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Christmas

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Original poster

7 Year Old, who is NOT getting an X-Box...

36 replies

sunnyrosegarden · 30/09/2014 11:52

And I have no idea what to steer him towards instead!

He is my youngest, is crazy about maths, science, chess, computers and gaming. I try to balance this with sport, outside stuff etc, and he has limited screen time which he tends to spend on Minecraft on the PC.

He has access to my laptop, the boys share a Wii (which doesn't get much use) and share a tablet which they saved up for.

All he wants is an X-box, and has been talking about this for a year. I have pointed out that he doesn't use the Wii much, and that he prefers the laptop anyway.

DH says no way, too much money, only wants it because his friends have one etc, and I agree, but I have no idea what else he might enjoy.

Anyone ideas!?!

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 30/09/2014 11:55

Skateboard
Schleich castle
Hex bugs
Art stuff

SunnySomer · 30/09/2014 12:03

We got DS Lego chess (which you have to build before you can play it), though am guessing you may already have a chess set?
Would he be interested in building some kind of circuits? (I might have a google re kits as I think my DS might be interested in this). Or some more complex meccano - DS was given a remote controlled car to build for his last birthday (7) - it was difficult but satisfying, I think.

SunnySomer · 30/09/2014 12:12

If you search "electric circuits" under toys & games on amazon, loads if kits come up with either 4.5 or 5 star reviews - may be worth considering? I can't vouch for any of them though!

starlight1234 · 30/09/2014 12:20

My 7 year wanted 3ds there is apparentley a new model out next year so don't want to buy one this year.. He now wants a guitar and I am going to pay for lessons.

Original poster
sunnyrosegarden · 30/09/2014 14:26

Thanks for the suggestions. He has a circuits kit, which he loves, and had Lego last year. He plays the piano, we have guitars, chess sets etc. To be honest, he doesn't need anything! He's just got the idea of a Xbox stuck in his head...

OP posts:
Waitingonasunnyday · 30/09/2014 16:28

Is it the cost or the principle that's making it a no? Re principles - he'd only be swapping 'minecraft time' for 'Xbox time', and re cost - could you get a 2nd hand one?

If he's wanted one for a year it seems better to me to give him something he'd like, than scratch your head thinking of something else.

Waitingonasunnyday · 30/09/2014 16:31

PS 'wanting something your friends have' is what we all do. Especially aged 7 when you are becoming more of your own person outside the family. I reckon it's ok to do things to fit in without meaning you've become a sheep.

Waitingonasunnyday · 30/09/2014 16:31

PPS not that you said about sheep! I am waffly and don't mean to sound all lecturing :)

dorasee · 30/09/2014 16:35

Don't do it. We got our son an xBox when he was 7. He is now 12. I have always regretted it. Thank goodness he's moved away from the xBox in the past year and I think he's sort of 'done' with it (I hope). But we will not invest in another console, not for our younger kids. We've lived it and learned it and wouldn't do this again. That's my opinion.

Nintendo 3ds is a good idea (as another poster mentioned). It's a good compromise.

306235388 · 30/09/2014 16:45

Ds is turning 8 at Christmas and some ideas based on him:

Star Wars chess set
FIFA 15 for the wii
Star Wars command stuff
Minecraft toys
Football related stuff.

Katieweasel · 30/09/2014 17:05

My 8yo DS was desperate for an xbox too. He only really wanted it for minecraft. I caved in when a friend at work was selling her hubbies for £50. I would never have paid full price, especially at his age. He is very good and only spends a sensible amount of time on it. I'm struggling for ideas for Xmas though. He has so much already. He's not spoilt but we have a big family and they all buy for him. Basically all he has asked for is lego, lego and more lego. Does your DS read? How about a kindle? Some fab deals on at the mo.

LocalVelvet · 30/09/2014 17:16

I think if what he really wants is an x box, then I'd try to get him one. Like pps have said you could get a second hand one?

Don't know much about them, as DSS was (is) a play station person, but he certainly had loads of fun with that. Plus played with friends when over, and lots do other stuff he can do as well as games.

JeffTheGodOfBiscuits · 30/09/2014 17:19

LEGO CHESS!!!!!! I'm off to google, I did not know the gods of Christmas had made my DS the best present ever. Thanks SunnySomer!

Original poster
sunnyrosegarden · 30/09/2014 17:51

Waiting, that made me smile Smile

I'm not even sure why I'm reluctant, it just seems a waste of money. The 360 is old and I think we'd be looking at an xbox 1, which is a lot of cash. We don't tend to go crazy, but I'm happy to spend if it's worth it. I'm just not convinced that he would use it.

He has quite simple tastes. Not fussed about football, star wars etc. He reads, plays chess, lego and piano. Watches Stampy. Plays Minecraft. Reads the Beano and loves sweets.

Off to google second hand 360's....

OP posts:
marne2 · 30/09/2014 19:11

I would get him the xbox and limit the time he spends on there, chances are he will only use it for minecraft and apparently it's much better on the xbox than the PC. My dh has just got himself a xbox 360 and luckily dd has not shown much interest, she has asked for a tablet ( so she doesn't have to share with her sister, so she can play minecraft without dd2 ruining it ), we try and limit screen time, dd1 is 10 and calls herself a geek, she loves her 3ds but only uses it for pokemon, it has been a god send when we go out in the car, she would rather play this than go on a xbox or Wii.

ladygracie · 30/09/2014 19:14

I bought my ds an Xbox 360 for his birthday - £105 from CEX. He loves it & has played on it regularly. It looks brand new but obviously isn't.

TheFantasticMrsFox · 30/09/2014 21:08

DS(10) also desperately wants one and has asked for nothing else all year Hmm
A very expensive ski trip with school was my get out card but he has said he will share it as a gift from us and his GPs, doesn't mind if it's second hand, and doesn't want anything else other than some new WackySox.
Personally I don't want him to have it (it will be the 360, beware that the One is apparently not compatible if he wants to do xbox live) but as a PP says he will only be swapping time on the iPad for time on the Xbox and at their age it is so much about fitting in.

Taffeta · 30/09/2014 21:14

My 10 yo DS got an XBox 360 last year and loves it, talks to all his friends on it. For his 7th birthday he got a bike, 8th football boots and kit and 9th an iPod.

MrsCakesPrecognition · 30/09/2014 21:17

I'd get him an XBox 360 with Minecraft, Lego Hobbit and Lego Harry Potter games. If you want to make it more sociable, get him a spare controller so he can play with other people.

ImNotReallyHere · 30/09/2014 22:09

telescope
Microscope
Stunt scooter
Hot wires electronic set

Depending on size of room
Table football
Pool table
(We have scaled down versions of both)
CD player
iPod shuffle (huge hit with both DCs and is not too £££s)

kelper · 30/09/2014 22:13

My DS wants an xbox for mine craft as well. We have a wiiU (on which I play Lego Ciry and Mario)
I've got Minecraft on my computer, but DS wants to play the combat version with his friends from school. I've told him to learn how to play it properly before this will happen, but I might get him a 2nd hand xbox for christmas, he will literally only play mine craft on it!

DilysMoon · 30/09/2014 23:10

My two 9&6 are getting an x box 360 this Christmas after wanting one for almost a year. The 9 year old is one of only 2 boys in his class that doesn't have one and he does feel left out as the others play together on x box live after school etc and talk about games he doesn't know.

I looked at the xbox1 but most of the games weren't appropriate for his age so we're going for the 360.

KinkyDorito · 01/10/2014 18:03

All the new games are still being released on the XBox 360 platform, so it isn't obsolete yet.

I've got DS one for his birthday with minecraft (will be 6) and then he will get Disney Infinity 2 for it for Christmas. Amazon keeps saying it;s price dropped them too; haven't checked as I used clubcard points to knock off money from a new one from Tesco.

MagratsHair · 02/10/2014 14:08

Ha I've caved this Christmas OP & bought an Xbox360 for my 9 year old DS1. Because the new xbox1 has come out the 360 is now cheaper, I bought one for £150 from Tesco instead of £190 from Amazon.

However I came on to tell you that Game sell second hand consoles. I went in to speak to them about it & they said that the 4GB are not worth buying as you will end up buying extra memory for it which is quite hard to get hold of now as the console is getting old, you need to go for the 250GB & they have them for £99. There is warranty as well plus you can buy extra controller thingies for £25.

Game also do second hand games for consoles as well :)

mamabluestar · 04/10/2014 09:01

I just wanted to add that my nephew, who is 9, isn't remotely interested in playing on the family Wii but you can't get him off the xbox.

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