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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in saying my 5 year old DD is too young for a Nintendo DS?

97 replies

MrsR99 · 24/04/2008 10:39

My 8 year old DS was given a DS lite for his birthday. Grandpa thought it looked so much fun he bought one for himself. Then he and grandma called from the airport on their way to go on holiday to tell my DH that they had bought him one too! My 5 year old DD has already asked for a DS but we told her she was too young (she can barely read) and could have one when she could read properly. When she finds out that not only her brother and grandpa, but also her daddy have all got them, she's going to go bananas. This is after her best friend got given a DS for her 5th birthday last week! I really have a problem with the idea of the whole family lined up on the sofa staring at that **ing screen, bashing at buttons and not talking to each other, and generally turning into zombies. Am I being mean?

OP posts:
KerryMum · 24/04/2008 10:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OrmIrian · 24/04/2008 10:40

5yr old too young. My 9 and 11 yr olds have just got one. Their 5yr old brother wouldn't be in the slightest but interested.

isaidno · 24/04/2008 10:41

My nearly 5 year old loves his, but there's no need for everyone in the family to have one!
Can't DH share his?

I put ours away if I think it's been on too long!

McDreamy · 24/04/2008 10:42

No I don't think you are being mean. I have no intention of getting DD anything like that for a few years yet, she is 5. Cbeebies website is good enough for now!

serenity · 24/04/2008 10:48

Zombies?

DD is getting one for her 5th. She currently plays with DHs, but if we're on a long car journey that's a bit unfair for one of them They don't play with them all the time, but when they do it tends to be a big group session where they all want to play (and help each other, and offer tips, and generally interact, and there's not many things that get a 4, 7 and 10 yo to do that)

BUT, at the end of the day it's your DD. If you don't want to get her one then don't. What is your DHs view?

cory · 24/04/2008 10:51

I have told my ds (7) that he is not allowed to have one (whether bought by others or saved up for out of birthday money) until he is a fluent reader (by which I mean reading something like the thick Harry Potter books himself for pleasure). Same rule applied to dd, who finally got hers at the age of 9.

They can take over, those things. I know exactly what you mean about zombies. I want my children to become dependent on books first.

misdee · 24/04/2008 10:54

YABU!

whoops · 24/04/2008 10:58

Ds has been asking for one and we qithout thinking too quickly said he could have one when he is 7 - that is in September!
I will stick by my word but I can see me taking it over as he isn't really interested in the Gameboy we got him for Christmas

branflake81 · 24/04/2008 10:59

I don't understand why you would have more than one per household - that seems a bit OTT.

lazybum · 24/04/2008 11:09

Md 5yr dd wanted one for her birthday last week I said NO

Her brother had to wait for one so does she

She asked why her friends had got them but not her.

Buda · 24/04/2008 11:12

Have you thought about a Leapster for your 5 yr old? DS loved his - and the games are educational.

clayre · 24/04/2008 11:13

my dd 5 plays mine, we bought her a game suitable for her age range and my ds 3 has picked it up and can play it fine, i still think they too young to have they're own one

yurt1 · 24/04/2008 11:17

ds2 got a gameboy at 5, and a DS lite at 6 (had no idea game boys were becoming obsolete). Have to say I think things like that have improved his reading. He wants to read what the games say so he does. Ditto club penguin. He reads books too.

wannaBe · 24/04/2008 11:17

my dh has one and I bought one game that ds can play on it, which he is allowed to do for an hour or so on weekends, and if we go on long journeys.

but imo 5 too young to have one of his own.

His best friend has a ds and a wii and even his games in the playground centre around mario cart (or whatever the hell it's called). .

boomie · 24/04/2008 11:24

DD1 has one (aged 6) and DD plays with it more than her (aged 3)!! You don't necessarily need to read to use one. Her fave is Nintendogs.

mrsruffallo · 24/04/2008 11:25

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yurt1 · 24/04/2008 11:27

Please don't use the phrase

'mong out' in front of a screen.

islingtonponce · 24/04/2008 11:30

yanbu. but why does it matter if you are/ if you dont think he should have one then the answer is "no".

ReginaFalange · 24/04/2008 11:40

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wannaBe · 24/04/2008 11:43

fgs can you people stop using that bloody offensive term! .

Novicecamper · 24/04/2008 11:47

My 5.5 yr old ds2 has one and he loves it - loves Lego Star Wars on it.

wannaBe · 24/04/2008 11:47

and I fail to see why a 5 year old needs 4 games consoles. spoiled brat me thinks.

flatmouse · 24/04/2008 11:48

My DS has a DS Lite - had it for his 7 bday. DD, 4, wants one for her 5 bday. She has had a leapster and thoroughly enjoyed it for a year or so.
However DS does allow DD to play on his DS Lite so she knows what she can/cant do - altho she can't read fluently there are plenty of games available for her.
Having two DS Lites means that at times they can play together on them.
But we have never had to police the use of DS lite/leapster/wii/pc - it is one of many things they do (including running around the garden).

Novicecamper · 24/04/2008 11:49

How do they turn into 'zombies'? You are the parent - you can dictate when they play on it and for how long.

Ds1 is 7, ds2 is 5 - they are allowed to play on PS2 or Nintendo DS for periods of time on the weekend. That's it.

How much exposure they have to it is entirely down to you.

ReginaFalange · 24/04/2008 11:49

I was not using it to be offensive I was just using it as other people has said it. And I think Mrs YANBU if you think your DD isn't ready for one yet that is up to you different parents have different opinions (sp?) Let her play on everyone elses she might get a little bored of it anyway.