Looking for support/suggestions about video games - Page 2

[emaye_to_2]

I can definitely sympathize with you. My son is turning 7 next week (!!) and the only thing he's really asked for is a Nintendo DS. He definitely thinks having a game system is cool. My line when he asks is something like "Do you see your daddy with a game system? If he doesn't have one, then you won't either." Point is, our family decided not to bring that into our home. He is allowed to play computer games on the laptop and does plenty of it.

I guess I just feel like we've got the TV/computer and we don't need to collect any more ($$).. besides the fact that the only place to play would be our main living space. Also I strongly dislike any games that have fighting in them. Last, my son's personality is a bit obsessive. I think he would want to play all the time instead of reading or building or playing. AND couldn't a handheld DS increase social isolation?

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by emaye_to_2

AND couldn't a handheld DS increase social isolation?

It could yes, and so can sitting in a corner reading I know when my son and 2 neices go to my mom's the will all squeeze onto the arm chair to play DS together....my parents have 2 there and my son brings our 3 with him (this is during his overnighters with them) so they can take turns. They don't only play with the handhelds but when they do they share, take turns and help each other out in tricky spots.

Our DS's have a special hacked card and each machine has at least 20 games on it (which I have chosen). The games are non violent and many are quite educational.

My son is mega social, yes he often talks about his games he plays but it isn't the only thing he will talk about.

[peaceful_mama]

DS has a friend with a Wii now. He suggested I should buy him one. I told him that right now, we have too many "babies" in our house and nowhere to keep it safe really. (DD, 3 1/2, who probably could learn to play it and doesn't really qualify, but DS 18 mos. and new baby due Nov/Dec.)

I told him I would consider a DS, since it is handheld and can easily be put out of reach of the littles. He seems happy enough with this. I also forewarned him that I most likely will NOT buy it this summer, as I want all of us spending our time outdoors and active while we *can!* (I *might* flex on this if we end up planning a car trip vacation. Then I would just be really strict on it outside of that use until winter--only on rainy days or as a choice in the time when I've called all the kids inside and am trying to put the younger ones to bed.)

seems a reasonable compromise--something to keep him happy on a car trip, and a hundreds-of-dollars thing won't get broken by littles. And it does give him the chance to have that 'in' with his friends who all play video games.

someday, when the others are older, maybe a Wii, I do see the pros of intergenerational and interactive play, and I like the active play of the Wii.

[mamazee]

We have video games and it hasn't been a problem in our house. But you get to make the rules where you are, and it sounds like he's allowed to play them at friends' houses, so it isn't like you're controlling him ever playing with them. I think it's fair to say you don't want to have one until he's a certain age, or you don't think it's a good place to spend money ever, or whatever you want.

You could at some point get an older system that isn't as cool, like a game cube instead of a wii, and maybe that would give you an idea of whether he'd be likely to get sucked in use it too much, and whether you'd regret getting something more expensive.