Am I the only parent who won't allow an xbox, DS or playstation in the house?

[MINIBondGirl]

Am I being unrealistic in this issue as I only know a very few parents who feel the same? Having seen other children playing on them (sometimes looking like zombies and getting headaches) I am really put off. I know some parents restrict usage and don't allow unsuitable games but a lot don't.

As my boys are 4 & 7 I would rather they played outside, used their imaginations and concentrated on school for now.

Realistic or not?

I think it was a joke.

LineRunner I got that

No im not a fence sitter, I said I dont need to talk about what I do or dont do.

Im not attacking anything, my first post on this thread was saying that I found it hard to take the OP seriously after her ridiculous attack on children that play on game consoles. [zombies]

I think you'll find the majority view is probably that a little bit is ok as long as it doesnt get in the way of H/W and physical activities. its quite feasable to express that without being insulting.

TBH, he is keener on his laptop and phone than his X-Box these days..

And playing/watching sodding football.

See we try and tread a middle ground, screen time of various times, a variety of other activities, books, music , fresh air etc etc.
Everything in moderation is my motto and I have seen some of the fab benefits and fascinating uses technology can have through my work. Children are growing up in a technological world
Technology can be overused but refusing to allow it does not a better parent make.

coconutty

Ummm, by calling me stupid and naive for my parenting views I think you were trying to insult me, so therefore, you were being insulting.
So not being a part of the majority view, I get attacked and laughed at. Nice.
I wasn't boasting, I was telling the OP that there were other ways of doing it which were different from the majority view

I just remembered that one of the weekly sessions at the YMCA summer camp was Playing On The Wii.

Not all rock climbing, then.

That was for Amberleaf

I suggest poppyboo that you write down exactly how you intend to parent teenagers and then seal it up. Open it when they are 16yrs.
I guarantee that it won't have worked.
You need to deal with the DC you actually have and not the one you envisage. They are individuals and they react differently, even within the same family.

Splitting my sides coconutty I love your humour.

Oh lighten up Poppy FFS

exoticfruits it does not mean that I can't try to parent the way I believe is best for my DC over the coming years, otherwise I should just give up now. You're just repeating yourself from what you said earlier. But, no, I will not change my mind about gaming consoles! Of course things change, but ti doesn't mean you can't try to parent in the way that you think is best your your own children

They develop a fierce hunger for sugar and fat. Fierce.

Just wondering what your hoping to achieve by banning consoles? Do you think your children will be happier, cleverer, more rounded? Just curious what you hope will be the positive for your children poppy and how you feel we are damaging our children?

The majority view is from those of us with wide experience of our own DCs and their friends and the community. Of course it is desirable to control the younger DC and their screen time but you then have to adapt. They live in the world, they go to friends houses, they have sleepovers- they live in a world where it is the norm. They have to learn to handle it and self discipline themselves. They can't do this if you do ALL the control. You have to treat a 12 year old differently than a 7 year old and a 14 year old differently than 12 year old, and a 16 yr old differently again. You will have trouble if you don't realise this.

I can see that you don't believe it. Write your views down now and open when 14 years- just as an experiment.

You tell me to lighten up because you don't have a proper reponse. Pathetic.
So I will lighten up. Maybe I should give up (just like you all did.)
Have a nice bank holiday everyone
XOXO

Gin, anyone?

poppyboo
when you said this;

i think it all depends on how strong you are in your parenting beliefs and the connection you have with your children...whether peers matter more to the older child or parent...just a thought

You were being smug and insulting. so dont play all hurt and offended after saying things like that and getting a response.

Cheers!