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Parenting

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Original poster

Is my DS the only 6 yr old without a ...

186 replies

pipo · 30/01/2011 12:36

DS?
He has asked for one for his 6th birhtday next month. he assures me that EVERYONE in his class has got one. is anyone else's dc as deprived as mine? i'm not even sure why i'm not keen for him to have one - it just seems a grown-up sort of toy when i want him to play with lego, go to the park and be bored enough to make up his own little games still. has anyone else successfully got away with not getting one?

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Sonea · 30/01/2011 13:50

Both my DC's got a DS when they were 6, however I confiscated them six months ago and haven't given them back. DS1 has ASD and became totally fixated on it and the games, but even thought I had the rules of no DS on a school day and only an hour on a Saturday and Sunday I found that they were trying to play on it more. More importantly though I found their behaviour changed, so one day after asking them to turn it off, and them ignoring me I told them I was going to put them in the bin. They ignored me and the DS's were taken away. The DC's think they're in the bin. In fact only last night DH and I were talking about whether we would ever give them back. Maybe if we have a long car journey but I can't see it in the forseeable future.

DS1 however is very worried about losing face with the other children at school so he still maintains that he has a DS when talking to them.

Lollypolly · 30/01/2011 13:51

DD (6.5) hasn't got one. Apparently she's the "only one in her class" who doesn't have one - I know for a fact that at least half don't. She has access to an ipod touch with kids games on it but this was a free gift and she asks for it rarely, same for our Wii that she is allowed to use (sports games etc). DD is the type of personality who can't have a TV on in the background - she'd watch TV 12 hours a day if we let her and I think the same would be for a DS. This is why it will be a while before she'll have one....

Asinine · 30/01/2011 13:53

I heard there is a new ds coming out this year. If you wait a bit your dc could be the only one in the class with one.........

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veritythebrave · 30/01/2011 13:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheHouseofMirth · 30/01/2011 13:59

DS1 is almost 6 and doesn't have one. Don't think many of his friends do. I think current thinking is not all computer games are bad and for Christmas we bought him a game that he can play on our Playstation with either me or DH. However, there's something about the solitude of the DS and its portableness that really puts me off. I often see children playing them in situations where they could be reading a book instead, or interacting with their surroundings or the people they're with and it makes me rather sad.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 30/01/2011 14:00

DD bought one with her Christmas money when she was 5, she's 7 now. She plays with it in fits and starts. I don't have as many strictures on it as I do with the PC or the consoles, but they (DSs have them too) aren't allowed to play before lunch and can't play after dinner (unless there are special circumstances).

Cristiane · 30/01/2011 14:02

I really hope not. My DD is 5 and I don't think she's ever heard of them.

I couldn't let her have one. I can't see how it is good for her.

coldtits · 30/01/2011 14:05

Most children, by the time they are 7, have some kind of console. If you are in a relatively non hippy area, your son probably is the only child without a ds.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 30/01/2011 14:05

There are disputes about the accuracy of the medical reports saying that 3D technology (which includes watching 3D films at the cinema) is damaging to children's eyes. I believe the initial reports that started it all off were actually talking about under 3's and it's the manufacturers who have increased it to 6 to cover their backs. I'd go online and look at everything that's come out before making a decision based on that tbh.

onimolap · 30/01/2011 14:06

Verity: that's the manufacturer's eye-sight warning I mentioned above.

Link to BBC report here.

And to a rather dull earlier MN thread here.

PerArduaAdNauseum · 30/01/2011 14:07

DS is now 7 and doesn't have a DS. Hope he never does. We have a Wii - family toy - and computers around. He's happy on Club Penguin etc, but we limit his time - and have started doing stretches before and after computer time so he doesn't end up with back problems etc.

DSs encourage them to ignore you, you can't see what's on the screen without sticking your face right in front of it and the only way it seems to hold the stupid things is with hunched shoulders and crooked neck. Bleurgh.

FanjolinaJolie · 30/01/2011 14:08

I have a DD not DS who is six who would love a DS too.

Not getting one anytime soon, DH is opposed to it completely and actually so am I but I could waver if the pressure got too much.

I am against all types of consoles really.

Would rather they were outside on bikes or scooters, even in winter.

LadyPumpington · 30/01/2011 14:09

Nope ds doesn't have one has never asked for one either, but he is game obsessed, and already plays more them he should on the computer, so no I won't be getting him a ds anytime soon.

LadyPumpington · 30/01/2011 14:09

He is nine btw

ValLongstreet · 30/01/2011 14:10

DS is 7 and doesn't have one. How does everyone know who in their children's classes do or don't have one? I don't know how anyone would know that DS doesn't.

He did say someone in his class has an iPad. I am a bit seeing as I would like one .

He uses both the family laptop and my iPod Touch regularly so isn't deprived but I think I am wary of him having an expensive thing that could break. And the games seem
quite expensive.

cece · 30/01/2011 14:10

My DC get one for their 8th birthday. Well DD has one and DS1 will get one for his 8th birthday. I think 6 is too young tbh.

NormaSknockers · 30/01/2011 14:10

DD is approaching 5 and doesn't have one, she's not asked for one but if she did it's not something I would get her. Mind you the only thing we have is a PS2 stored away in the cupboard gathering dust so we're not really a console family IYKWIM?

My brother who is 8 next month has one, I don't think I've seen him without it since he got it

ValLongstreet · 30/01/2011 14:12

DD is 5 and has no interest in a DS. Or at least hasn't said anything.

deepdarkwood · 30/01/2011 14:15

ds is 7 in a couple of weeks - doesn't have one, and hasn't expressed any interest for a couple of years. A good few in his class have one, but it doesn't seem a big deal that he hasn't. He wants a bike & a cuddly owl for his birthday

veritythebrave · 30/01/2011 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImFab · 30/01/2011 14:45

My kids are 5-9 and haven't got one.

cybbo · 30/01/2011 14:46

My 7 yr old wants one but I'm resisting

he'd rather play with a pile of buttons and some sellotape anyway

deemented · 30/01/2011 14:55

My DS2 is six and a half and he doesn't have one. Most of his class do, but he still is very much into imagination play and i'm not ready to lose him to technology just yet.

When he was four he asked for a DS for Christmas, and was told no. We did however get him a Gameboy colour and told him that if he showed me he could look after it properly ect, then we would consider getting him one for Christmas just gone. He played with it once or twice, but really hasn't been all that bothered with it, so he didn't get one.

My nephew got given one aged 3. i think it may need surgically removing from his hands - he's always on it.

ConnorTraceptive · 30/01/2011 14:55

Ds is six he doesn't have one and isn't likely to get one anytime soon. We have a wii. And he plays Lego games on the pc. I also have an iPod touch which can play games on. Tbh he's never asked for one though

IAPJJLPJ · 30/01/2011 14:55

Both my boys have a ds lite. I was always the child left out at school as I didn't have the same toys as my friends and so I vowed they (within reason!!) wouldn't.

As other posters have said mine will play it loads and then forget it for days at a time. I find it really useful for the looooonnnngggg hospital appointments we have to attend with my older son and for things like car journeys, also for those trips to older relatives who don't like the mess of toys out.

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