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?

Or is it vodka o'clock, when all the little zombies are nicely glazed over?

Op, it is absolutely realistic.
Mine didn't have any access to consoles, computer games etc at 4 and 7.

Our eldest started to use the computer when he was about 8.5. This Christmas, at 9.5 he received a Nintendo ds, which he shares with dd (who is less interested).

To be honest, I gave in when we got him the Nintendo. I recognise that our son gets lots of pleasure from playing with the ds, and that I get some "quiet" time when he plays with it.
I try to be as open minded as I can be, but deep down inside me I am really not a fan of electronic games.

I have no consoles in the house currently. I guess we intend to keep it that way, I am pretty stubborn when pestered at the moment but have the teenage years yet to come and am willing to be proven wrong.

My parents got rid of the TV when I was a kid so I have a genetic predisposition towards drastic measures in this area.

Peers do matter more to the older child -fact. Read any psychology book. The main reason for the first 7 years being very important- helps them choose the 'right' peers.

They will buy their own. Sorry.

My you're a feisty bunch

I am well aware I might get pressured into one or more of these gadgets when my boys are older, but the one thing I won't budge on will be the 18 games (and yes I know they probably will at friends houses), but I can control what happens in my house.

As for those who chirped "oh I can tell you've only got young children", well actually I parented 2 step children from the ages of 3 & 8 and one is now 30 with 2 of her own - so raspberries.....

Actually, now that I've loosened up with Coco's kid's cider, I do recall that one of the reasons I bought DS his PS2 at about 8/9 years old was because I didn't want him to be left out.

It is very like attempting to discuss a tricky subject with a stroppy teenager TBH, especially this bit:

'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'

Good Luck poppy, and I hope you are kind to yourself when you have to modify unworkable strategies or adapt to circumstances. But yes, do write down your rules for now and the future and open them in a decade. Then you will know who was talking sense on this thread. If it is you, then you get to be smug with evidence.

I didn't budge on age-appropriate and the amount of time spent playing, and DD had friends that didn't choose to watch or use them either.

No consoles in this house. No, sir. I have never owned a console. Work of the devil.

I did however get my first PC when I was ten. There are a number of desktop computers in this house and I will be expecting the kids to join my World of Warcraft guild and level up some characters as soon as their little hands can hold a mouse. We need more raiders.

There are so many ways to abuse technology, aren't there? For example, everyone here has internet access. I bet a fair few of us have experienced an occasion where we've spent a little more time on MN than is healthy.

Poppy you haven't answered my question. What do you hope to achieve by banning consoles or is it just a moral high ground thing.

My dgs are 3 and 5 and although they do play Angry Birds and mouse maze on my tablet it isnt even once a week and I know their parents will resist as long as possible.

Can we just agree that some children appear to be addicted to their techno games and some clearly use them responsibly. It does slightly irritate me though as a Scout Leader to have to spell out that it is not appropriate to bring techno gadgets to Scout camp - visions of little zombies sitting in their tents all day playing with their ds or whatever .

I think someone else a few pages back made a good point, many of us who grew up in the olden days have no concept of these toys, have no idea of what/how they are used and yes, I am the first to admit that I feel a little frightened and apprehenisve of what they are all about.

Perhaps we need 'classes' to understand the new technology ?

AmberLeaf I hope I don't ever meet you in RL, I'm not sure I'd like you very much. Is it really necessary to get so abusive?

Abusive? me er ok lolalotta

Do you not think calling someone a "nob" is abusive???? If that's the case you need to raise your standards a little or does it not count when you can hide behind the computer screen?

AmberLeaf "stupid" and "naive" are a few other choice words that spring to mind...I mean come on, really???

I think they were pretty accurate really and certainly in line with the general tone of poppyboos posts.

Who are you anyway? her big sister?

Or maybe shes one of poppyboos 'mumsnet friends' backing her.......you know like she said to me a few pages back!

People have suddenly changed the goal posts! Letting teenagers play games doesn't mean that you abdicate all responsibility and let them have 18 games and don't restrict time.
I think that the most sensible of us are saying that you have different rules for different ages and if you try and treat a14yr old like a 7 year old, you will have trouble.

Uhhhh no, it just annoys me that Poppyboo dares to not run with the crowd and she gets shot down for it!