ok so tell me I'm being mean - game consoles?

[wannaBe1974]

so it's nearly ds' birthday, and Christmas is just around the corner. And we've been discussing what to get ds, and the suggestion came up that he might like

one of these

But thing is, I'm not sure that I'm happy for him to have any kind of computerised game as yet. I know this one is educational, but it's still a game, it still involves sitting in front of it for potentially long periods of time and although I know it's not an xbox or a ps2 I feel it's just the slippery slope and surely there's time for that when he's older? he'll be 4 btw.

I would be inclined if spending that money just to get him a Gameboy as I think it would have more longterm appeal. However I understand your concerns about buying that type of thing. My DS1 ended up with a Gameboy at around age 5 after seeing other boys with them and although he was quite into it at first the novelty did wear off and it is quite handy to have for longer journeys etc.

I had exactly this dilemma the other day when I was looking at the new "Bubble" console thingy which is also educational and works on the telly. My ds1 is just four this month. I decided against it, for all the reasons you describe - I want him to be a little child for as long as possible, he has years and years to play with games consoles and all that nonsense. It does feel like a slippery slope.

ButI'm sure there'll be loads of mums who say "It doesn't do them any harm, you're just meanies"

I think as long as you "police" it, there's no problem.

DS1 is getting a playstation for xmas, he's 8 and is the last one by a long way to get one (of his peers, that is!) But it won't be an available all the time toy. Strict rules, enforced fairly, no problem!!

Mrs Spoon - you're the same as me! We've just bought ds (5 in Feb) a gameboy for Xmas. He will be monitored so he doesn't become addicted but we doa lot of long car journeys and I want my kids to be PC literate etc etc. I was advised to go for the gameboy rather than th leap pad things (had the first leap pad and neiher of them uses it)as they are more inclined to use thema nd they're more cost effective.

oh well we'll just be mean together then gs

looks ok, reckon he'll be bored off by new years eve though as its quite educational.

if you get a playstation or similar do what beth says and police. my 12year old knows that 6.30 to 8pm is playstation time 5 nights a week. weekends at this time of year when its raining outside its obviously longer.hes had it a good few years and very good value formoney in the long run

We have a PS2 - dh's to begin with! Now ds is better than him at most games we have, coming up 5. He gets half an hour a day. Sometimes he gets a bit longer if he is playing it with his friends (we live in a very child friendly street where the 4 boys around (age 4 (ds), 5, 7 and 9 are in each others houses all the time. They play so nicely it is really sociable thing, taking turns, teaching each other tricks, no-one hogs it, sharing games. I love listening in to it all! The 3 mums involved all like it as we get a break occasionally from our noisy boys (esp this week as it has been half term here), dish out snacks and encourage them to get back outside after half an hour or so. The girls are not so much interested in it all but do join in sometimes.
We keep it in the lounge (where we have our only TV) so that it can be policed, not used without parental knowledge. Maybe he is a bit young for it, but he spends so much time outside the rest of the time, and playing other games, that half an hour of the PS isnt too bad.

My children are 10, 7, 4 and 16m andwe have avoided the games console issue so far. It's just another thing to argue over as I see it.

ds1 was given one of these when he was 4 or 5 by an uncle. He is now 7 and it is still used by him and ds2 (5) although not all the time. They use it for journeys and sometimes get it out at home but it goes in phases like everything else. We probably wouldn't have brought it for him ourselves and we are resisting the xbox/ps2 pressure - every one else has one according to him.

DS (5) has a Leapster which he plays with occasionally at home but it is great while travelling. Am resisting a GAmeboy as I feel he won't use the Leapster if he has one. So will hold off on that as long as we can.

We also have a playstation but it is officially DH's (although in the playroom). DS goes through stages of wanting to be on it all the time. When I bought it first I bought a timer (ordinary kitchen one) and used to limit him to 30 mins.

And I like it too!!!

Oh and BTW - I don't think you are being mean at all! We are all different! What is right for your family is your business!!

Ds is 5 and we have not got him a console or gameboy. He is really happy playing with his lego and other toys. He has a TV plug in Buzz Lightyear game, but hardly ever plays it. He loves going into Game with Dh and 'playing' on the shop consoles but has not really asked for one himself. We had an old Sega Saturn in the loft, which we got down a few months ago. He loved it, but it went back in the loft after a couple of weeks. He did ask for it for a while, but soon forgot.

Dh and I have considered the whole console idea, but are planning to leave it for a while longer. So, if you are mean, so are we!

My dd enjoys her leapster and she's by no means addicted to it. Like someone said earlier - it comes in fits and starts. She uses it in the car for longish journeys and at home for a while every so often. I'm sure you can get it for less than that though. I got a new one from Ebay for around £35.