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).

We have an xbox360 and obviously a pc. My dd (4) loves to play on the PC it is a treat for her, she plays on the cbeebies etc websites. I really only see positive sides to this, she learns all kinds of things from the games and she has excellent mouse control/computer skills. Computers aren't going away bar apocalyptic events, she still loves books/games playing outside/ with other children etc.

We also play viva pinata together on the xbox and have lots of fun, she is so proud when she gets another pinata.

Actually Mumsnet is teaching her to read, whenever I sit on the Pc she sits on my lap and points out words she knows.

I remember reading another poster saying she felt really sad watching her Dh and sons playing on the PS, like they could have been playing scrabble or something. I feel it's a good and fun bonding experience, obviously it needs to be limited but new technology is not an inherently bad thing.

these gadgets hold no educational value at all

these are tantermount to plonking kids in front of ely whilst you get 10 mins peace or do something else you haven't got time for.

anthing ele is either - v. rare or mums telling you tales of bullshit.

And btw to the OP, why does everything children encounter have to fecking teach them something, are they not allowed to just have fun and relax?

yes indeed - i muist make that clear - my post was in no way a sanctimonius up my own arse rant

compltely agree - sometimes its whatever shuts them the hell up

Well said Hatwoman

And Havalina

Dh is fantasticaly, tooth achingly, good at all forms of computer games. He used to be a fighter pilot.

But I'm not convinced theone led to the other. Both are more an expression of his Inner Nerd.

He is quite undamaged by them both.

there is a wii in my front room and i dont feel inclined to try it as i really dont need yet another addicition in my life

i was amazed tho at seeing dgs who is 3 is actually quite good at it

except for the high risk of going through the plasma screen so watching him is unbearable as he runs towards it when bowling and i just scream

custardo - disagree there. tv is shown to lower heart rate, burning fewer calories than sleeping, practically making kids comatose. wii makes them leap about laugh, interact with each other, compete, knacker them out etc etc. tv totally passive, wii very active, and tiring.

cod & who was it 20's & 30's in wii fitness. i think my best score has been 75. I am 5 months pg tho' - is that a good enough excuse

Yes, they can help with various aspects of a child's development, and encourage fitness, team work, reading, cordination, logic and puzzle solving, etc.

But you know what? The key is that is just shows them another way of having fun! They are children. Childhood should be fun. Yes my DD plays with friends, plays outsde does activities, plays with toys, etc the whole range - but yes, she also plays happily with friends or with us on the Wii or on her DS.

So long as it isn't excessive - and we are the parents here, we get to choose how long and what they play after all - then of course there is no harm in games consoles and the like!

I don't know if they teach a lot, but they do provide much-needed relaxation for youngsters who spend the best part of their waking day on educational activities regimented by adults. I have noticed that my dc's are much more alert and receptive to learning after they moved to an after-school CM who does not insist on spending every minute on educational activities.

Could you cope with spending every minute of your day on worthy activities? Well evidently not- you're on Mumsnet!

Mumsnet, I will admit, is addictive and no doubt responsible for a lot of my behaviour problems (failure to tidy up the lounge, failure to answer properly when people speak to me, irritability when interrupted etc).

In my granddad's young days, there was a new activity for children which had very similar connotations and brought with it similar fears of a wasted childhood which would render the victim incapable of responsible adult life. It was known as reading books. Scaaaary...

Havalina - you havent read the OP. I said I think they teach them addiction. I don't believe at all that "everything children encounter have to fecking teach them something, are they not allowed to just have fun and relax?" On the contrary. I just don't see how screen based games can do that better than 'real life' games. However, I will try not to be so old fashioned and techno-phobic in future.

{crawls back under stone with wind-up gramaphone }

"I just don't see how screen based games can do that better than 'real life' games. "

They don't do it better. It is just an alternative, something extra. Doing one does not mean a child doesn't do the other too.