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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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geogteach · 31/01/2011 14:46

My 6 year old doesn't have one, neither do his 7 and 9 year old siblings. They do have wii so not totally depvived but i like the fact it stays at home so we have holidays and days out without electronic toys. It seems a lot of money to me to spend on a 6 year old and their wants change so often, DS1 is now after an ipod touch, so if he had had a DS at 6 I think he would have had less than 3 years ude out of it before he was on to the next thing.

stuffedmk · 31/01/2011 14:46

My DS is 9 and doesn't have one.....he does have a wii and xbox360 though but then we play with those aswell (read DH plays with them lol).
I feel like it can be monitored easier, time wise as he can't disappear of to his room and play for hours, I know if he is in his room he is playing with toys or reading (he doesn't get the luxury of a tv in his room either).

GooseyLoosey · 31/01/2011 14:47

ds and dd (7 and 6) do not hace them and I am not keen. Ds has asked for one, but as he is free to use my iphone whenever he wants, I'm not sure what he would get out f it.

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stuffedmk · 31/01/2011 14:47

Just to add, I guess a 6 year old is less likely to be off in his room alone than a nearly 10 year old so monitoring usage may not be an issue for you.

theDudesmummy · 31/01/2011 16:01

No computer games in our house, I am afraid, and I sincerely hope never will be (stepdaughters are 17 and 16 and DS is 1). I consider them a criminal waste of time.

juuule · 31/01/2011 16:17

thedudesmummy - so only mummy computer games (mumsnet) allowed in your house, then?

NorthernGobshite · 31/01/2011 16:36

dd just got hers for her sixth birthday. she wanted one when 5 and i said she was too young. she's playing on it now and LOVES it!

She also a Wii which we bought for us all as it is good family fun.

She is very lucky, but her friends seem to have even more - one girl has an XBox, a laptop, a playstation, a DS AND a Wii!!! ANd I have seen them, not just children boasting. Thats way too much stuff surely??

NorthernGobshite · 31/01/2011 16:37

thedudesmummy, why are they a criminal waste of time? do your children not watch tv, or read books that aren't wholey educational? very silly idea if you ask me.

NorthernGobshite · 31/01/2011 16:42

I am stunned that intelligent women think computer/console games are damaging. If they are age appropriate, and not played for hours on end, they are as fun and stimulating for a child as any other kind of play. My dd (6) has reading age of 9 so her brain has not 'turned to cheese'. All this, 'what about books...' nonsense - do your children only read books then? No other toys or activities? Childhood is for fun as well as learning. I really do despair of such awful misplaced seriousness.

MCos · 31/01/2011 16:49

It is not necessarily a waste of time.

They develop a new set of skills. I am in awe of how they figure out how to play some of the games on their own, the tricks required to jump to next levels, etc. I also find it nice when they compare notes with their peers on how to overcome some of the obstacles. Or learn new tricks, etc.
I find it can also complement other areas of play. My girls also love their books, and have imagination games that can extend to weeks. Characters from games (or books) often find their way into the imagination games. Or during art, they may draw their own scenarios from the games. Especially true for the Mario characters!
As with most things, moderation is the key.

Francagoestohollywood · 31/01/2011 17:03

MrsRuffalo I totally agree with you that a Ds is a 99,9% an object of entertainment.
Actually, I'd rather people be honest and don't bang on how "educational" they are.
Mine still don't have it though.

perpetuallypregnant · 31/01/2011 17:16

Dd3 was playing on (I use the phrase loosely) her siblings' ds' from about 3 so it was somewhat inevitable she would want her own eventually. We got ds a new one and she got his old one when she was about 4.

She just got her own for Christmas and she is 7. She doesn't actually go on it that much really.

bubbles1112 · 31/01/2011 18:17

My dd is 6. She doesnt have a ds or wii or anything like it.

BadBagel · 31/01/2011 18:20

DC 5 and 9 don't have a ds. We have a wii and it is great fun :o

Elibean · 31/01/2011 18:56

dd1 is 7 and hasn't got one (but asked last birthday). We will probably get her one for her next birthday.

dd2 is 4 and doesn't have one but is allowed to play on her daddy's iphone when we want to go back to sleep at 6.30am

We do have a Wii. They occasionally dance/sport with it, but prefer TV/DVDs or endless imagination games, on the whole.

Long car journey in the summer ahead..I have to admit I'm contemplating games they can play on my old, battered DS...

Elibean · 31/01/2011 18:57

Also, whether its Wii, TV, CBeebie games on Computer, DVD or DS - we tend to limit screen time. And evenings are for books, which are NOT just about 'learning' they are fun!

NorthernGobshite · 31/01/2011 20:27

We know books are fun. I LOVE books. Its the only thing I never refuse to buy her when she asks. But my point was that someone suggested simple fun on a console was a waste of time. Therefore I was wondering if the only books they allowed were educational?
Sarcasm obv was lost.

taffetasplat · 31/01/2011 20:29

I like your posts, NorthernGobshite

NorthernGobshite · 31/01/2011 20:43

Why thankyou ma'am!

Dancergirl · 31/01/2011 20:54

DSs have their place. My older dds got theirs at around 8 or so. I wouldn't have bought them younger. They play on them for around half an hour at a time, maybe a couple of times a week. They also read, draw, watch tv and loads of imaginative play. Everything in moderation.

Think 6 is a bit young though. I would hold off for a bit.

JemimaMop · 31/01/2011 20:58

DS1 had one when he was 7.5

Of course this led to huge arguments with DS2 (who is 2 years younger than him) as he wanted one too. We gave in and bought him one for his 6th birthday.

TBH once the initial novelty wore off they don't play on them that much. If the sun is shining they would both rather be out kicking a ball about or riding their bikes. Even when it isn't sunny they spend more time playing Lego or reading than playing on them. They are handy for keeping them quiet entertaining them on long car journeys though.

lastresort · 31/01/2011 21:31

I have a DS (44) my DCs love it so much I can never get on it.
My DD (4) plays on Proffessor Layton. Got the new game for Xmas but she solves more puzzles on it than I do.
We also have a PS, a PSP, a Wii and 2 Leapsters...but they all want to play on MY DS. Think it's cos they just love doing the Brain Training stuff.

MrsLucasNorth · 31/01/2011 21:41

My DD is 6.4 and has been desperate for one for about a year now. Only a couple of her friends don't have them. I wasn't madly keen of her having one last year, and DH is v. anti. I would really like one myself though, so as mine & dd's birthdays are a week apart later in the year, I'm thinking of treating myself and letting her share it.

lastresort · 31/01/2011 21:46

I think the good thing about the DS is that there are a load of brainy games, as I call them. We have loads for mine. In fact the only one that isn't a puzzle game is Mario.

I think that the Brain Training and Prof Layton games are great for expanding little minds.

MoldyWarp · 31/01/2011 22:04

if you want the downward slope that is screendome then get one

personally i would hold off as long as possible

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