DSS and game console

[Whycantistaymotivated]

I have 2 DSS (10 + 8) they have decided to put their money together and buy a PS4 for their room

OH is supporting them with this I am on the fence.

They already have access to a PS4 at their DM and OH has one which they play on in the living/family room, they stay with us from school pick up Friday til school drop off Mondays and half the school holidays.

I think they are wasting their money as they will still have time restrictions on when they can play on it.

I feel it will encourage them to shut themselves away in their room more

I know I don't really have a say in it BTW but I feel they are still too young for this stage

What do you think?

Hmm..not necessarily too young but it does sound like it may be a waste of money if they wont get on it much anyway. And I can understand your concern about them shutting themselves away.

If they already have one, cant they just take it back and forth?

Or get a different games console to make it more worthwhile at least. Nintendo is more suitable for their age range tbh. And had lots of multiplayer family friendly stuff you could all play (animal crossing is due out soon and even I'm excited haha). Plus motion handsets for dance games ect...so potentially a more active as well as inclusive console. Maybe you could even join in lol.

I can see both sides. I started gaming young and can honestly say I wouldn't swap those memories. (Sod being outside in the cold haha).

Don’t do it! Keep it downstairs IMO where you will have more control.
I caved and allowed ds16 one in his room last year and really regret it - he’s studying for gcse’s at the mo and I think we’re going to have to remove it.
It’s very difficult for teens to self-regulate, they get so drawn in by these games. If you do allow it, set a time-frame and stick to it - take the controllers away and hide them when the time is up.

They have set times they can play I know this will increase as they reach teenage years.

They will be trusted to stick to the times and if not the computer comes out when not playing it.

OH says if they have their on they can play online with their friends, this is another worry of mine, at the moment they aren't on any SM so haven't been exposed to the "online world" much

I agree about keeping it downstairs if pos.

...maybe not fir a 16 year old though. Of course terens cant be trusted to self regulate but let's face it, they'd be hiding from you in their room all the time either way by that age lol.

Would not be ok with online gaming access on their own in their rooms at that age though.

(At 10, not 16 lol)

My 8 year old has a PS4 in his room and he doesn't take the micky playing on it. I just take the controller away if he was on it all the time.

I suppose you could allow it but not with online access? Like, dont let them link it to your modem? But then...you'd have to check on occasion that they hadnt done it sneakily.

Them having online access is on of the main reasons for getting another console, so they can play against friends rather than just each other and OH.

They are really good boys but obviously that might change as they get older with or without the console/online exposure.