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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
manchita · 18/12/2007 15:13

I guess playing with bricks and cars is actively promoting creativity and imagination whilst screen time
is purely visual and passive

TheIceQueen · 18/12/2007 15:15

if it's so unimaginative - why is my house full of "shrek2" drawings by DS1 and why do DS1 and 2 spend so many hours "playing" at being Shrek characters downstairs???

OComeOLIVEfaithfOIL · 18/12/2007 15:16

I just think that these things are so expensive and to give them to young children is madness

a Wii is £180! For a 4 year old that is insane imo

ChEscapeRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 18/12/2007 15:19

I'm sorry - I really really don't think its anbody elses business or perogative to judge on things other people may or may not have bought their children (discounting anything illegal obv.)

OComeOLIVEfaithfOIL · 18/12/2007 15:21

well I do judge

they are quite clearly mad

they can judge me for being an old fashioned dodderer as is their wont

manchita · 18/12/2007 15:23

I wouldn't judge but I would have an opinion (find it hard not to on most things)

mumeeee · 18/12/2007 15:27

I agree with Op. Children grow up much to fast these days. I think you should let children be children as long as possible.

TrinityTheRedNosedRhino · 18/12/2007 15:35

If I didn't want the Wii so much then I may not have bought it for dd1
She is getting it because she wants one and I REALLY WANT ONE

tarantula · 18/12/2007 15:37

Cant see how havign a console is stopping kids from being kdis tbh or making them grow up too quickly. Can someone please explain how it makes them grow up more quickly? Cos its certainly beyond me.

I also dont think all console games are passive, lots involve using the brain, logical thinking and excellent reflexes and tune fine motor skills etc. and as others have pointed out it is not an either or situation either.children can have games consoles AND also imaginative play.

TheIceQueen · 18/12/2007 15:37

quick - take away the lego - just give them wooden blocks to build with, take away their bikes and give them hoops and skipping ropes........and for gods sake don't give them pens and crayons or colouring books - give them some chalk and send them outside to draw on the pavement......gosh must go back to the Victorian times and not "move with the times" musn't we

manchita · 18/12/2007 15:40

Some parents give these to children so that they stay out of the way and don't mess up the house

TheIceQueen · 18/12/2007 15:40

and if you do insist on buying them lego - please just buy a box of lego pieces, not any of these fancy sets you can get - just doesn't promote imaginative play at all you know.....

TheIceQueen · 18/12/2007 15:42

yes some parents do - some buy them because their children will enjoy playing on it...

and some of us parents have children that of their own accord want to play in their bedroom (and have all their toys up there too) from a young age!

MariNativityPlay · 18/12/2007 15:43

tortoiseshell and anyone else interested, I think PC World is running a "teach your child simple programming" website, devised by one of the contributors. Dh is signing ds up for it, will find out more and post maybe on another thread
We don't have a console - mainly because we haven't got round to it, as far as I can see they can be great fun, but I think computer games and buying a Nano/Mobile are two separate issues

TenLordsaLapin · 18/12/2007 15:43

I'm not judging anyone else, you buy your children whatever you see fit, they are your children. My DS definitely won't be getting a TV in his bedroom - at all; he can share my Wii when he's old enough; and he'll get a PC when he needs one for school. Until then he can play with mine (and my Wii!) in the family room.

He's 20m now and I can't see myself buying him any electronics for quite a few years! Except a radio/CD player, he'll have one of those for sure.

I know that he will have friends who have DVD players and TVs etc in their rooms, and that's fine if that is what works for their family. I'm not going to be thinking "oh how horrendous!"

OComeOLIVEfaithfOIL · 18/12/2007 15:43

well dd1 would like to play on that hideous £300 horse that moves

doesn't mean she will get one as a) it is hideous and b) far too expensive

WhenScoobyGotStuckUpTheChimney · 18/12/2007 15:44

My ds is 5 & he has a nintendo ds whcih he plays on but not all the time, for instance he has played it for 1hr this week, they are good on car/plane journeys is well.

Ds goes on the internet on our family computer & he may have the odd go on dp's Xbox 360 BUT he has not tv/dvd in his bedroom.

OComeOLIVEfaithfOIL · 18/12/2007 15:44

you liar Lapin!

you know you are thinking ooooh tv in room, how baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

TheHollyandMcDreamy · 18/12/2007 15:45

I'm with you Lapin - although I don't have a Wii yet

manchita · 18/12/2007 15:46

So parents who don't buy their children game stations are Victorian? I think that's crazytalk and a bit judgemental Icey

mumeeee · 18/12/2007 15:47

I don't think actualy having a console makes them grow up to quickly. Yes there are some good games on these things but I wouldn't buy one for a child under 7. \\\also a lot of people sem to buy mobiles,ipods,TV's and DVD players for very young chuldren. In my opinion thes are things for teenagers and if you buy all that stuff when they are little what have you got to buy them when they ar 13 and older.

TheHollyandMcDreamy · 18/12/2007 15:49

Just asked DD (aged 5) if she knew what a

Wii was - no
Nintendo DS - no
Psp - no
Playstation - oh yes mummy I know what that is. It's a toy for boys that has lots of trains and a station which is why it's called a play station.

She has so much to learn

manchita · 18/12/2007 15:50

I don't know why they would have a TV/ DVD players in their own rooms I don't understand that at all

TenLordsaLapin · 18/12/2007 15:51

at "that's crazytalk!" That's my new favourite MN expression!

Olive you know me so well

McDreamy, you gotta getta Wii! My mum got me one for Christmas but she hasn't let me open it yet (god I sound like I'm four fourteen )

Magrat · 18/12/2007 15:51

Sitting here reading thread feeling smug as DS is in other room with friend's older brother playing chess ..

makes a change from watching tv though