Do I get an xbox for my 8 year old.

[Katie1920]

Hi there,
my 8 year old son has been asking for an xbox for Christmas. I hate the idea but know that he's the only boy in the class that doesn't have one. He loves the screen and always wants to go on the iPad and I know it will be even worse if he has a computer.

How much time do you guys allow your children on the computer? Is it ok to use it as a treat - If you get you homework done to can have half and hour on a game?

I don't want to be a mum who is boring but I'm also very worried about my son not having any other interests but the computer.
I see his friends get angry at their parents when they say their times up, and I desperately don't want my son to behave like that.

Any advice would be amazing lovely mummies. xx

I only have a 2 month old so I'm quite far from that (thank god!) but i wanted to chip in if you don't mind! Personally my family let me play games at the age of your son, and I can say with certainty it helped me develop, and the games weren't kids learning ones either just generally fun games. I learnt so many new words from playing them and I found them so much fun creatively, making up stories as I played etc. It can also be social if he plays with his friends online.

Definetely have a time limit though or it'll consume them. And the tantrums that come with that, yikes! Not much advice there just to expect them for sure. It's a tricky one because there are a lot of positives and negatives. If he's online like I mentioned definetely keep a keen eye on who he's talking to. There's a lot of nasty language and verbal abuse some people will spew via mic. Maybe make sure its only his friends and not online strangers.

DS is now 15, nearly 16 and has had everything from Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStations and XBoxs and to be honest we've never really had to limit time on them, we've always been pretty relaxed. He'd always rather be outside with his mates or on his bike.

Our DN though wasn't allowed any kind of computer game till he hit secondary school and I think sometimes you'd have to pry the controller out of his cold dead hands. Now I've no idea if this is because he wasn't allowed them until he was older that he isn't able to self regulate or if it is because he is a different kind of child to DS but I do think if you stop kids having things they do end up wanting them more.

Just be sensible, make sure your DS gets out, has other toys to play with, plays age appropriate games and reads and draws and you can't go too wrong.