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Original poster

Am I depriving my son? Games console related!

57 replies

BrianMolkoismyPlacebo · 28/10/2016 08:27

My ds is 7. He has a tablet which is he watches netflix and youtube on.
He plays a handful of games on it, lego star wars & minecraft mainly.

He love his tablet and hasn't asked for anything else.

He was ata friends house yesterday, he has a ps3 & a ps4. They spent most of their time playing minecraft and lego dimensions on it. My ds struggled as he's never played one before. His friend was a wizz!
It turns out that atleast 6 of ds friends have a ps or xbox of some sort, and obviosuly when they go round to eachother's houses this is what they mainly play on.

Is a games console a normal typical toy for a 7yr old? Should I be thinking of buying him one for christmas? Or is it a slippery slope?

OP posts:
Haunter · 28/10/2016 08:35

Yes pretty typical, my 8 year old got an Xbox age 7 (hand me down from a cousin). Got a bit obsessed to start with but the novelty factor has worn off now and only goes on it occasionally or if he has friends over.

donajimena · 28/10/2016 08:37

It is normal for them to have them. I also think it CAN be a slippery slope. My now 13 year old became addicted but it was my fault really because I let him go on there for too long.
If you do get one impose very strict timetables which at 7 is a darn sight easier than say 10 or 11.
Also it goes without saying to keep the games age appropriate.
I had to go cold turkey (or he did by my request) as he was spending every waking moment gaming. We imposed three days no gaming at all and limited use on school days.
That being said my son has ADHD so addictions such as this are common so it may not apply to your son, however its best to keep a tight control from the outset

JustFoundADairyMilkCaramel · 28/10/2016 08:37

I think our eldest was 7/8 when we let him have one in his room.

We do limit the screen time though. We used to never let him play on it during the week but could on a Friday night, sat morning, Saturday night, Sunday morning.

I always feel mean as I think a few of his friends have free reign of it and go on it most days. But I'd rather keep it as a treat and something to look forward to.

Ultimately it's up to you

NickiFury · 28/10/2016 08:39

I think it's pretty typical too. We've got PS3 but I do think it's time to update to PS4 though as we have had this one for ages and DS tells me they will soon stop making games for it.

Bubblegum18 · 28/10/2016 08:42

Yes my DS got his Xbox when he was 7 for his birthday. I got it second hand though for 40 pounds and he loves it. He has a PS3 at his DF which he also bought second hand. There are many selling sites that sell them or the game shops now the newer consoles are out.

OSETmum · 28/10/2016 08:45

DS is also 7 and has an Xbox (his dad's old one) but he never ever plays on it, he'd rather play on his iPad when he's playing games.

JustFoundADairyMilkCaramel · 28/10/2016 08:45

If you do consider one then avoid the Xbox 360.

It's going to stop being produced as will the games.

Xbox one or PS3/4. Second hand for a first one is fine too imo.

WhirlwindHugs · 28/10/2016 08:48

I think it's fairly normal at have one at hone but it's often the families console that they are allowed to play with, not in child's own room.

MiladyThesaurus · 28/10/2016 08:52

DS2 (7) has a Nintendo 2DS that he uses to play kirby, mario kart, Pokémon and yo-Kai watch. He sometimes plays on DS1's WiiU (super smash bros, pokken tournament and more bloody mario kart) but genuinely isn't interested in the PS4 (both DS1 and DH have them).

NattyTile · 28/10/2016 08:56

It may be something a lot of children have, but that doesn't mean yours is deprived because he doesn't have one. I suspect others in his group won't have a tablet; different families have different bits of kit, and that's partly what makes playing with friends fun, isn't it?

Or maybe we are the last family standing with no games consoles whatsoever!

SheldonCRules · 28/10/2016 08:57

I think most have them at that age, certainly all my sons friends did.

They can be fun for the whole family not just the kids.

InTheDessert · 28/10/2016 08:57

Well, considering my 7 yr old is getting his own tablet for Christmas, I'm probably behind the curve. He uses mine or DHs, and the family laptop, along with the very old family Wii.
I don't think he'll be getting his own console for many years, although DH may get an upgraded to the Wii in a few years, which woukd be for familybuse.

BabyGanoush · 28/10/2016 08:59

At 7?

Mine did not get games console (PS4) until last years Christmas (11 and 13)

They cost a bomb!

yesterdaysunshine · 28/10/2016 09:00

I don't know the first thing about them and I am a bit worried my children will end up hopelessly behind the times. Do they take up a lot of space? Do you need a TV for them?

SideOrderofChip · 28/10/2016 09:01

Yes a bit

Dd1 has a 360 at the moment and would like a PS4 for her birthday. Not all of her friends have consoles but a lot do

kimlo · 28/10/2016 09:02

yes you need a tv, but they dont take up too much space.

MythicalChicken · 28/10/2016 09:02

My DS has an Xbox. He does a sheet of Maths to earn 10 mins playtime. So, he can do 6 sheets of Maths to get an hour.

This is the only area where I am very strict, but it means that it restricts his time on it, plus he has moved up a Maths group at school Grin.

stitchglitched · 28/10/2016 09:03

We got DS a PS3 last Christmas when he was 7, it was really cheap pre owned from Game, and came with a warranty. We did the same the Christmas before with an XBox 360 although they are becoming obsolete now. But they needn't cost a fortune.

Kokosjumping · 28/10/2016 09:04

My brother is 15. I think he had a ps4 for his 7th birthday and he has had various consoles since

I'm 26 and even when I was at school most boys (and some girls) had consoles

PosiePootlePerkins · 28/10/2016 09:04

I understand what you are saying about fitting in with peers, I wouldn't say you are depriving him as such, but there does come a point when they find it helpful to have something in common with their friends. I was very aware of my son's social awkwardness at that age, and didn't want him to be the one who couldn't have those conversations with others his age. We got him a second hand Wii, and later a basic Samsung tablet.
I think its about finding a balance, putting in some sensible rules, and giving your child a common ground with his friends.
For what its worth, DS is 12 now, not at all bothered by having the latest gadget or games console, he has a lovely group of like minded friends, one of whom doesn't have a phone (imagine!!).

ButtMuncher · 28/10/2016 09:04

DSS has a PS3 and both his Mums and ours. It was my DP's that we allowed to go up in his room when he turned 7. That said, whenever he is round he dominates the downstairs with using PS4 - this is as much my DP as DSS as DP enjoys playing the same sorts of games (Minecraft, Lego) and it's 'boys' time. However, he does use it for YouTube videos and Netflix and we've had to have a few words as weekends would end up being solely DSS being or wanting to be on the console - at his Mums he uses it all the time, as obviously she's usually by herself and has things to do. She limits it on school nights, but it's on the moment he wakes up there so he kind of expects it here too.

To be honest, our situation is different, but it has caused problems both here and at his Mums when he's not been allowed to go on it because we want to do things as a family - he ended up putting on a lot of weight during the summer because he was on it during the day, his Mum said he would throw a tantrum when he couldn't go on it. It's as much my DPs fault really with respect to boundaries as he would often sit and play on it in the evening when DSS was little and encourage him to take part when he was old enough to hold a joypad (so around 4, not long before they spilt up).

I think if you exert clear boundaries with it, you'll be fine. We had consoles at 7 or 8 as my Dad worked for the companies but we were always aware we had very firm boundaries on when was acceptable to play on it, and rarely kicked up. DP just played on his constantly during his childhood, and never had boundaries, so we differ in our experiences.

ToShelAndBack · 28/10/2016 09:05

I guess my kid is deprived too, OP. He doesn't even have his own tablet. We have an old iPad that he can use at certain times but it doesn't stay in his room and is not considered "his."

megletthesecond · 28/10/2016 09:08

Mine is deprived too then. He 'only' has a Wii and a Nintendo DS. His little sister broke his hudl, and the TV so at the moment he can't even play the Wii Hmm.

SauvignonPlonker · 28/10/2016 09:09

I'm finally giving in & have got a 2nd hand wii for DS's 8th birthday in a couple of weeks. He asked for a PS4 or Xbox 1 - no chance!!

Are hoping we can use it as a family & his screen time will be limited- it already is, as he has a Kindle fire.

ChipInTheSugar · 28/10/2016 09:09

Good thread OP - I am having the same dilemma with concerns over time allowed on it, and the inevitable meltdowns etc as there is ASD in the equation too. Tbh, I think DS would be as delighted with a new bike, but I think pretty much every other boy in his class has a console of one sort or another and he is very much aware. I'm a lone parent though, and I do think that when there is a male adult in the house, there is more likely to be a games console in the household too.