What do video games, Wii, x-boxes etc. really teach your DC?

[Shitemum]

My DDs are too young to play video games but it occured to me the other day that all they really teach/encourage is addiction.
Given how addictive MN is to me, given the number of posters on MN who are trying to deal with behavioral problems in NA DCs who use all those gadgets, and who frequently seem to be offered time on them as a reward or treat, is it not clear that they are damaging our DCs ability to relate in a normal way to other people and the world around them?
It could be argued that they provide a way for parents to engage and have fun with their kids. What's wrong with scrabble? Or a kick-about in the park/garden? I believe there is something about electronic screen-based button-pushing entertainment that damages children's brains. Am I the only one?
(I have never even seen an x-box or a Wii as far as I know and am not entirely sure what they are, but also know that I am in a minority there and that my own kids will want whatever their peers have when the time comes and then it may not seem so simple).

If you don't know what they are, why do you hold such strong opinions about them?

I second hunker
you canot decide you know what something is doing if you dont know what the something is

My dd(almost 8) and i have a wii and other consoles, i find that they teach her hand to eye co-ordination as well as being fun
But i must add that we do not play them every day and we do play other games including scrabble as well as going bike rides etc.

It's the age old saying everything in moderation me thinks

Ok, maybe I've lumped them in with PCs, mobile phones etc. Enlighten me then what's so great about them?

third that, hunker.

i don't want to get into a debate here, but video games have been shown to increase dexterity and reaction times, there was a study with surgeons.

certainly video games should be used sparingly with kids, but i actually think the reward system works well

purple - good, am worried that they replace other more traditional games and ways of interacting.

medgadget.com/archives/2006/05/addicted_to_vid.html

We have a PS3 and a Wii. And a Gamecube.

I go through phases of playing games on them.

DS1 has tried playing tennis on the Wii and it makes us all laugh massively - he is SO chuffed when he hits the ball back (he's 3.10).

I generally play PS3 or Wii with DH - am a big fan of Tony Hawk's skateboarding and love Tombraider too - games where you have to work out how to get to the next bit.

But I play maybe a couple of times a month?

hunkermunker- your 3 y.o is therefore better than me at wii tennis.

ds3 is a great reader from them

luminar - have there been any studies that show what negative traits are increased by plentiful exposure to them? Am not trying to stir things up just genuinely curious and concerned.
Will come back later, DP has taken laptop and this PC is so slow its killing me, plus mouse problem.

we love wii fitness
my best is 36
ds2 go the dreaded 20a dn even ds3 whupps my butt

"Given how addictive MN is to me, given the number of posters on MN who are trying to deal with behavioral problems in NA DCs who use all those gadgets, and who frequently seem to be offered time on them as a reward or treat, is it not clear that they are damaging our DCs ability to relate in a normal way to other people and the world around them?"

wow, that is some assumtion to make!

"Ok, maybe I've lumped them in with PCs, mobile phones etc."

which are obviously the spawn of the devil, and responsible for all societies ills

It seems odd that you have formed a strong opinion on something you know nothing about
Our DC use a Wii but they are far from addicted. To them it's something that's fun every now and then, in the same way as playing board games or having a kickabout in the garden. Mine use the Wii once a fortnight on average, sometimes more, sometimes less.
Given the choice they'd rather spend time exploring in the woods, which they do more often than they use the Wii, but on a cold, wet morning they might like the option of playing Wii games.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

LOL! He usually gets it back once

36? I'm in my 20s on Wii Fitness. Will have to try again tonight Am shit at golf, but shit hot at bowling.

By Shitemum on Sun 17-Feb-08 15:53:50
purple - good, am worried that they replace other more traditional games and ways of interacting.

Anyone with half an ounce of sense doesn't let them replace other forms of entertainment. They should be in addition to other activities.

It's just one more option. People who let their dc play games day and night are another matter entirely.

hunkermunker how often have you done fitness? I can't get any where close to that yet (but lower age than trinityrhino lol) but i'm crap at baseball

Not very often. I'm unnaturally good at console games though. Shame it's not something I can earn money doing, really!!

im crap too. dh and hte boys are rivals in what they are Pros in
meanwhiel i worry abotu the amount of time Elsa spends at the tennis court - she never goes anywhere else

im crap too. dh and hte boys are rivals in what they are Pros in
meanwhiel i worry abotu the amount of time Elsa spends at the tennis court - she never goes anywhere else

Better than me I think my fitness is 49, Good at bowling and golf but useless at tennis on wii.

Favorite game for DC's on the PS2 at the moment is Buzz, which is a general knowledge quiz and DD is brilliant at the Singstar ps2 games, you have to sing in key to get points, she is a natural.

None of my DCs have behaviourial problems

I do however have a 10yo, a 7yo and a 4yo who have an activity in common, that they are happy and willing to share and take turns on, where the older ones enjoy teaching the younger. They're happy, I'm happy

Actually atm I'm really happy as BIL got DS1 Mario Galaxy for his birthday and it's pretty damn good. Might have to and have another go in a minute

I'm not going to get into a whole defensive spiel over console/PC games - I've done it far too many times on MN already. If you don't like them or understand why other people like them, fine don't buy them, just don't try and make out that people who do are bad parents, damaging their children

We have a ps2 and a nintendo ds (wish we had a Wii though)

Ds has also learnt to read from them. just cause a kid plasy electroni games doesn't mean they don't kick a ball or play board games. You can do a bit of all 3.

Lile it or not, technology plays a massive part in our world today and wilol when the kids get to school/college/uni and the workplace.

this thread is making me realise we ought to get the wii out more.

every generation has some new-fangled form of entertainment that is seen as spawn of the devil and destined to bring about the downfall of society. books, for example. they're all just media - in the literal meaning of the word - means for society, and people to do what they do - play games, learn, interact, entertain themselves on their own. it's not the media that matters it's what you do with it.