Nintendo switch

[Malibu27]

My 6 year old wants a Nintendo Switch 🙄 Is that legal 😂 Do I say no, maybe next year 🤔

Of course it's legal. I had a game console from age 4 and loved it.

Just set expectations from the start about how often they are allowed to use it and how long they can play each session.

There are many games you can play together as a family and all have fun - playing games with them and modeling healthy use is one of the best things you can do.

I was joking about it being legal but thanks for the advice 😉

No, I have an 8 year old who sometimes plays on one, but it’s not ‘his switch’. It belongs to his teen sister who got it when she was maybe 11. They really don’t need any more time in front of a screen at that age.

We have a Switch, essentially it's mine but my 6 year old has commandeered it. We play together on it too. I have no issue with it, but then I've loved gaming ever since I got my first BBC Acorn in the 80s and I don't see it as this big evil that others seem to. Everything in moderation.

We have a switch. It's not DD's but she has specific games that are hers.

We set out rules quite early about usage and expectations about what she's allowed to do e.g. we don't allow any online functionality, even with her friends at school. Every new game has to be tested by us (we'll play it for a while to make sure it's suitable).

And crucially the minute she gets stroppy about turning the switch off when asked, she immediately loses it for the next day.

My kids have had one since they were 10 and 7. Honestly I think 7 is a bit too young and mine only got it because the eldest was old enough. We had a Wii before that and so they got used to how to play on that etc with family. (Love the Wii!)

It's not that they can't master the games - there are actually some great games where they can create.
It's more that my youngest is always thinking about when he can next go on it, how long for etc. It's hard to handle having to switch off and set limits.

I don't mind them gaming but they need to have other interests too and this can dominate their attention.

I agree that getting one "for yourself" and having set times they're allowed on your Switch is the best way. And modelling playing together.

Totally agree with the advice above. We were given a Switch when DS was 5, a year ago. I’d rather that he had been a bit older but DH was happy so we gave it a go. It’s always been the “family Switch”, not DS’s.

We have several games to play together as a family, Mario Kart and Jamboree which have been great. Also several other Mario games where you can do 2 player. We test games ourselves before allowing DS to play them and any refusal to turn it off results in no Switch for a few days. Now we’ve had it a while he’s not that interested any more anyway to be honest!

Mine have one each, got them at about 8 I think. When they first arrived they only had the sports game and we played a lot of bowling together as a family. As they have got older they have more single player games and use them when they need some time out by themselves. Theirs have limits on. So they only have 20 minutes a day, we extend it if we are having a family game night using them, or if they have friends round and want to play team games. As this has always been the case they don't seem all that bothered. They play, when the time runs out they go and do something else. Usually outside involving balls and significant risk to my planted boarders. Or inside involving paint, glue and very small pieces of paper stuck to the carpet. I don't see a problem so long as they have a balance of interests.

My 5 & 7 year old have one each, they often play independently or together, DP and I can also join in on our Switches if we want.

Theres plenty of child friendly games available. As long as they don’t spend every waking minute on it and you use common sense with games & screen time, it’s a good console for children.

We have had family consoles since youngest was small - you can get fairly harnmless games and games that can all be played together if that is your thing,

We are going back to Wii days here but DD particularly liked animal ones, there was a build a zoo one.. We also loved playing Disney Infinity together and at one point the whole family were obsessed with Animal Crossing and we would wait impatiently to have a turn!

If I wasn't into gaming though I don;t think I would buy one just because a 5 year old wanted one - DD got her own switch lite for Christmas when she was about 13 think.

My DS6 has had one for a while but its a family item not his as such. He loves playing sport games on it (linked to the TV) which we don't mind as he's always jumping around playing them so not just sitting. He has time limits and doesn't go on it every day but is great for travel too.

My 6&8 year olds have a Switch, but I kind of wish we’d never bought one.

They love playing Mario, but they always start arguing and having a go at each other when they play it. I notice their behaviour is really quite shitty as they play it, and also after. It’s also really addictive. As soon as they come home from school they ask to play it (we don’t let them), but they also try and watch Mario on telly as well. They are basically obsessed with it & I would say think about it a lot.

We’ve started to say they can only play it for 30/40 mins a day because I can see it’s not good for them.

Check what games she's got her eye on - some of them need the Switch 2 (newer console), whereas some are still original Switch (cheaper but older tech and being outdated).