"I'd rather just stay in the room and play games on the iPad"

[scrapquitler]

They didn't really let her play it that much while we were down there. She had to nap during nap time, but did get to play it some. She was probably playing it less than her normal amount. But she still seemed a slightly obsessed with it, telling me all about how to play it even when we were just walking through the parks. At the airport when we were headed home, she was showing me how to play it. Her dad is very involved with an online interactive video game. So video games is just one of their things. But they have other interests and make sure that she has other interests and activities, too. She's pretty well-rounded. But when I think about the kids whose parents set no limits?

Would you be asking this question if she had said "I'd rather go back to the room and read?" or "...and play with legos" or "and do yoga"??? Or is it because it was something technology related taht you are asking about her being obsessed with something? Because growing up I was that kid that wanted to sit and read. When we went on vacation, I had my book with me. I remember being at a zoo and just sitting on a bench and reading while my family was looking at the animals. To me, reading was more fun and relaxing. But nobody ever worried about 'is she addicted to books?' instead it was seen as a positive thing. Trust me, the minecraft thing is a very involved and intricate creative thing....you might be impressed if a child was building a replica dollhouse of the White House, well my 10 year old child has a built a full replica of Hogwarts, the Hogwarts grounds, Diagaon Alley, and Hogsmeade in Minecraft. One is just as creative and valid as the other, but people would worry 'oh that child plays too much minecraft' but I doubt I'd ever hear anyone say 'oh, he spends too much time building a dollhouse version of the Harry Potter Universe". Don't criticize just because it involves technology.

 

[MomRN]

Sounds like that little girl and my son would be best friends. He loves all things Minecraft. You haven't truly known insanity until you've heard the song "I can swing my sword" on a 10 hour loop (thanks youtube).

At first I was worried I was a parental failure because he was more interested in Minecraft than sports, education, or...well... anything else in life. Not to say that's all he does is play Minecraft, but he likes it. A lot.

I look on the bright side, maybe his love of Minecraft will encourage him to be a video game programmer, or architect, or maybe it will pass and who knows what the next best thing is.

(btw, if we were in Disney, he would probably talk about Minecraft to strangers. It's what he knows about and is trying to start conversation. He thinks he's being polite, others might think he's weird. Nothing wrong with a little quirky.)

 

[Simba's Mom]

The first time we took the kids they were 3 and 5 years old. This was 25 years ago. I remember them telling me they wanted to stay in the room and watch Disney cartoons on TV since we just had basic cable service.

This is exactly the same way our son was-26 years ago when he was 4. He'd go to the parks for a while, but after a few hours, he'd start bugging us to go back to his "village" (that's what he called the Fort Wilderness trailer homes then) and watch Disney cartoons. We also didn't have the Disney Channel at home. I suppose reading the OP's situation, I should be very grateful at least it was something he could only get at Disney, not at home.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Also the game Minecraft has taken over little kids brains. Even my DS12 is addicted to Minecraft and will sit and play it all his wakings hours if I let him.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Also the game Minecraft has taken over little kids brains. Even my DS12 is addicted to Minecraft and will sit and play it all his wakings hours if I let him.

I want to play I know the point of the read is the opposite of what I am saying but can you get it for the iPad just looking for something to do during my free time summer and winter the two worse times of the year

 

[Kat77]

Sounds like that little girl and my son would be best friends. He loves all things Minecraft. You haven't truly known insanity until you've heard the song "I can swing my sword" on a 10 hour loop (thanks youtube).

At first I was worried I was a parental failure because he was more interested in Minecraft than sports, education, or...well... anything else in life. Not to say that's all he does is play Minecraft, but he likes it. A lot.

I look on the bright side, maybe his love of Minecraft will encourage him to be a video game programmer, or architect, or maybe it will pass and who knows what the next best thing is.

(btw, if we were in Disney, he would probably talk about Minecraft to strangers. It's what he knows about and is trying to start conversation. He thinks he's being polite, others might think he's weird. Nothing wrong with a little quirky.)

It's a possibility. DS15 joined his high school programming team this year and qualified for State (did not get to compete because he made prior commitments).

Both of my boys host Minecraft servers.

 

[KristaTX]

Sounds like that little girl and my son would be best friends. He loves all things Minecraft. You haven't truly known insanity until you've heard the song "I can swing my sword" on a 10 hour loop (thanks youtube).

At first I was worried I was a parental failure because he was more interested in Minecraft than sports, education, or...well... anything else in life. Not to say that's all he does is play Minecraft, but he likes it. A lot.

I look on the bright side, maybe his love of Minecraft will encourage him to be a video game programmer, or architect, or maybe it will pass and who knows what the next best thing is.

(btw, if we were in Disney, he would probably talk about Minecraft to strangers. It's what he knows about and is trying to start conversation. He thinks he's being polite, others might think he's weird. Nothing wrong with a little quirky.)

Also the game Minecraft has taken over little kids brains. Even my DS12 is addicted to Minecraft and will sit and play it all his wakings hours if I let him.

Sounds like this is pretty common afterall! I really didn't figure this was terribly odd in this day and time, but I just didn't realize that kids that young got so obsessed with things besides blankets and stuffed animals. I stated in my original post that I don't have kids (but I have BEEN a child and I know lots of them), so seeing/hearing this level of. . . dedication? obsession? . . . to something technological from such a young child was all new to me. We didn't push her in the parks, and we did do at least 3 hour breaks every afternoon. The 10 kids we went with in 2007 didn't seem to be attached to phones/computers and really enjoyed the parks/resort, but I guess technology has changed a lot since even then. I know that some kids end up liking the swimming pool the most on Disney vacations, but I never thought a six year old would like her own computer from home the most!

I don't remember being that obsessed with anything besides my blanket and pets when I was a kid until I was around 13 and became obsessed with Duran Duran and then David Bowie. I had toys that I particularly enjoyed before age 13, but I didn't take them and don't remember constantly thinking about them on the two Disney trips my family went on when I was a kid. Maybe I talked about my cats to strangers .

 

[busyshrew]

The first time we took the kids they were 3 and 5 years old. This was 25 years ago. I remember them telling me they wanted to stay in the room and watch Disney cartoons on TV since we just had basic cable service.

I second this!! We didn't have ANY form of TV cable (Canadians here) until my DD turned 9. So every vacation she would glue herself to the TV and watch Treehouse... or Disney... it's one of the reasons she loves hotels!

 

[PatsGirl]

Well, I guess I"ll jump in her and be the devil's advocate ~ there is no way I would condone video games while at the parks. I absolutely get the downtime thing, especially with kids this age and the real effects of becoming overwhelmed, but the OP did say the child was getting a nap/relax time every afternoon and that's when the books/computers/television would be used in our family. There is no way I'm spending all that money to have my young child play on their Ipad. When we needed downtime, we spend it chatting quietly, talking about where we've been, what we've done, where we're headed later that day, having a meal together...family focused

Maybe the parks were just too much for this little girl and she needs to wait a few more years so she can enjoy herself more and appreciate the magic without becoming so overwhelmed that her primary focus is on hanging in the room playing Minecraft.

 

[mfd25wife]

Well, I guess I"ll jump in her and be the devil's advocate ~ there is no way I would condone video games while at the parks. I absolutely get the downtime thing, especially with kids this age and the real effects of becoming overwhelmed, but the OP did say the child was getting a nap/relax time every afternoon and that's when the books/computers/television would be used in our family. There is no way I'm spending all that money to have my young child play on their Ipad. When we needed downtime, we spend it chatting quietly, talking about where we've been, what we've done, where we're headed later that day, having a meal together...family focused

Maybe the parks were just too much for this little girl and she needs to wait a few more years so she can enjoy herself more and appreciate the magic without becoming so overwhelmed that her primary focus is on hanging in the room playing Minecraft.

DH and I are here with our 21 y/o and her bff, who is 20. You would probably think badly of all of us. If we are standing in line, we are all pretty much playing on our phones. Sometimes, they are playing games, sometimes, they are checking the Disney Experience app for wait times somewhere else. Sometimes, we are checking what time our ADR's are. I read so I've even pulled up books or the news on my phone. We talk a lot or tell each other funny or interesting stuff if it's on the Disney app, fb, or internet. No one knows what we are looking at, but even if the girls are playing games, I don't mind especially if it keeps the boredom of 20-30 minute lines controlled. It's not like they aren't talking a lot or people watching, but yes, they are like anyone else, and get bored standing there. They sat down on the floor yesterday somewhere and were playing the game where you try to hit the person's hands that are on top of yours. You would probably not guess that one of them is Miss Arkansas, and she gets very little down time. This trip was for them especially since she hasn't been before. If she wants to play computer games or whatever while waiting in line or waiting on DH and me to come out of a show they didn't want to see, I'm ok with it.

 

[Pigeon]

This reminds me of some of dh's brothers who cannot come over for dinner without wanting to turn on some stupid football game.

 

[wiigirl]

Also the game Minecraft has taken over little kids brains. Even my DS12 is addicted to Minecraft and will sit and play it all his wakings hours if I let him.

Mine too! No idea what it is about that game, but it seems addictive.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Well, I guess I"ll jump in her and be the devil's advocate ~ there is no way I would condone video games while at the parks. I absolutely get the downtime thing, especially with kids this age and the real effects of becoming overwhelmed, but the OP did say the child was getting a nap/relax time every afternoon and that's when the books/computers/television would be used in our family. There is no way I'm spending all that money to have my young child play on their Ipad. When we needed downtime, we spend it chatting quietly, talking about where we've been, what we've done, where we're headed later that day, having a meal together...family focused

I am in total agreement with you! It is mind boggling how much video games little kids play. I had one first grader so excited for summer because he could play Minecraft all day. This is a kid who should be outside or practicing reading or even learning to tie his shoes.

I just got back from chaperoning a fifth/sixth grade field trip to the keys for marine biology. The teacher made a no phone/video game rule - even during the 12-2 downtime. As she said, kids need to learn to talk to each other.

 

[Duchie]

Oh yes. There is definitely the "overwhelmed" thing. That's why I usually tell people to wait until a kid is 7 or 8 or 9 before taking them. But they were ready to do it this year because they know how important Disney is to us and they wanted to experience it with us. This little girl is 6 1/2 and she seems to be more of an introvert than an extrovert. And that's fine. I'm an introvert, too. She was very much into the character of Marie from the Aristocats, and I bought her a stuffed Marie. I also always tell people that Disney parks are generally more fun for older kids and adults than for children. But people who haven't been before have a hard time comprehending that.

They didn't really let her play it that much while we were down there. She had to nap during nap time, but did get to play it some. She was probably playing it less than her normal amount. But she still seemed a slightly obsessed with it, telling me all about how to play it even when we were just walking through the parks. At the airport when we were headed home, she was showing me how to play it. Her dad is very involved with an online interactive video game. So video games is just one of their things. But they have other interests and make sure that she has other interests and activities, too. She's pretty well-rounded. But when I think about the kids whose parents set no limits?

If she's an introvert, then her talking about it kind of makes sense. We've got lots of shy people in my family, including my son. When they find a topic that interests them, they tend to talk about it A LOT because it's comfortable and familiar. My son will talk your EAR off about Anime these days (he's 16).

 

[mom2rtk]

How many kids trudge through the parks going "When can we go back to the hotel and swim?"

How many adults would want to tour the parks without their phones?

Don't ask me to go to the parks without my camera.

We all have our "things".

 

[clutter]

The 10 kids we went with in 2007 didn't seem to be attached to phones/computers and really enjoyed the parks/resort, but I guess technology has changed a lot since even then.

Wait. One six year old and four adults? That doesn't even compare to having two or ten kids.

My kid is an introvert. The first time at Disney, at 3, I accidentally bought her some small princess statues (they were stamps) too early in the trip. So despite the fact that she had her mom, and aunt and three cousins there, there were times she just really really wanted to sit in her stroller and play with the princesses.

As she got older, trips were mainly her and me, so we pretty much kept each other entertained. But when you have a group of adults and only one child - well there are going to be times that there is a more adult orientation in the conversation and activities. It's just the way it is and should be. Her thing was playing the game. If she'd had other kids that she was comfortable with, it might not have been so much.

Plus introverts need some 'alone' time to recharge when with a group. My dd, after purchasing those princesses (yes, I still have them in case she ever has a daughter ) would come home from daycare and play with them for hours until bedtime. Hours. Too much being with people during the day, you know?

 

[DawnM]

My kids sometimes play games while waiting for the rides at Disney.

And then, when they get through rides like Mission: Space, they play a group video game on a larger screen.

So, there ya go!

I would imagine she got quite tired of waiting in long lines being an only child with 4 adults. That would be rough.

 

[Laura66]

I would imagine she got quite tired of waiting in long lines being an only child with 4 adults. That would be rough.

Yes that would be tough! Especially with the judgement coming from one of those adults without kids!

How often was everyone engaging with her? She had no one her age to play with or talk with at her level so when she gets overwhelmed or bored what's wrong with her doing something that comforts her or makes her happy! It just happens to be a game! Big deal!

 

[Bob NC]

This reminds me of some of dh's brothers who cannot come over for dinner without wanting to turn on some stupid football game.

This reminds me of when I go to my Sis and BIL in laws house to watch a football game and she interrupts it with stupid dinner.

 

[Sunnywho]

Minecraft is extremely popular right now. It's like legos only you can build the whole world.

I don't like hearing that one of my kids would rather be playing minecraft than doing whatever we're doing. I usually let them know that this is a sign that they've been playing too much, and I may limit it. Which is exactly the opposite of what they're asking for, and it's not a threat but a genuine concern that they're overdoing it with the Minecraft or whatever. There are times to Minecraft and there are times not to Minecraft, and at Disney at least for our family is a time not to Minecraft.