7 year old, Nintendo switch?

[changingsonooneknows]

My just turned 7 yo DS has been requesting a Nintendo switch for the last two years for Xmas/bday etc. I have resisted as I am nervous about computer games. My kids do get screens in the form of Netflix etc but only at the weekends. They aren’t allowed to watch anything on YouTube (except for jungle chase). They also don’t have iPads and only watch things on an iPad when we go on holiday (so 8hr car journey, or plane ride).

My DH have been thinking about giving in and allowing him a switch lite. We would put parental controls on, and we would only allow it at the weekends/holidays. Are we crazy? Is he too young? Do we put it off for longer?

Any I put hugely appreciated…

Don't get a switch lite. Get a proper switch so you can play games with him like mario kart and it becomes a much more fun interactive family thing together than sitting alone on a switch light.

We have a switch, my son loves it but we did set screen limits from day one as we were also concerned. I personally would get the switch not the switch lite as the switch lite is hand held only and I prefer my son to play on tv so the screen is not as small. We also play together as a family sometimes which is nice (and an opportunity for sharing/turn taking/winning/losing) rather than it being a solo activity but again not an option on switch lite.
Theres load of games and some are quite cheap . Mario kart is the best one I would say but there’s puzzles/logic/imagination based games.

I think it’s a great age to get a switch, it’s very easy to set time limits. We let our children have 2hours over the weekend and 1 hour after school on a Wednesday. It’s no better or worse than TV.

Seconded to getting a proper switch than a lite.

And yes, there's plenty of games that are suitable for 7 year olds, just do some research so you know what you're buying him

DS got one when he was just turned 6 - not my choice as his grandparents for it for him.

We have screen time limits - you can get it to make an annoying noise when they hit it. Also we have no screentime in the week. He isn't that bothered with it really unless he going around a friends house

DH recently got a PS5 which now DS is 8 he does prefer that

Ideal age for a switch and Nintendo games are pretty wholesome. Much much better than brain rotting crap on YouTube!

I guess I thought by getting the lite, it would be a game that DS would play himself that wouldn’t be central to the whole family. I’m just not sure about a computer game taking over the whole living room and TV. As I would set strict limits (2 hrs max over a whole weekend), I didn’t think it would be too bad for him to do as a handheld device? Is the full switch def better? Are my concerns unfounded?

Yeah don't get a switch lite. Get the proper one so you can play together as a family. I've had the switch and recently bought the switch 2. Mariokart games are the best.

although if you're limiting them to 2 hours on a weekend, there's not much point. Of course extended screen time isn't great but there's no point in buying an expensive console when they only get two hours a week to play it, on the weekends...

but yeah get the normal switch or switch 2.

The Switch is great to play for the whole family. We bought 2 extra controllers and have games nights together. The games are mostly really sweet and wholesome. Mario Party games are particularly good. DS is 8 and DD is 11 but we got it 2 years ago.

The proper Switch works as both, both a living room console and a handheld.

You can take the console out of the dock, connect the controllers to the sides of it and play it just like the Switch lite. Or if you wanted to play something as a family, you just slide it back into the dock, disconnect the controllers and play it on the TV.

And I really would recommend playing some stuff as a family. Even DP who really isn't a gamer at all really enjoys playing a bit of Mario Kart or something with DD.

This is a useful thread as we are considering getting our 6 year old one for Christmas too. I’m also not a big fan of gaming consoles (although DH is) so was dithering but I feel like I have a bit more ability to supervise if it’s on the TV so I’m tempted by the Switch 2.

The proper switch is brilliant, it's so versatile as its equally great as a handheld for travel/solo play, as it is as a console if they have friends over.or you want to join in.

As PP said, if you chose wisely, many of the games are very wholesome and good family fun (mario party, mario kart, etc.)
Nothing like the addictive Fortnite/ Roblox stuff that gets them all riled ap and obnoxious.

I am slightly hooked and love the pikmin and the Zelda series, so do beware.

Playing the switch as a family is the best fun! Especially Mario kart

Research increasingly shows that a real problem with screen time is when kids are isolated with the screen- ie, holding it in their hands, closing themselves off from the wider family, 1-1 with the screen.

Much better to have it on the TV, and make it a “whole family” activity, than to give it to them to play solo.

I don’t particularly care for computer games, but suck it up so that DS mostly plays switch with me or friends. We play platform games - no shooting games- and take turns. We chat whilst we’re playing, and the rule is that the first sign of aggravation/ anxiety/ raised voices / upset, it goes off. That’s never happened once.

I find that approaching it in this way, takes an awful lot of the negatives out of it for us. We’ve never had an argument about it. There has never been a time when I’ve felt DS is preferring the switch over other games/toys etc. it’s become almost seen in the same way we see board games etc.

At this age I would get a game boy colour and some different game cartridges of the classics- Mario, Zelda, old Pokémon, Tetris.

Less stimulating and a good way to learn controls. The Pokémon games have quite a lot of reading and puzzles too.

You can buy on eBay or CEX.

I don’t have anything against a 7 year old having a Switch. I am ‘strict’ on screens but I have a switch and my 4 year old plays with me if it’s just us. I just think Nintendo have made so many great little consoles which are good for little hands, it’s a shame for them to miss out!

DS was 8 when we got him a switch and around that age it's great, so yes it's the best option. The parental controls are easy to manage and there are loads of age appropriate games I'd agree with other posters that I wouldn't go for the lite. I appreciate you don't want it to be the focus of the room, but it can still be hand held and if you have strict limits on times then it won't take over.

I'd also say don't underestimate how much family fun can be had with Mario Party and the likes on a rainy winter day! I'm not at all a gamer but over the years have happily paid for Mario Party, Mario Golf etc as they are great family games - and as much as we've always been very much a board game family they offer something different.

I feel like people who are too strict with tech are setting their child up for challenges. The whole world evolves around tech now, like it or not. My DD10 doesn't like screens (through no influence of us, her little sister is the opposite!), and I'm starting to see her fall behind in certain aspects. She'll be at secondary next year where classes and homework are done on a chromebook, and she'll need a mobile for emergencies, and I think she'll struggle to adjust as she's not used to it...

The normal switch can be played in handheld mode just like the lite, but can also be hooked up to the TV to play social games as a family. I'd highly recommend going with a full switch

Kids need to see their parents demonstrate healthy boundaries with games so having it be a solo thing he always does alone isn't a great idea.

I got my first console at 4 years old and it was always a thing I used to have fun with family and friends rather than a solo activity. Obviously some games are single player so there was some solo time but it was a social thing primarily.

Ooooo my youngest got her switch when she was 3, just checked as it was a specific edition released in 2020. She's played countless games but really picked it up around age 5/6 - we played family games, Mario kart etc now she does loads of dancing with her friends.

If I recall correctly there were some puzzle games I bought when she was very young. Very useful when I went a&e etc.

There is a switch 2 now, haven't looked at it properly, maybe worth future proofing? Or just enjoy the original switch.

Very child friendly overall. Prefer it to tablet or pc.

I’m just wondering if we have 2 boys would it be worth buying 1 lite and 1 normal switch? If the only difference is the ability to link to the tv I’m thinking wed only need one to be able to do that but if there’s other differences it’s probably better for them to have the same n

My ds is 5 and loves playing on dh’s switch. Lots of child friendly games with no online access available. Definitely agree with time limits but 2 hours over a whole weekend sounds a bit stingy.