A 9 Year Old's Trading Perspective

[Bellboy]

I turned one of my client's daughters onto VMK about a month ago. She plays on it everyday. She dresses, and interacts (slowly).

But honestly how fast can a 9 year old type, or play games, or earn credits, for something as cool as Magic Bat Pins.

She actually doesn't really understand how to earn 10,000 credits.

She was at my work playing on a PC and I was watching her this afternoon beg people for the bat magic. I tried to explain it to her; but couldn't make her understand. ("Trade for this really cool water cooler")

Is there something missing here?
Is it manors?
Is this where parents are needed?
Should the entire experience be self supporting/teaching?
Are there activities for an age group missing?
Or is it the school of hard knocks?(She will learn)
(Which is really tough with the current dictionary)

Not sure if this is the right place to talk about it? Just want to make it a better place. I would love to see it grow!

Thanks
-BellBoy

 

[Cpt.JackSpearow]

uh i am 10 years old and not that stupid (no offence) to trade a 50 credit water cooler for 10,000 credit magic pin 9,950 credit difference

 

[maliboomer]

She's not stupid, she just sees more value in a water cooler then a card with a bat on it, as it would be in real life. It's quite confusing, she has to learn to think illogically. Just keep reinforcing, I can't think what else to do.

 

[Peri]

I am over 50 and cannot earn enough credits for bat magic. It is a special pin because everyone cannot get it. I think it is too bad the 9 year old is disappointed, but she can get plenty of other cool stuff, build a ride, make music, play games, and chat with nice people without having all those credits.

Although it may look like "everyone" can earn the bat magic, it is actually not most players who can afford it. Maybe a parent or friend could look at her inventory and see if she has some good trading stuff - or help her with fireworks or other big point games. OR maybe just explain that later she may be able to win it! I hope she does not take it personally - you are correct that many players have poor manners - for example all my avatars have "NO TRADES" in their signatures and every time anyone logs on I get trade requests. So you could explain that some older and some younger people have no manners.

 

[April in Disney]

Or is it the school of hard knock. Unfortunately that seems to be the answer.
I have seen name calling or trying to take advantage of other players so much that I ignore the trade windows automatically.
I was in a trade room once where a boy traded inferno and seagull hat for what he thought were green flips to find out they were yellow flipflops. The person trading green flips was wearing them. She came to the room and said she will trade them for inferno and seagull hat and this boy I am assuming never even checked the color when trading. The girl wearing them was a guest. who remember a guest number and disappeared so fast. You had to see this poor boy putting the flips on and asking if there was something wrong with his computer and going from trade room to trade room trying to find her still thinking she gave those to him by mistake.

 

[disvaclub92]

I have an eight year old and a ten year old who plays. I make sure that they have the funds necessary to buy what they can. Then they can see what they paid and understand the value of something and if it is a worthwhile trade.

The only problem is quest items - do not carry a credit value (like a buyable you know how much you spend).

Anyhow, in my case, my kids do not even request to trade without me present. I have seen many bad transactions happen because the poor kid was not knowledgable about the value.

I suggest she works with someone to learn the art of trading. It will prevent her from suffering from a bad trade, being reporting for a bad trade, and prevent tears. Been down that path before.

 

[Bellboy]

I mostly presumed that the traders were lazy or scammers. I never really understood what the source was.

Thank you all very much.

 

[StitchfansJr]

maybe she could use credit codes. It doesn't give her enough for bat magic but at least some. Just tell her not to spend it on anything besides bat magic (if she wants it THAT badly)

 

[Bellboy]

I was looking to add something to VMK that would help us all.

Maybe better responses to kids when they ask to trade, or a better guide targeted to non-computer literate children who don't understand the games/trading.

There is no one bandaid. I think the school of hard knocks is the answer.

The dissapointment they feel will hopefully drive them to learn.

And the rest of us will have to tollerate the learning curve, and well, tollerate. That is the best I can say, uhhg. "READ MY NO TRADE POLICY PLZ"

 

[cami89]

My 9yo DS plays VMK and I feel fortunate that I play, as well, in that I understand how the game works. We've spent time, looking over each others shoulders, as we play, and learned from each other. I have to remind him when new pins/things are coming out so that he has time to save. He's gotten better at budgeting his time when he plays - doing his NPC's and music first and then a round or two of fireworks or pirates, for some credits, before he jumps around the land. I think the whole thing is just a matter of playing and learning as you go. She'll come to realize what is and isn't an equitable trade and her typing skills will improve. Just make sure she has a good grip of the ground rules and she'll be okay

 

[cpnbones]

I don't know, for a game geared for 8 to 14 year olds, they did not make it easy for the kids to get this Bat Magic Pin. I have two kids, one is 10 the other 12, that play this game, and made sure that they both knew that they would have to earn the pins themselves. I think i was trying to teach them some kind of lesson about working for what you want. Needless to say, both got their pins themselves and after working so hard for it, I don't think they will be trading it for a water cooler. But hey - one never knows, that's the beauty of kids.

CpnBones

 

[Captain Brain]

Me being a teen-ager, I know a little bit more about things and their value.

I like to ask a friend before I even think about accpeting a trade unless it's a crate for ice block or something.

You have to ask your daughter will he be happy with it in the morning? I ask that before I accept.

 

[AmberDaze]

Anyhow, in my case, my kids do not even request to trade without me present. I have seen many bad transactions happen because the poor kid was not knowledgable about the value.

This has become our rule too .

My 9yo DS plays VMK and I feel fortunate that I play, as well, in that I understand how the game works. We've spent time, looking over each others shoulders, as we play, and learned from each other. I have to remind him when new pins/things are coming out so that he has time to save.

Just sharing...My DD unfortunately cannot make her own credits for something like bat magic -- every time she manages to get a few hundred credits and spends them on clothes LOL. But up until sometime this week, the computer she uses is not fast enough to play vmk games on it, so I have become the credit winner in the house . I just wouldn't feel right buying one for myself and not for her...although we do share many items. Also, she doesn't have as much time to go on and play as I do (late nights and occasionally during the day). I also don't think she should be sitting at home every spare chance she has playing vmk, although that's what I would sometimes like to be doing myself lol. Oh mighty computer, how I pray that you won't crash during the third round of mansion, in my favor, twice in one day...but ah yes, you did crash twice...in one night!! Arggh!

 

[ElectricLime]

Suddenly I feel like making a Practice Saying No room, where I'll beg everybody who comes in to give me their valuable stuff for free, and they can practice being resolute enough to turn down the begging and the cajoling.

 

[appletini]

I suppose the credits would come easier for the kids if it just were 8-14 yr olds who played. I would love to see the ages of the ppl who are top players in their category. The most important thing is that the parents should be monitoring computer time for their children. And yes 10,000 on magic is WAY TOO MUCH!!! Vmk has ALOT of waffling going on with their "values". They need to fix that first and then re-evaluate who the game is for. Just my ranting's going on, next time I think I'll rave about it...

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

My 9 yo and I are about equal in the fireworks game (230,000) so we were getting good credits with the increased amoutns for February. She has gotten to level three pirates all by herself (I can't get past one!) And she rocks in the Haunted Mansion.

I guess it can be a life lesson - some 9 yos are not going to be as good at the games as older kids/adults -- but then again.... some will. I guess it's about finding your talent and *not* just being a sheep.

Jesalee

 

[Bellboy]

Some kids are great with the games. That is most likely due to them being comfortable around computers; a parent by-product.

Alot of these kids play around on VMK with no parent. The kid I started this thread about is the perfect example. She runs around VMK unguided, this being her first use of a computer (other than a Bratz game, or Little Mermaid Studio).

These are the kids who trade cluelessly. Who would need the adoptive VMK Virtual Cast Member, or Big_CL.

There are alot of these kids. I wonder how many of them give up because they just don't understand or are not tollerated?

This is a great thread. Thanks all!!

 

[AmberDaze]

Suddenly I feel like making a Practice Saying No room, where I'll beg everybody who comes in to give me their valuable stuff for free, and they can practice being resolute enough to turn down the begging and the cajoling

Hey, this sounds like a great idea -- to set up a room just to teach kids how to trade, or to just give advice on what would be a good trade or not. Maybe you would win best room idea? ::hint hint::

 

[MaliaMichelle]

I too, am thankful I also play. When I first started playing and learning about values and stuff, I had a lot to teach my son that he didn't relize. He is still supposed to ask me before trading anything he wouldn't be willing to give away. He's a quick learner though. And I would say he teaches me about as much about the different games we play as I teach him.

As far as Bat Magic goes. I earned one, and traded a lot of stuff for more. Like someone else said above.. I also don't want him on the computer for the amount of hours it takes to earn 10,000. Plus his computer doesn't play the games, and he is on this one very seldom. He has Boy Scouts, friends, homework, and other stuff in real life, so he time to spend on VMK is not the greatest. Even I have had to cut down due to real life. I volunteer at his school, work for a few hours at his school, then I also volunteer for the Red Cross and am soon to start volunteering for what's called Army Family Team Building. Oh yeah, also for my husband's units family group. So about the only time I can get on VMK on some days is 7-7:30 am and then maybe in the late afternoon or evenings. I don't see how they expect young kids to play enough to earn the credits. Most parents I talk to limit their kids internet time.

 

[MaliaMichelle]

Bellboy,

I would be willing to help her out some. I am not on as much as I used to be though. But if we meet up, I can add her to my friends list and she could message me if she wasn't sure about a trade. I have other "friends" that do that also.

Or she could always message me here on Dis. I am not saying I know everything about VMK, but I know enough I could either help her, or find an answer for her in most cases.