Am I the only one? NO Videogames!

[jacksmomma]

Thus far DS is not really asking for anything for Christmas. I like to think ahead and get started early, so I have been asking him for ideas. I have also polled a couple of friends with kids DS's age (3) to see what is on their lists.

I do not get it...am I the only one who thinks that a video game for a preschooler, even an "educational" one is just ridiculous?! Everyone I have talked to is talking about Leapsters, V Smiles, even Wiis! (A Wii for a preschooler?! ) Please tell me that I am not the only one who is avoiding the game systems like the plague!

 

[RMulieri]

I saw no problem with the Leapfrog Clickstart computer whne my daughter turned 3.Those games are very eduational, it taught Computer skills ( she is now better with a keyboard and a mouseat age 5 then I am at 34).We also got her a Leapster 2 for Xmas last year...As long as you set limits there is nothing wrong with them.IMHO

 

[BoogasMom]

No, you aren't the only one. My two boys never had video games that young. We did break down and buy a v smile for my oldest DS around age 5 but we still limited the amount of time he was able to play with it. I think 3 is a little young for video games too. It's like getting your 8 or 9 year old a cell phone....why? Who in the world are they gonna call???

 

[Disneychix]

We don't have one yet but I've got to tell you I am tempted to get the Leapster for Christmas or Birthday. DS sees DH play video games and he's just dying to try one of his own. Plus, he loves to 'type' on the computer and has a little 'play' computer type toy already.

I really think with the way of the world right now that it's not such a bad thing. Computers are the future. Kids do really learn while playing Leapster games and as long as they are monitored and not allowed to play every second of the day then I think video games for kids might not be so bad.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I agree with you. My MIL bought my kids a video game system when the oldest was 3 (v-smile) and I was really upset about it. Then she bought them a leapster. I did let them play with in once in awhile, but it never got a lot of use.

Now they have nintendo ds and WII. I still really limit the use. They aren't allowed any TV or video games during the week. They are allowed 1 hour on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If they have a movie I extend the time so they can watch a whole movie. I also extend the time on a car trip.

They really don't seem upset about this. They just know its the rule in our house.

 

[tmarquez]

DD didn't have any video games at 3. Not because I'm against them or anything...she just wasn't interested. Even if she was I don't think she was coordinated enough at that age to play them successfully.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We didn't do it that early, either. They both have a DS now (my mom bought them last year for Christmas, or else the younger one wouldn't have one), and I limit the time they can play them, and the same with the Wii.

 

[golden6911]

I bought a Leapster for my oldest child when she was 4, but she really showed very little interest in it. A lot of kids that are her age now (7) have Nintendo DS but she would still rather have a doll or a playset. My son also really is just not interested in them - he would rather build Legos.

 

[princessmom29]

My DD got a leapster at 4, and it was a GREAT way for her to learn math skills any some early phonics. I don't see what the problem would be with having one?? I think it is a great learning tool, and also has helped with fine motor skills. DD is now six and we really enjoy spending time as a family playing Wii. We do wii sports, wii sport resort, and the Hasbro Family Game Night game together, and have a blast. I see it as the same as sitting down together to play a board game.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Nope, you are not the only one. My kids can get a Nintendo DS at age 8. My oldest was fine with this, but my DD counted down the year! Now that she has it, she doesn't play it that much.

My oldest got a Wii at 9. The little ones play Wii Sports occasionally.

We do have the Leapster. My oldest got it at 4. My now 4 year old plays it some but not like my older two. It does have some educational games for beginning readers. My middle loved Clifford reading.

 

[MollyAnna]

No, you're not the only one! I really limit tv time and my kids don't play computer games at all. We did get a Wii for our family last year for Christmas, and we play it during the winter on Friday nights for a couple of hours as a family. They all spend a lot of time outside, playing with each other, or reading.

 

[ntink]

I do love the Wii, as our whole family plays together. We got it from the ILs last xmas, the kids were 10 & 6. I did not have video games for them when they were preschoolers.

 

[wmharley]

the issue is that there are two categories here...

1) entertainment video games/systems (Wii, PS, XBOX, PSP, DS, etc)
2) Educational video games/systems (Leapfrog, Vtech, etc)

True, each system has education or entertainment and vice versa games.. but they are lumped into those two groups...

Allowing your kids to play entertainment systems like an action game is different than allowing them to play an educational system with education games where they learn about matching, numbers, etc...

There is nothing wrong with allowing your children to play from group 2 within reasonable limits. It gets them ready for when they do need the skills. Our DD has an older leapfrog, or maybe vtech system where she learned matching and such.. then she has a keyboard style one where she has several learning games. The only downside of that one is the RF signal of the keyboard knocks out our TV remote so we cannot raise the volume with it. The remote won't work for a few minutes after its off either.

Now she can use a computer and has some educational sites with games and such online we go with her to.

so yes to educational systems.. no to entertainment one..

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Three is too young. I agree with you. They need to be playing and exploring the real world not virtual world.

 

[Deffenm]

Nope you are not the only ones. DS's 10 & almost 9 are getting the Nintendo DS for christmas this year and DD 5 (will be 6 on Christmas Eve) is getting a Leapster. We do not own any other game systems. They will be limited to one hour a week but they do have the option to earn additional time. We have some challenges with our children and we are hoping this will be a good motivator for them.

I can't imagine a 3 year old playing with a game system. Now we did get my daughter the Tag Reading system & the Leapster PC when she was 4 and she loved them, but now she can read and wants to do it herself and once she gets her Leapster she won't play with the PC.

 

[scottish mum]

My kids never got a computer type to until they were 7. My dd is only 5 and is counting down when she can get a nintendo ds but she still has 2 years to wait. She does play the wii very occasionally as it was a family gift but after 10 mins she is fed up with it. I certainly wouldn't have bought it just for her but the older boys really wanted it.

 

[eeyoremum]

I agree with you. I actually don't have any gaming system in my house and my boys are 15 and 10. They have a few computer games but that is it. Also, if these games are as popular and all the kids are playing them why are all the kids hanging out at my house playing Lego....yes even the 15 year old and his friends still sometime

 

[princessmom29]

the issue is that there are two categories here...

1) entertainment video games/systems (Wii, PS, XBOX, PSP, DS, etc)
2) Educational video games/systems (Leapfrog, Vtech, etc)

True, each system has education or entertainment and vice versa games.. but they are lumped into those two groups...

Allowing your kids to play entertainment systems like an action game is different than allowing them to play an educational system with education games where they learn about matching, numbers, etc...

There is nothing wrong with allowing your children to play from group 2 within reasonable limits. It gets them ready for when they do need the skills. Our DD has an older leapfrog, or maybe vtech system where she learned matching and such.. then she has a keyboard style one where she has several learning games. The only downside of that one is the RF signal of the keyboard knocks out our TV remote so we cannot raise the volume with it. The remote won't work for a few minutes after its off either.

Now she can use a computer and has some educational sites with games and such online we go with her to.

so yes to educational systems.. no to entertainment one..

I don't think there is anything wrong with entertainment video games, as long as they are limited, content monitored, and supervised. My DD plays Disney Princess Wii, but not Mass Effect on the Xbox for instance, and has a time limit. Every minute of a child's life cannot be educational, and video games are just one of many pastimes we enjoy in our house. We also spend time outside, painting and drawing, reading, and yes even watching TV. Nothing wrong with any of that as long as you are not doing it to the exclusion of other things.

 

[pooh4evr]

Funny I was just showing DD#3- 2.5 how to play V-Smile yesterday (she'll be 3 in Dec.) I don't think my older 2 played anything this early but we didn't have it then - we also have a PS2, a Wii which everyone plays and both girls have a DS. I am trying it with her because she is having trouble with colors and letters - and this is a differnt way of her learning them- we do plenty of other stuff, play dolls, sports, ride bikes, piano...
I don't thinkit is a bad thing if you control it- she isn't sitting in front of the TV for hours and hours or anything. She will need to know how to handle a mouse and to work a joystick in our preschool - and definately computer stuff for elem (they do most homework and alot of daily work on computers) - it is just another tool for us.

 

[Zeebs]

We have just bought our boys for Christmas a Leapfrog they will be 2 and nearly 4. They will be monitored and it will be restricted just as the tv is. But the reason we chose it is that they are already have started to use a computer at their Nursery and we liked the idea of continuing what they learn at Nursery on at home.

We chose, after investigating the differences between Leapfrog and V-tech the, Leapfrog as it appeared to be more education rather than gamey as I would prefer the kids don't get too much into computer games until they get older.

We have a Wii but other than the other day when they both decided to do some excerises on the Wii fit (which was so funny I have got it on film) they haven't shown much interest in that.

You certainly won't be the only one in the world that doesn't like them and that is totally up to you and what is best for your family.

Kirsten