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Technology/screen time

3 replies

Jacketandbeans · 24/03/2022 13:56

My eldest DS has just turned 6 and so far hasn't had access to a device of any kind. He has occasionally gone on my work laptop to look at something, usually to find a transformer to print and colour in! And he has a school maths app he has used so he understands the basics of how to work an iPad or laptop.
He occasionally watches TV, but mostly he does colouring and drawing, or plays for hours with his transformer/superheroes and Lego.

However, he's getting to an age where his friends are talking about Minecraft, and the switch, and I'm starting to wonder whether he might be getting left out of conversations. Hes quite shy so I don't want to make life harder for him.

If you were me what would you do? Part of me thinks just leave it and wait until he starts asking for something, but I dont want him feeling left out amongst his friends. Im wary of starting the screen time battles that everyone else talks about. It would drive me mad having to set timers and deal with tears when the times up etc and I also don't want him to suddenly stop wanting to do the things he normally does and constantly thinking about computer games, as I think he could get very addicted to Minecraft!

Just interested to hear opinions from people who have DC a similar age or older and have been through all this to give some advice! Also if you have any advice on the best device to start off with, kindle? Switch? Just use laptop for games? Etc. I'm clueless! Thanks.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
scully29 · 24/03/2022 14:13

minecraft has been brilliant for my ds 8, socially and for his coding skills - he does amazing things with coding games with minecraft, its really educational and I dont see it as a bad thing but the future. We have no trouble with time limits or anything, its all just in balance and giving him time for everything.

Jacketandbeans · 24/03/2022 15:19

@scully29 that's interesting to hear. I do think my DS would really enjoy it. What does he play it on? What's best? Thanks.

OP posts:
scully29 · 24/03/2022 19:37

He started on a kindle with a controller and now uses an xbox and controller, but uses a laptop for minecraft education. My dd 6 also enjoys playing sometime. Its been really nice in lockdowns where they can play with friends and chat to them at the same time on facetime/whats app on my phone, so building things together and chatting etc. We dont have a switch so dont know about them.

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