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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that handheld computers should be banned for under seven year olds?

97 replies

BigHairyLeggedSpider · 20/01/2010 23:57

At risk of a flaming but I think that they've got plenty of time to zombify in front of computers, and it risks compromising their imaginations.

OP posts:
coldtits · 20/01/2010 23:58

YABU

Original poster
BigHairyLeggedSpider · 20/01/2010 23:59

Lol! Why?

OP posts:
cory · 21/01/2010 00:01

I know They'll probably grow up into Mumsnetters And drink alcohol in pregnancy And be addicted to bumsex biscuits.

TheCrackFox · 21/01/2010 00:03

Why 7 yrs?

GoddessInTheKitchen · 21/01/2010 00:03

like everything you have to limit the time they spend using them, that is all.

dd(4) plays brain training on her ds and peppa pig, she also plays with her dolls and my little ponys and builds castles out of duplo

i do agree that some kids play too much and are definitely turning into zombies but yabu to suggest they should be banned!

displayuntilbestbefore · 21/01/2010 00:04

YABU to think they won't want to play with them before 7 but YANBU to wish they wouldn't!
Limiting the time they are allowed to play on them and monitoring what games they play are ways of letting them have fun without compromising on their other leisure activities.
A ban would be OTT..but you know that

coldtits · 21/01/2010 00:04

because you haven't substantiated ANY of your claims.

My nearly 7 year old gets very little computer time, and imagination is something you either have or you don't, a fact of which am forcibly reminded every time I watch my sons playing together.

Ds2 "I will SHOOT you with my pow-er. Pow! Pow!"

Ds1 "It's your thumb."

Ds2 "It's my super magic gun that will turn you into a trampoline and I will BOUNCE you into the sky and pow you"

Ds1"It's NOT, it's just your thumb!"

they were born like that. If anything ds2 got more tv, more computer time and less one to one attention. His actual behavior is worse, but you cannot fault his imagination.

lockets · 21/01/2010 00:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

displayuntilbestbefore · 21/01/2010 00:06

Have your dcs been hogging the ds so much you've not had chance to do your sudoku?

Original poster
BigHairyLeggedSpider · 21/01/2010 00:11

If I had my way I'd totally limit the time they had on any sort of computer, and I do when they are with me, but my 5 year old stepson got one for xmas and whereas before he was very up for doing loads, playing, making up his own games, since he's had it he's either playing it, getting it taken off him because he's playing it too much, complaining that he's not allowed to play it, talking about what he's played on it.

It's an issue we'll deal with, by moderating it, like we dealt with it in his older brother, but if I had my way, he wouldn't have had one for another few years. I don't see the problem in waiting a while before introducing stuff like that to them.

Lol at Coldtits DS "It's your thumb".

OP posts:
Original poster
BigHairyLeggedSpider · 21/01/2010 00:13

I can't do sudoku .

Neither can I see them magic eye pictures.

OP posts:
Clary · 21/01/2010 00:25

But spider (oooh controversial posting name) I am not sure how being, say, 9 would make it any easier.

My 10.5 yo is a total fan of his new mobile and newish DS1.

Luckily he also seems to like Lego

Bear in mind yr 5yo got his DS for Christmas. That was less than a month ago. In another month I am sure he will be back with all his other toys and the DS will just be one of them.

Clary · 21/01/2010 00:26

Sorry DS1 has a DSi not a DS1!

Original poster
BigHairyLeggedSpider · 21/01/2010 00:29

Why is my name controversial

OP posts:
Awassailinglookingforanswers · 21/01/2010 00:30

"talking about what he's played on it. "

now you see that can be fanastic fuel for the imaginations - the amount of games we had in the past when DS1 and 2 were into their Shrek PS2 game was amazing, they'd be different characters and make up new story lines.......

Now DS1 is into his car games and so the "story lines" of his car games get acted out and "improved"

Agree with coldtits that they either have imagination or they don't - DS2 can very easily turn into a complete zombie in front of the TV if I let him -but his imagination runs wild constantly. DS1 watches less on average but has no imagination at all

Original poster
BigHairyLeggedSpider · 21/01/2010 00:34

Yup I can see how it can fuel his imagination but I just think that at 5 there is plenty of time to sit in front of a screen in the future.

OP posts:
Clary · 21/01/2010 00:43

because you are not supposed to mention spiders on MN. You have to call them "loofahs" in thread titles and presumably in posting names

Original poster
BigHairyLeggedSpider · 21/01/2010 00:49

Pah. I've been this name for ages.

I have a phobia about clowns AND bellybuttons. Maybe I should think of some alternatives for those?

OP posts:
lockets · 21/01/2010 00:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

skidoodle · 21/01/2010 01:29

Pmsl @ "it's your thumb"

EcoMouse · 21/01/2010 01:39

My older two have had them since they were 6 and 4. They tend to use them once or twice a fortnight.

Tis more about boundaries than the object of desire/addiction/likemeandmn/etc

kreecherlivesupstairs · 21/01/2010 07:44

Agree with ecomouse, OP you ABU. My dd has a ds which she plays with sporadically. Maybe your SS will stop being so interested in it once the novelty wears off. We virtually had to force dd to play with hers on the plane.

posieparker · 21/01/2010 07:47

My dcs have screen time, which includes all handhelds, tv and pc...so they don't get too much of any.

princessparty · 21/01/2010 10:29

I would agree with that.My 4YO DD has broken 2 DS's already

Maleeka · 21/01/2010 10:43

YABU, that is all.