are 5, 10, 50 or 100

But it's a lovely, creative toy and a great Christmas present at any age.

ahundredtimes · 18/12/2007 12:53

Yes, that's what I mean CD - it's a GREAT toy. She'll love it and so will ds, they make different distinctions than we do.

DS1 and DS2 make lots of animated movies, using a still camera and loading it onto the apple and they does cards and voices and soundtracks and things. They're great. They're different than the kind of creative and imaginative things I used to do - but they're still playing. Actually, they're playing BETTER than I used to do I think. I quite admire it.

nimnom · 18/12/2007 12:54

alliwannabe - thought you might like to know that we are getting ds1(5) a bike and ds2(2) a wooden double decker bus. I'm with you totally.

ahundredtimes · 18/12/2007 12:57

Oh now I'm really persuaded by how THEY view it over how WE view toys.

DD who's getting this cooker - which she so badly wants - also has a Gameboy. They both co-exist as toys for her.

TheIceQueen · 18/12/2007 12:59

DS1 and 2 (7 and just turned 4) share a PS2 - they've both had access to it for over a year - DS1 for longer.

Yes they spend quite a while on weekend afternoons in the winter up their playing - but during the week, on weekend mornings and in the summer they fill their time playing games based on some of the games they've played on the PS2.

The current one is "Shrek2" - DS1 draws pictures (lots of them), they takes turns being "characters" (much to DS3's delight - he think it's hilarious when DS1 is being a "mean green fighting machine" ).

Both have plenty of friends and are by no means shy about making new ones, and - they're not fat or violent (apart from what I would class as "normal" sibling fighting!).

There's also plenty of chance for us (well DH LOL) to interact with them at the weekends as quite often they'll play downstairs on our PS2 (yes we have a slimline downstairs for us, and a "normal" one upstairs for the DS's ) or DH will go upstairs to their room and they'll spend ages laughing and playing together.

TodayToday · 18/12/2007 13:00

I share your sentiments. I know a group of people who are buying their just turned 5 year olds MP3 players. it's not that there is anything wrong with that per se as I suppose some parents will limit the time the child can be plugged into their personal device.

BUt - I do wonder what their children will expect and what the parents will find to buy them when they are 10 years old. People are adults for a long time and will have all the time in the world to play with adult gadgets. But childhood is fleeting and traditional toys have their place.

Sobernow · 18/12/2007 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryBleedinPoppins · 18/12/2007 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

santaklauz33 · 18/12/2007 13:05

My nearly 7 year old is getting a nintendo ds for christmas. I did have huge doubts about it, but he asked with such passion. It is what he wants above everything else.

So I decided to trust him.

He is also getting a bike from grandparents, loads of books and the eponoymous lego creator

DS2(4) is getting a drum kit .

EniDeepMidwinter · 18/12/2007 13:08

top two dds are getting those argos scooters

the folding one - is it any good?

LIZS · 18/12/2007 13:09

dc's are getting ds lites - aged 9 and 6. ds had a GBA at 6 so figured dd was now old enough for them. Neither has tv/dvd, computer, console etc but ds occasionally uses a mp3 player when travelling and may inherit dh's if his Nano ever turns up. We will also be getting them some toys as ds will soon be too old to "play" and probably won't wnat any next year

We have a nephew similar to notjustmoms'ds, if older though. Most of his other must-have toys rarely get played with.

tortoiseSHELL · 18/12/2007 14:29

I stand by what I said, that playing computer games teaches you nothing about computers. My dh has never played a computer game in his life (when he was a kid, there was one computer for the whole of his COUNTY for schools/colleges). He helps design the FASTEST COMPUTERS IN THE WORLD now!!! He didn't need to play search the penguin or whatever the games are.

Ds1 has our old digital camera - we gave it to him last year for Christmas, and he loves it. And he learns about the computer because we let him go on dh's PC - he goes on the BBC schools website and the CBeebies website. he also knows how to change the display/print etc. The difference between him being allowed to sometimes go on the PC and having his own games console is immense imo. I also think computers are different to games systems, as they are tools, games systems simply provide entertainment. And I'd rather they made their own entertainment tbh!

TheIceQueen · 18/12/2007 14:40

I don't know - watching DS1 and 2 working out how to get past various obstacles in the Shrek2 game has certainly made them have to think LOL.

TheHollyandMcDreamy · 18/12/2007 14:43

I was a little amazed at schoo today when I a 4 year old told me he was getting a psp!

Not only would I not get one for my children at that age (DD aged 4 wants dolls house furniture) but she wouldn't have a clue what to do with it

mustsleep · 18/12/2007 14:44

ds is six and we have an xbox 360, a psp and a wii

i dont thik there's anything wrong with letting them play on them as long as it's not all the time

he also goes on the laptop onto the kids stuff like artpad and nickelodeon etc

but he does still play with his actual toys, where do you draw the line should they not be allowed toys with batteries (although we are pretty crap at replacing them when they run out anyway )

and then should they not be outside in the fresh air or will the little darlings be too exposed to the cold??

please ...

ItWasOnlyAWintersTellus · 18/12/2007 14:44

DS (6) bike

DD (3) dolls house.

I feel sometimes like I'm from a different era...

TheHollyandMcDreamy · 18/12/2007 14:44

I was equally amazed when another 4 year old boy gave his mate 'the bird' too Twas a morning of revelations!!!!

tortoiseSHELL · 18/12/2007 14:46

Actually I think anyone who thinks computer games teach them computing is in denial. sorry!

krang · 18/12/2007 14:47

I love the way people make sweeping generalisations about computer games, consoles, and the kind of people who play them, then quite happily admit they've never played them themselves. If I were you, ladies, I'd attempt to at least acquaint myself with what these things are, cos a/they ain't going away b/you might actually have some fun. No way that my DS is ever going to play something in this house that's unsuitable, because guess what - I know about computer games and which ones are fine for kids and which ones aren't.

mustsleep · 18/12/2007 14:48

i do think though that to a certain degree computer games can help with problem solving, lateral thinking, reading, languages(when ds ticks the wring language he will just play it in french or whatever, strangley he seems to know what they are talking about)

it's not all mindless

Blu · 18/12/2007 14:54

Mustsleep - I think you might have your demographics mixed up a bit...those of us who are unconvinced about computer games as a major and crucial part of childhood are probably precisely those who insist that our poor low-tech kids spend as much time outside in air as 'bracing' as possible!

mustsleep · 18/12/2007 15:02

maybe, i don't mind them playing on the computer outside, whatever as long as they are safe

everything in moderation me thinks

crimblemint · 18/12/2007 15:04

My two boys are currently putting together a power point presentation on 'Realm of Nature' a MLRPG that they have invented.

The plot seems to involve two brothers in a world of warring, talking animals set in the Dark Ages. With light sabers.

They have played this game for the last four days. They have drawn pictures, written story lines, scanned in their pics, done a pre-liminary power point to convince me that they needed a loan of the digi cam and they have role-played in the garden.

I think computerised things can really enhance children's play when it's just part of their 'tool-box'.

It's stupid peer pressure that I can't stand for name brand shite.

OComeOLIVEfaithfOIL · 18/12/2007 15:04

it is MADNESS for a child to have a psp, gameboy, wii or any of the other crap

and tv's in bedrooms for children are MADNESS too

older ones, maybe, certainly not under 12 imo

mine are getting a doll each, some playdoh, various stocking bits

oh and a dolls house purchased from Ebay that dh okayed because I asked him when he was pissed [sneaky]

TheIceQueen · 18/12/2007 15:07

why is it madness? DS1 wanted to play with his toys in his bedroom from about 3yrs old - DS2 from younger (they share a room and DS2 wanted to play with DS1). What difference does it make if they'r having a (regulated) time of playing on a game station of some description, on their own in their bedroom, or playing for hours with their cars and bricks??