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

[pipo]

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?

DD1 (aged 6 just before Christmas) had talked about having a DS since her 5th birthday. We didn't buy one last year but, partly because her birthday is so close to Christmas (and we don't buy random presents throughout the year) and partly because she was still keen, we bought this, a Leapster Explorer for her and DD2 to share. DD2 is only 18 months old so won't get any real use out of it until DD1 has outgrown it but the point was that it was a joint toy, not something for DD1 to hog in her room!

The Leapster Explorer is a big hit with DD1. She describes it as, "like a DS but better". I think the 'better' aspect comes from it being hers and so she has her own profile etc. The Tinkerbell game (maths skills) has proved popular as it looks like a 'proper' game - her DS-owning friends love it too.

I am dreading it when my DS asks for one. He is only 4 and a half though. We have a wii and PS3 but he doesn't know they exist. He loves to play on my DH's iphone and laptop and I can see that he could be easily addicted if we let him. We've limited the iphone apps to 30 mins on a saturday and a sunday. If you really don't want him to have one then stick to your guns. I have friends whose kids are very addicted and I could see DS ending up the same way. I think that I will try and delay DS owning a ds or similar until he is about 8 or 9. However peer pressure is a tough one to compete with. Good luck with it! :)

We got a 'family' DS for xmas and bought an age approapriate game for our 5 yo DD - she doesn't go on it much though!

DD (nearly 8) got her one for her 4th birthday and it has been great for car journeys, grown up parties (when all the kids seem to take their DS's), boring nights down our stables etc.

She doesn't play on it to extremes and there are times when she won't touch it for weeks.

You can get 2nd hand games on Ebay to keep costs down (they are the real expense) and I think it has been a great toy.

She still plays with her Sylvanians, lego, etc. Getting a DS is not a slippery slope.

We got my son one last summer when he was almost 5 as we were going to cornwall on hols and wanted something to keep him occupied for the journey. He loves his and has various games, educational as well as fun. It has really improved his motor skills as well as reading and maths. Alot of his friends do have one. I'd say get him one but monitor the usage. From experience my son used it alot at first but that does tale off to perhaps 3 or 4 hours a week if that.

my DD got hers when she was 5. Its a brilliant thing for when we travel also came in handy when shes in hospital. She has games to play with and also likes Professor Layton :) not many of the other kids in her class have them as far as i'm aware.

I read a recent report that said more six year olds could use a mouse than tie their shoelaces - I think that's really sad.

I can believe that ragwort
my ds has only ever had velcro shoes

I'm not sure why you consider that sad, Ragwort.

Why's that sad ragwort? A child being computer literate in a technological age saddens you????
I couldn't tell the time until I was 10 - damn digital watches - and I have an MA degree. I don't understand your thinking at all.

No! DS turns 6 yrs old in a few weeks. he wants a DS but knows he will not be getting one. He does have access to one at a weekly computer club we attend, but other than that, no way. I limit TV / computer at home, and I really don't need yet another screen for him to goggle at and me to have to tear him away from!

DS (7) has had one since he was 5. He doesn't play every day, but it is great for long train/car journeys. Some of the strategy games are quite good. They make him think. The times tables game is not bad either

I am 40 and it wouldn't make any difference if I could tie shoe laces. However, if I didn't know how to use a computer and use common software packages, I'd probably have a much more boring job. Can't see anything wrong with letting children get used to technology early. It is really not scary.

Couldn't tie shoe laces, of course.

'computer literate' is a gobshite term. There's nothing literate about it.
I'm with Ragwort

If you think a DS will make you good at ICT then there's no hope

no one is afraid of technology - why would we be

Read this and consider delaying buying a ds for a 6 year old

screen time

Fairly sure its not a gobshite term moldy, it is widely used. I was responding to earlier comment made by ragwort.

Would you rather everything was steam powered?

I DO NOT think a DS will make her good at ICT thanks. I think its a TOY! That she ENJOYS! Heaven forbid....a child having fun? Where will it end?

And the assumption that people who have children with consoles let them play on them for hours is unfair.

And that article tells us what...?
I am sure we know that SOME people let children have too watch "screen time" - a wanky term if ever there was - but it is hardly a terrifying revelation which will make us all burn our DS's and return to the caves is it?

I wish there was a like button, justanother

you're living up to your name

To be honest though, all the children I know with game consoles play on them for hrs on end.

No, moldy, I am making my point, just like you.

franca, my dd doesn't, nor do most of her friends. She plays for half hour tops, then wants to do something else - its just one of her toys.

I am pretty sure there are plenty of children who self regulate

Agree franca. I agree many children spend way too much time on computers, consoles etc, but I think some of posters utter damnation of them is ridiculous so sorry if I appeared snappy towards you!