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Parenting
Am I the only mean mom
Who doesn't let her kids play video games? My kids are 5 FWIW. My ILs have ipads so the kids play games on them when they see them, but other than that they don't play video games. Not on the computer either. I guess I don't see the need for it at this age. Plus once you start something like that, it's hard to get away from.
Wendy
Twins 1/27/06. DS and DD
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Am I the only mean mom
Me. I won't have them at my house any time soon. (My twins will be 4 in June).
Our oldest didn't play until he was 7, and we got guitar hero for DH's xBox. Then, that Christmas we broke down and got a Wii.
Me. We don't and won't have gaming systems in our house. When my kids are old enough to have jobs and buy one themselves, it may be a different story, but I will not be the one to purchase it or let it be given as a gift.
DS - December 2006
DD - December 2008
We allow them to play in moderation. Lately, they have mostly wanted to play outside. Honestly (I mean this with no offense), I can tell the neighbhorhood kids who are limited on computer/game time because they come to my house and want to play. I was okay with it at first but then she had one little friend that would come over and the first thing she would do is plop down at the computer I've had to hid my ipad and instruct DD that her friends don't get to play our computer. Her mother doesn't allow her to play their house (although she plays in school). I'm not saying this will happen to your child, just my experience.
And also FWIW, mouse skills are taught in PreK now, computers are part of the curriculum. I think they are such a big part of our society that children do need to learn even at a early age. I think its a neat and different avenue for learning.
7 is pretty good.
I figure there might be more pressure from DCs once they start school. Dumb question, but did your DC feel left out at all from not playing?
It's not hard to get away from.
And this is one of those posts that makes me want to offer you a cookie.
And lastly, my kids both have DS, and had leapsters. And one other handheld game. And they have Wii....they have played Wii about 12 times total (and 9 of those times were with me and Joe -- these are just estimations, btw!) LOL
And the DS, they use during "quiet time" at their new daycare (which they started 2 months ago) and prior to that, they have played the DS about 15 times each. Maybe 30. They've had them for well over a year.
They barely touched the Leapster and 30 freaking games that went with it -- much to my dismay! LOL
So you might be surprised. They might be as in to them as you think they would be. My kids would much prefer riding their bikes or playing on the swings/outside than playing a DS. (And when it comes to the DS, they prefer watching me play versus playing themselves! LOL)
We've had a Wii for several years. Jackson is allowed to play it. He enjoys it, and usually just plays with MH. They love the Lego games. He's also good at Mario Kart.
I don't mind him playing it...we didn't buy it for him, but it's here; he can use it. Plus it's fun to play together. Occasionally we'll all play Mario Kart or Wii Sports.
We also let him use our computers - I think it's good for them to be familiar with computers from a young age. They're basically a prerequisite for pretty much anything and any job anymore. He's better at using my laptop than my mom is, lol.
I don't see the big deal - and it's easy to limit. To me, it's like saying you don't have TVs in your house. Turn it off if you don't want them to see/use it.
We are also an "In moderation" family.
They don't play wii every day but they do play it often (5x a week?).
This was actually at the advice of my pedi when I told her that I wasn't happy with my children's behavior (At their 4 year well visit) and she said that I need to find things that they like and use it at my advantage. I told her that Nathan LOVES the wii and she said that it's a good thing for them to use in moderation- she said that the end of the day is perfect (So I can take the privelege away if it's not earned) and to give him about 30 minutes total. And that is also part of his daily tv time. So if he chooses to watch 2 hours of tv- wii is off the table.
Sam doesn't even get to watch TV. Movies are a special event. He has seen his older cousin (8) play video games but hasn't ever asked to play with them. He usually watches for a minute and then wanders off to play with a toy. We do have an IPAD and he has played with it a bit, mostly this labyrinth game and some educational toddler things. And there are some Read Aloud books on it too, which I'm not a HUGE fan of b/c I think part of the joy of reading at this age is having the reader focused on you and the book and interacting.
My sister was horrified that Sam doesn't know how to use a mouse on a computer. Well, we have two laptops and a MAC that has a trackball. No mouse in the house.
Sam knows how to manipulate the scroll pad on my laptop from watching me use it. I'm sure he'll figure out the mouse in school at some point, but he's at a Montessori preschool for now and they don't use computers there either.
Christmas 2011
Goddamn you logical people!
moderation. psh. There is no moderation for THE DEVIL THAT IS VIDEO GAMES!
your kids are going to be dumb and lazy just for living in a house w/ a video game system. I think they emit some kind of dumb and lazy dust. Sorry.
Agreed.
Yes I understand the concept of moderation. My kids watch TV, eat sweets, etc all in moderation. As I stated previously, they play on my ILs ipads when they see them.
I guess my kids are the only ones who whine for more TV after the show we've agreed that they watched is over. Why would I want to get involved with another issue when it's not necessary? I don't feel like my kids are missing out on anything. Just like those who choose to let them play don't feel they are suffering any ill effects from their moderate play.
I don't think it makes you mean- I think it sounds sanctimonious and I question the validity of why it would be so important to keep video games from kids.
we have so much fun with tennis on the wii, and J loves mario kart- she doesn't sit down for a minute when she's playing.
she has a leapster too- and plays it in the car sometimes and on planes.
also, for story time- my cousins had growing up EVERY videogame system and new computer set up that came out the minute it hit the market- all four of them played a LOT of video games- none of them compromised their school work- they all went to good schools and have very high paying jobs in their chosen fields ( computers and engineering) Im not sure whether you are imagining fat kids with goatees masturbating to slutty computer game characters and living in their parents basements or WHAT...but I think kids learn a lot from video games- some are educational, hand eye coordination is a good skill to have, lots of problem solving- in the case of the wii- they're pretty active...
there are people with addictions and issues, and there are the majority of people- exposure to video games isn't a one way ticket to sweatty obese loserdom.
The wii we have in our house is for our use. It wasn't bought for the kids. Do the kids use it? Yes. On occassion. DS loves to play MarioKart and some Cars game that he has. DD has no idea what she's doing, but she's 2, and likes to pretend.
We really restrict how much video game time is available. They get more time on it in the winter, than the summer. And it's definitely a privilege that has to be earned to play.
Oh thank goodness. Phew ...one less thing to worry about.
Nope, because if he does, he loses it for the next day. Same w/ TV.
Ditto this. Again, the moderation thing. An hour a few times a week isn't killing him. And i'd rather have DS up and running around with the Wii instead of sitting on the couch glued to the tv watching cartoons.
BTW, I'm the one who dubbed myself mean, my kids have never complained about their lack of video gaming. They don't really know the difference.
Well, my nest friends, yes I still call it the nest, we will have to agree to disagree on this one.
Neither dh or I have any interest in video games, probably because we didn't grow up with them, so we've never even thought about purchasing one. R played a friend's DS once, and she was only interested for a few minutes. The kid would watch movie after movie all day if you let her, though.
When my brother lived with us while he was in college, he had some sort of gaming system with rock band, and it literally sat there unused for two years, so I do sort of see those things as a waste of money since it is not an interest of ours.
oh and I don't think you're mean. I don't care if other people don't let their kids play video games. I just don't think they're bad. I'm indifferent as to their effect on kids' lives. I think they're fine if they play them, fine if they don't.
I just don't forbid them.
I don't think they're bad as I previously stated. They aren't forbidden either. They will play them someday (at our home even)
We just haven't figured out when that will be right for our family.
I let them (ages 3 & 5) play games like Nick Jr TV shows on the computer. That's about it. I call the handheld games and anything that hooks up to a TV "time wasters."
I will not let them have earphones. Doesn't that cause hearing loss? Not worth it.
Mine is only three, but I don't think kids need so much electronic crack in their lives. We have acquaintances who bought their daughter the most expensive iPad for her second birthday. I think that makes them bougie ass-holes.
That said, we have a classic Atari system with like 80 games, but that's for mommy and grubby little fingers aren't allowed to touch.
Kelly Monaghan's 5K - 5/15/11 - 3rd Place in AG
Walk the Talk 5K - 5/18/11 - 31:12 PR
Ridley Run 3.1 - 4/14/12 - 1st race of the year, 32:45
I didn't think I would ever have a video game console in my house, but we have a Wii. We play the Wii fit a lot and DD and DH play Deca Sports together. DD has her own Disney Princess game and a Disney karaoke game that we all play, but the Wii isn't going all the time. Like others have said, DD would much rather be outside playing while the weather is nice.
ETA: We also use our Wii to watch Netflix more than playing games on it.
I don't think it's mean to not let your kid play video games, but I don't see any harm in letting them. DS can play computer games on his laptop...and it ends up being about 30-45 minutes a day. Sometimes he goes a few days without playing (especially lately with the nicer weather). He plays games on pbskids and nickjr - they are all educational (patterns, math, spelling). He also plays Angry Birds, which you wouldn't think is educational, but you should see the strategy the kid comes up with! It's downright impressive. To be really honest, I don't even care if the games aren't educational. IMO, video games is just a normal part of being a kid.
David "BD" 2/8/07 Spencer 9/12/11Forbidding stuff like that only makes your kid want it more, IMO.
You take my ovaries, I take your yarns.
My kids play Wii, although they only have a few games. They each have an iPod touch loaded with kids' phonics games, puzzles and the like. Ds also has a hand-me-down computer and a hand-me-down DS.
Do they use them everyday? Yeah, mostly. Do I care? Nope, not really. Despite their access to media/games/technology they still somehow manage to play outside, ride bikes, do arts and crafts, build with Legos, read, play baseball, go to school. Fifteen minutes here, ten minutes there of a game is just one of MANY things that they do in a day. I'm cool with it.
It's all about balance and moderation.