to expect my DS's to want to play with something other than their PS2 or DS Lites when they have a playdate??

[josben]

They are 6 and 7 which to me seems v young to only want to play on computer games all the time....

so tonight, for instance i have told ds1 that he must play with his toys for at least some of his play date...

am i a mean mum???

Not at all!

We went to someone's house for a playdate. The 'host' child spent the entire time on his computer game, and completely ignored my DS. I thought it was the height of bad manners, and wished his mother would do something!!

that 6 and 7 years olds have a ps2 and ds - sorry, but if you buy them things like that, obviously they are going to ant ot play with them...

I wouldn't let them. Make them go and do something else/

DD is 6y and has a DS and we have a Wii. She never plays her DS on a normal playdate -s he does with one friend who sehe sees very often as they do some two player stuff. And they only occasionally play ont he Wii. Normally too busy doign other stuff together.

Yes, yes you are not wrong Mrs Guy...!

But we have bought them for them (after much deliberation, and seeing their friends that have these games NOT become so obsessive with them) and now I do regret it....

Is it a matter of limiting the time that they are allowed to spend on these games - and how much is too much...?

well, if you think they're too young to play on them all the timne then they shouldn't have them.

or else you need to set strict limits on how much time is spent on them regardless.

but no, if they want friends over then they should play with them. if they aren't going to play with the friends then tell them they can't have any more playdates.
anti-social in the extreme

My boys aged 6 and 9 only ever want to play PS3 or Wii or play football with their friends. I guess that is ok because they have a mad running around session playing footie and then sit down and play computer games. They will play with toys on their own but not when their mates come rounds. As long as they are all sharing the game and playing together, cooperating etc and everyone is happy and no one is left out I leave them to it. I don't have their friends round very often so I tend to let them do whatever they want to do, within reason. YANBU I would feel the same if they really didn't do anything else but computer games.

YANBU

DSS is 12 and we have had this issue lots. We banned all screen related activites when friends are round. After a bit of moaning they always ended up having loads more fun.

Wasting their childhood otherwise.

Yes, you probably do need to set limits. I haven't bought any of these things, and don't intend to - now that's a really mean mummy speaking!!

Fortunately my DS (6.5) couldn't give a toss about them. He's far too busy obsessing about pipe organs...

lol at the pipe organs. that is very sweet!