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Original poster

nintendo for 7 year old yes or no?

30 replies

kittypants · 28/05/2007 21:54

dd has informed us already this is what shed like for xmas .i have no clue about things like that.do you think shes too young?

OP posts:
Dior · 28/05/2007 21:55

Message withdrawn

Dior · 28/05/2007 21:55

Message withdrawn

LIZS · 28/05/2007 21:56

Which one ? Handheld yes, would be less sure of a console. Many of dd's peers are having ds' for their 6th b'day.

BonyM · 28/05/2007 21:56

Personally, I hate them, but dd1's father and stepmother bought her one for Christmas last year (she has just turned 9) so there was not much I could do about it.

If it was up to me and dh we'd have delayed letting her have one for as long as possible.

I don't think 7 is really too young, I just don't like the things.

magnolia1 · 28/05/2007 21:58

Not too young IMO. My twins are 7 and both have one. They look after them well, play on them together and seperately. Great for car journeys.

Original poster
kittypants · 28/05/2007 21:58

i think its handheld she wants as thats what her friends have.as i said ive no idea about them which is why i need you clever people!

OP posts:
magnolia1 · 28/05/2007 21:59

Thats a ds and they are great, even i have a go sometimes

Otter · 28/05/2007 21:59

no no no

Otter · 28/05/2007 21:59

too too young horrid things

babygrand · 28/05/2007 21:59

I'm sure she'd love a DS. You meed to limit its usage though!

babygrand · 28/05/2007 22:00

meed = might need!!

Tamum · 28/05/2007 22:01

Agree, with limited usage it should be fine. Mine were a bit older but there are so many good games available now that I can't see any harm in it.

Speccy · 28/05/2007 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hulababy · 28/05/2007 22:08

So long as you casn limit usage and control what she is playing and when, then no problem. Like everything - all in moderation.

DD is 5yo and plays some games on my DS. There are plenty of age appropriate stuff for them.

Original poster
kittypants · 28/05/2007 22:10

right the trance thing has put me off lol!were not big on tv or anything like that for that reason!i think it might end up being something i'll leave a few years and see if she still wants one.

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 28/05/2007 22:10

You know that once you buy her a nintendo she'll be glued.

Oh yes you'll start off with good intentions about how you'll restrict usage etc etc, but like all things, the rules will become blurred. How often do you think that you'll just let them watch an hour of television but then you realise that they've watched around 3 hours that day?

You'll want to get something done and you'll know that if she goes on the nintendo she'll be quiet for an hour or so, so you'll give in to the temptation and Mr Nintendo becomes the unofficial babysitter.

Good intentions usually remain that way, just intentions. Don't even put that temptation in your way. Don't get it.

Hulababy · 28/05/2007 22:11

I don't like a DS is any worse than a VPocket or a Leapster, which are aimed at younger children.

bonkerz · 28/05/2007 22:12

we bought DS (6) a leapfrog which he seems happy with and best of all the games are educational but he loves it!

Tamum · 28/05/2007 22:20

I don't find it a problem to restrict usage at all. As long as they are old enough to understand that there are rules there's no reason it should be a big issue.

magnolia1 · 28/05/2007 22:29

I'm lucky then, don't have to restrict usage at all. By choice they only spend a while on them and not every day.

Tamum · 28/05/2007 22:30

I think you have dds though magnolia I certainly never have to set limits with dd, but ds needs to know exactly what's what

Rhubarb · 28/05/2007 22:33

I think we are really strict in that way with our kids. dd's grandma bought dd a LeapFrog that she was obsessed with and we had to hide it a few times because she would play on it for an hour or more. dd is now 6.5 and ds is 3 and neither of them will have TVs in their room, I have a few kiddies videos that I used whilst in France to keep them on top of their English, but they don't watch them now. No computer games, no internet access unless it's the BBC Learning website. No games on the pc.

I figure if you give them the choice they'll take the easy option and sit down playing these games. Whereas if you let them get bored they have to use their imaginations to entertain themselves.

Best pressie dd ever got was a trampoline from grandma, both of them use that regularly. Better than a computer game!

Speccy · 28/05/2007 22:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Polgara2 · 28/05/2007 22:38

DD2 who will be 7 is getting one for her birthday, so no I don't think its too young. I never have a problem restricting usage of things tbh. I don't have set rules of how long they are allowed to do things like pc, tv etc. I just decide when they've had enough and they can't use it/watch it until I let them again. I tell them they have to use their imagination or whatever and off they go!

MamaMaiasaura · 28/05/2007 22:50

I dont think she is too young and am sure there is research showing that playing computer games can help with planning etc. Personally I think as long as there are set time limits then should be fine. Very easy to enforce as you can hold the charger. Ds hasnt actually got a nintendo ds yet (but i have - dp got it). He plays on it but isnt fixated by it. We have a PS2 and again he is not on it everyday and it often goes for weeks without being played. HE does play on it with friends at times and the nintendo ds links up to others so it can be fun between friends.

Totally agree with posters regarding children shoudl use imagination and properly play. I do think it is easy enough to have guidelines and enforce them tho. Ds will not have a tv or PC in his room and when he plays on my ds he does so in the living room. Basically we are a social family, eat together and often play together so i guess it is all in balance.

I am considering getting ds a Nintendo ds of his own for xmas or birthday (mine is pink so i cant give him that one).