Am I the only one? NO Videogames!

[Scrapfriend]

My husband and I believe that they are only children once and they can't go back and be a child as an adullt. However, if they want to play the video games they missed as a child they can play as an adult. We have no game systems at our house, and they are limited with computer time so very little games to play on that. They have played at their friend's homes so they are not completely out of the loop. My husband works for a major software company and my brother-in-law for a game system company so it isn't a case of being unavailable! We chose this for our family, everyone else can choose for their family. Oh, and my kids don't miss it either, no complaints from them. They know why we made this decision.

 

[melancholywings]

Every family is different, some families have a TV in every room and car - other's don't own a single one. Neither way is wrong they are simply different lifestyles. Much like religion.

 

[Ephany]

DD received a V-Smile from grandma when she was 2. I took it to TRU and exchanged it for a wagon. We still have that wagon almost 5 years later, but she had very little interest in any type of game system until she was 5. We did buy her a leapster when she was 4 because we had quite a few long car trips planned that year, but it really didn't see any use out of it for a long while. She did start computer 'classes' in pre-school and now it's a normal part of the her school's curriculum.

 

[Spacepest]

My sister and I are both gamers. This sums up our feeling about small children and video games:

An expensive video game system for a toddler...are you kidding? You want them to break it, right?

If they can't read yet, and don't have enough hand eye coordination to write legible sentences, then they don't have any business being near a video game controller.

Also, if the child is easily frustrated and has poor impulse control, they do not need to be playing video games at such a young age. A thrown controller and a broken TV and game system are just not worth it.

A Leapster I'm up in the air about. I've seen them get broken far too easily, and I'm not exactly thrilled about the "educational" game choices that are offered (most of them that I've seen are from mass media TV shows like Dora, Spongebob, etc.).

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

There are so many better ways for a little kid to spend their time. 3's don't need to learn school facts. They need to play, pretend, hang out with mom, interact. Not interact with a screen.

 

[bas71873]

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!

No video games here (for DD6). Not that I am completely against them, but I have watched my nephew, now 10, become completey, 100% addicted over the years. It's all he does. I think it started as an easy babysitter for my SIL and it's just stuck. He has every gaming system there is and if he's not in school, he's in front of the TV. I refuse to buy him games or give him $$ for holidays because I know where it goes. He gets books or a gift card to a book store.

TMI there probably, but DD has never shown an interest in electronics (other than the webkinz website) and I've never encouraged it. She has friends that have them, but has never even asked to play. She has too much energy and imagination and would rather be outside or playing with all her little pet shops, or princesses, or dress up stuff.

I didn't read the thread, but I'm sure you will get a lot of different responses. Personally and completely my opinion, don't encourage them. Nothing beats good 'ole fashion toys and imagination playtime. Again, IMO

 

[Swimalie]

My son will be getting a Leapster for Christmas from my parents with my permission. He will be almost 5 then. I have said no until now. I feel the Leapster does a good job of teaching things while making them fun. He's really in to Star Wars and they got him a Star Wars Reading game to go with it. The game helps reinforce his letter recognition and start putting letters together for reading (something he's starting to do now with my husband and I). We do own a Wii but we don't let him play with it at all. It's not educational - at least not what we own for games, so he's not to play with it.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I do not see a problem with the educational video game systems. We've had several and some are well received (and played) and others just gather dust (like the Click Start dd5 got when she was 2). My ds got the Leapster for his 4th birthday - that was the single best gift he ever got - it helped him tremendously on the educational front. He played with that until he got the Gameboy when he was 6 and then showed no interest in it at all (can't even tell you where it's at). We got dd the Vsmile Pocket for her 4th birthday and she had no interest in playing it - but she did like playing with that Leapster occassionally. She will be 6 in a 2 months and she still gets it out every once in a while - and plays for about 10 minutes at a time.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Everyone talks about the educational benefits. How much better off would the child be to spend time with mom or dad and learning that same information. Trading an object for a person seems to be a cop out.

 

[crisi]

My husband works in the industry (sort of now, more in the past) - we have game systems upon game systems. For him. So the kids were exposed to it young and frankly, it was about five or six or so before either of them "got it." They did play a lot of Putt Putt games on the computer earlier. We also had a leapfrog that barely got used. Wiis weren't out yet, I've seen younger kids "get" the Wii.

By the way, with constant access to video games and new titles and four computers.....our kids wouldn't go to bed last night because they were both reading. My son is in no danger of being transfixed - he'd much rather be outside doing something involving wheels or balls.

 

[crisi]

Everyone talks about the educational benefits. How much better off would the child be to spend time with mom or dad and learning that same information. Trading an object for a person seems to be a cop out.

My daughter does puzzle solving games. If we do puzzles together, she gets lazy and lets me solve them for her. If she does them solo, she figures them out, learns persistence and problem solving.

There are plenty of things my kids learn from me - they'll tell you that their father and I give them far too much information (sometimes their teachers imply the same thing!) Computers and video games are another method to "edutain."

(My kids use computers more than consoles - but they play games).

Another thing is that my school uses computers for all their standardized testing. Starting in kindergarten. The kids with a lot of computer exposure at home ramp up to the tests quickly. The kids without computer exposure at home only get it in the schools, and it takes until third or forth grade for them to have enough exposure so they aren't intimidated by the computer itself. So if you are going to avoid video games, at least give your kids computer exposure young. Putt Putt Saves the Zoo is a great game for preschoolers - and about $9 - you can download it.

 

[::Snow_White::]

I'm a huge gamer, and we've had video games in our house since I was 7. A lot of them were rated T and you killed a bunch of monsters too. When my kids are able to play without breaking them I'll get them videogames. I always thought they taught me a lot of coordination and imagination. The storylines of some of the roleplaying games were excellent and impressive. I think it's just a matter of opinion though, they've never had a negative impact on myself or my schoolwork.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Even though I've made 2 statements seemingly agains the units, they aren't inherently evil. I just believe that there are better ways to entertain a young child, and to "educate" a young child.

Playing a wii tennis game with mom or a sib isn't going to kill anyone. But little ones are far better interacting than viewing of a screen.

Per the standardized testing, I doubt that this is true. It has been shown that the older kids get the quicker they gather the information needed to deal with a computer. If a test score is down in the second grade, I wouldn't sweat it, especially knowing the computer information.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I'm a huge gamer, and we've had video games in our house since I was 7. A lot of them were rated T and you killed a bunch of monsters too. When my kids are able to play without breaking them I'll get them videogames. I always thought they taught me a lot of coordination and imagination. The storylines of some of the roleplaying games were excellent and impressive. I think it's just a matter of opinion though, they've never had a negative impact on myself or my schoolwork.

You don't know they've never had a negative impact, because there is no way to know what you would have been had you not played them. Nothing personal, I don't think you are a bad person, just stating the obvious.

 

[princessmom29]

There are so many better ways for a little kid to spend their time. 3's don't need to learn school facts. They need to play, pretend, hang out with mom, interact. Not interact with a screen.

MY 3 year old was in pre-k and DID need and want to learn "school facts" at that age. Just because a child plays the occasional video game doesn't mean that they don't to the things you listed as well. It is not a one or the other situation, if the parent is monitoring usage. My DD plays video games, but also plays with dolls, plays outside, does things with me ect. I don't see why a child cannot do both. There ARE benefits to video games as well, and I fell they are a worthy pastime.

Everyone talks about the educational benefits. How much better off would the child be to spend time with mom or dad and learning that same information. Trading an object for a person seems to be a cop out.

I have not seen anyone here say anything to indacate to me that hey are using video games as a babysitter or cop out so they do not have to spend time with their child. I'm sorry, but at some point my kid gets tired of me and needs her space. Totally natural and normal. I cannot be interacting on on one with her every second of the day.

Even though I've made 2 statements seemingly agains the units, they aren't inherently evil. I just believe that there are better ways to entertain a young child, and to "educate" a young child.

Playing a wii tennis game with mom or a sib isn't going to kill anyone. But little ones are far better interacting than viewing of a screen.

Per the standardized testing, I doubt that this is true. It has been shown that the older kids get the quicker they gather the information needed to deal with a computer. If a test score is down in the second grade, I wouldn't sweat it, especially knowing the computer information.

Video games are not just "viewing a screen" Have you actually looked at and used the eduactional video games out there? The good ones are very interactive, and not at all passive "viewing of a screen".

You don't know they've never had a negative impact, because there is no way to know what you would have been had you not played them. Nothing personal, I don't think you are a bad person, just stating the obvious.

That is a circular argument. There is no way to know if a child who never plays video games would benefit from them if he is never given the opportunity to play. In these situations one must look at and evaluate the evidence, and the evidence says that they didn't have a negative impact on me. My test scores are proof of that. I was a video game kid who always scored in the 99th percentile on standardized tests and had lots of friends. I played in the Marching band, danced competitvely, and did public speaking competions as well. I wasn't scarred from them, and my child will not be either. I think they are a useful educational tool, as well and a vaild form of entertainment for children.

 

[JamesMom]

I am not going to comment on preschoolers and video games, though both my kids have played v-smile since age 3, now DS6 and DS4.

We are a video game household. Hubby and I have played video games since Pong, Blip and Atari were first available. I hold three college degrees and I am currently distance learning for another degree -computer science. My husband has one degree and works full-time as a computer programmer. We have an Xbox, PS2 and PS3, 2 DSs and Santa is bringing a Wii this year. My kids watch me play World of Warcraft for a couple of hours - everyday - plus they see me workout, read my Kindle for a couple of hours a day, too. They see me write stories and use my imagination. They see me doing homework right along with them. They see me use problem solving skills and above all- BALANCE.
My kids play with Legos and Videogames and love storytime. My kids aren't into sports, but we are going camping with cub scouts this weekend, and guess what? The Kindle and DS will be packed . My kids learn to entertain themselves - that I am NOT a cruise director responsible for keeping them engaged 24/7. They learn tenacity and problem solving skills. They get frustrasted with something in the game--advice is take a break, try another game, but more often than not, they try, try again and get the sense of accomplishment for seeing a task through. My DH and I don't do it for them - we help them figure it out themselves.

To each their own - but to demonize a whole segment of the entertainment industry is kind of bizarre.

 

[AntePrincess]

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!

You're not alone. Last I checked, the APA was down on any screen time at all under a certain age, and not so hot on screen time after that. If you read any of the various books published lately about marketing to children ("Born to Buy" comes to mind), it becomes very clear that "educational" games aren't actually superior to the entertainment game, it's just a wholesome halo that makes it "ok" for parents to buy. In the end, you'd learn fine motor skills and matching just as well from Duke Nuke'em as you would from a Leapster, or better yet you could learn them by playing with things in the real world. Or, put it this way: the "fruit snacks" may be Sesame Street, but they're the same high fructose corn syrup and chemical cocktail as the Spongebob Squarepants ones.

That said, these topics always reek of "good parent vs bad parent." I sincerely doubt whether or not the kid plays with a Leapster makes any definite statement about an individual's parenting. It's just another choice. I'm betting no one follows APA guidelines 100% and "plays with Leapster" doesn't seem to correlate with neglect and abuse so even though I don't do it myself. (I hate the noises of electronic toys, they'd have me crawling on the ceiling to have anything like that in the house.)

 

[princessmom29]

I am not going to comment on preschoolers and video games, though both my kids have played v-smile since age 3, now DS6 and DS4.

We are a video game household. Hubby and I have played video games since Pong, Blip and Atari were first available. I hold three college degrees and I am currently distance learning for another degree -computer science. My husband has one degree and works full-time as a computer programmer. We have an Xbox, PS2 and PS3, 2 DSs and Santa is bringing a Wii this year. My kids watch me play World of Warcraft for a couple of hours - everyday - plus they see me workout, read my Kindle for a couple of hours a day, too. They see me write stories and use my imagination. They see me doing homework right along with them. They see me use problem solving skills and above all- BALANCE.
My kids play with Legos and Videogames and love storytime. My kids aren't into sports, but we are going camping with cub scouts this weekend, and guess what? The Kindle and DS will be packed . My kids learn to entertain themselves - that I am NOT a cruise director responsible for keeping them engaged 24/7. They learn tenacity and problem solving skills. They get frustrasted with something in the game--advice is take a break, try another game, but more often than not, they try, try again and get the sense of accomplishment for seeing a task through. My DH and I don't do it for them - we help them figure it out themselves.

To each their own - but to demonize a whole segment of the entertainment industry is kind of bizarre.

great post. The idea of balance was what I was trying to get at.

 

[crisi]

You don't know they've never had a negative impact, because there is no way to know what you would have been had you not played them. Nothing personal, I don't think you are a bad person, just stating the obvious.

I can tell you that they've had a positive impact on my life and my husband's life. Both of us have built careers that have been heavily influenced by gaming. Him in particular. He has turned gaming (as well as a bunch of other skills) into a six figure a year job. Gaming has offered him some very strange networking opportunities - playing Diablo II with VPs at his Fortune 100. Solving issues gaming helps solve issues in the real world. Nothing like spending your teenage years optimizing your stats to understand cause and effect, efficiency and process optimization.

He makes a lot of money doing what he loves - and that's been enabled by gaming. There aren't many people who get to do that. (And comic books and Science Fiction - I married a geek).

Is it possible he'd be a smarter, kinder, gentler person without games. Maybe. But he is a smart, kind, gentle person now - and I'm not interested in being married to a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

 

[Tinkmom75]

I used to think preschool was too young for gaming, but then I had a third child. I think my first two got into gaming around 6-8. My third has grown up around his siblings and cousins (not as much as siblings ) playing DS and Wii. I really like the nintendo systems. He wanted to be included in gaming, and when his cousin was playing Dogz at a Christmas party he wanted to be included too. My youngest was around 3 at that time. We got a Wii last Christmas and he can now manuver Wii sports, Mario and Sonic at the olympic games etc. by himself. I turn on the game and monitor. We bowl together (I finally beat him) and we both have fun. We also read books every night, sing and do other things. There is so much more technology now. I think it's not so bad.