How many people dont have a TV or Nintendo/Wii/Gameboy?

[nighbynight]

Just interested in hearing other people's experiences.
We had no TV when I was a child, because my parents thought it was full of rubbish.
I have bought a TV for my children, but draw the line at Nintendos, gameboys, Wiis and similar stuff.
Now I am getting pressure from ds, who says that he is the only child in his class who doesnt have one of these things,a nd that he is left out when they discuss the latest game. Apparently, they all take the nintendos to birthday parties, where they talk to each other via the messaging system, and play interactive games, and my children are the only ones who dont have one, and everyone thinks its because we are poor...
People round where we live tend to be very materialistic, but I do know another family that bans handheld gaming stuff.

I have no faith in the argument that "oh, they'll stop using it when the novelty wears off" because my children spend as long as I let them on the computer on websites like SpielAffe and PandaFu(games). And the more time they get, the more they want.
Does anyone not have a TV these days, or has the battle line shifted to nintendos and their ilk?

(apart from 2 of my 3 teens who sulk and huff and puff a lot but not about this !)

Hi nighbynight

We are similar to Otter

No tv (well only a weeny 14inch one that we occasionally watch dvds/videos on)

No playstation, nintendo etc
Few toys with batteries

Two laptops - one old one on which kids sometimes use as part of their home ed

One new one - used for internet - kids use for about 1 hour twice a week.
Plus we use bbciplayer to watch programmes, probably about 5hours worth a week.

They like cbeebies. We all like nature stuff, coast etc

All fine with this arrangement so far but then they are only 5 and 8. We have only recently started HEing as well - when still at school the pressure to conform was huge, all a lot better now

We have masses of books which keep everyone happy

Nighbynight - as an aside how is your ds sleep, any better???

FWIW I imagine we will get a nintendo or similar within a few years - but not yet

DS is getting a knex roller coaster for christmas and is very excited at the prospect. dd a sylvanian narrow boat.
Id far rather that than a games console

I do agree about the pressure from other kids to conform - get this, get that or you are somehow deprived. Very difficult to know where to draw the line

I am going to have to post again because this is really winding me up.

Children are living in the modern world and by denying them access to this stuff you are just ensuring they are unable to function as thier peers do. Allowing children to spend all their time on the computer using sites such as facebook is bad, but social networking is an important skill they need to learn. I don't know if anyone is aware but there is a professional networking site called LinkedIn. Its where a lot of people put their CVs now, and where jobs are advertised and applied for. It even gets mentioned if you are signing on at the job centre. Kids need the skills to use social networking sites or they will just get left behind. By cutting your kids off from this stuff they aren't learning skills they need and they aren't aware of the dangers/problems with social networking sites either.

I grew up in a house where we did have a tv, that wasn't a problem, but we were sent to bed stupidly early because we needed to be wide and awake for school the next day . This was in the days where there were only 3/4 tv channels, so tv programmes (such as documentaries/polical programmes) were often discussed in lessons with the teacher the following day. I could never take part in any of these debates as I hadn't seen the programmes, and apparently this was for my benefit .

I've seen a game for the wii that I can't for the life of me remember the name of but its all to do with colours and what happens when you mix them. I have seen tiny kids that can use a wii control as well as they can use a knife and fork and know a huge amount about how to mix colours to make other colours.

If you want to deny your kids access to large sections off the media then go for it, but don't kid yourself its helping them.

we have tv(s), computer(s) - obviously as on here, a wii, and I have no issues with a controlled amount of use.

However, I would far rather let the dc's loose with some paint to learn about mixing colours than have them learn it from a wii game.
Having said that my v bright 7yo seems to have a mental block with colour mixing, whereas my average 3yo knows them all.
Maybe I was less anal about letting no 2 sit there just mixing paint!

So Jesus, you have allowed yourself computer access and spend time posting on forums (so have clearly developed the skills to do this), but you aren't allowing your kids to do the same?

the 'skills' took me 2 minutes
my children are all fab at ICT they do it at school

cookiemonster - long post

i feel quite certain that i disagree very strongly with almost
everything you say in it

are you an expert on child rearing?

ChasingSquirrels, I am not suggesting a wii game should replace paint, but how is cutting off one form of media from your children of any benefit to them? Surely the more stuff you can expose your kids to the more they are likely to get interested in something and the more they learn.

Yes, books are great, but there are some crap books out there and I make sure that my kids are reading what I consider to be good books. Likewise there are crap tv programmes and good ones and I try to filter what is watched on tv so we watch what I consider to be the better stuff.

I don't want my kids to feel under pressure to conform, and I don't buy stuff just because someone else has got it, but I don't want my kids to be cut off from the real world either.

'If you want to deny your kids access to large sections off the media then go for it, but don't kid yourself its helping them.'

am i kidding myself?

it is hard work being screen free but i sincerely believe it opens children's minds

i do not agree with how many people bring their children up with regard to screens - i would not stand in judgment as you are

No more or less than anyone else on here Jesus.

A wii game for learning about colour mixing words fail me

What is wrong with a load of paint, paper and brushes???

Its all down to context Jesus, I can comment on it on this forum because someone has started a debate about it and we can all offer our views or walk away as we choose. However, if I came to your house I wouldn't dare comment on what you have chosen to do, in the same way as I don't comment when I go to someones house and they never turn the tv off, despite the fact that nobody is watching it.

alright then cookie

you are 'kidding yourself' that the wii is of any benefit what so ever to your children.

buy some crayons

Nothing Laura, its great. We have both in our house. Its all about choice and variety. I'm off to bed, its getting late and I need to get up early in the morning to switch on the wii for the kids.

earthstar i agree that especially girls are not at screen centric as boys up until teens....

the shared cultural reference is an argument oft chucked at me but i don't buy that so much now that we have so many channels... children don't ALL watch the same shows to chat about the next day...

there is some credence to that though ...

however IACGMOOH x factor etc are not culture imo

There are four of us. Me, DH and 2 DDs (16 and 13). We have 4 laptops, 1 desk top, 3 TVs, 1 home cinema (projector an pull down screen) 1 (old) Xbox, 1 PS3, 2 DSs, 1 Wii eerm... think that's it - obviously we have some old obsolete stuff too which we pull out occasionally for a laugh! The DDs don't have TVs in their bedrooms - if they want to watch TV I prefer it to be a family occasion, although they will use i player if they want to watch anything they may have missed and they have access to their laptops in their bedrooms. We have installed parental controls, but that is more for their protection in coming across things accidentally which might upset them.

DD1 has a frankly exhausting schedule of social events, out with mates shopping and to rock concerts, sporting activities, (including black belt in martial art), voluntary work, working towards GCSEs (A* and As predicted) .

DD2s preferred avtivities are chatting to me and playing with our guinea pigs.

Screens are not evil. They enhance our lives and make access to information easy. I do not limit screen time - I don't have to.

you have girls

... and your point is?

although

they will have plenty of chance to screen in adulthood

i must say i feel that mine and dps own parenting choices enhance our children's childhoods also

chacun a son gout and all that

We have a TV, old XBOX, PS2 and Wii in living room. Also a desktop PC and DVD player. Tom (3.8) likes to watch his DVDs and I have to admit it is a little annoying when I want to watch something and he wants his DVDs on. We do have a spare TV in our bedroom that the XBOX could be plugged into for his DVD watching, but he tends to play with his cars at the same time. I don't really want a TV in his room just yet. DC2 is due xmas day, and they will be sharing a room.

I am happy to say that neither me or my DDs have a facebook - or similar - account - we don't 'get it'.
Anyway I am off to bed because I have had more than enough screen time myself this evening!

No TV in this household, but when we have kids we wont be denying them access to computer's and consoles.

Especially on the PC front, it would feel a little lot contradictory to have a parent who has a (currently on hold) career in web design deciding that computers are bad. Also I think the ability to use computers is becoming a more and more important skill in life. The only reason I can think of to deny them that is so that I don't end up being overtaken by my own kids.

As for the consoles, I don't think kids would stand for mum and dad playing consoles when they themselves can't! I feel being a bit of an obsessive gamer may come back and bit my arse when I have kids

I think that tvs, computers and games consoles etc are just the new books and board games of yesteryear.It is the norm to have access to these things, if they dont get it at home, they wil at school and at friends houses. There are ways of rationing time spent on these and of censoring what they do on them.My dcs aged 16, 6 and 3 have access to pc, tv, sky plus, wii. ds and xbox but all prefer to spend time with me chatting,dancing,skateboard, playing with friends, playing lego.Perhaps it is better to not make too much of an issue, technology is here to stay.