My kids are 4 and 6 and we don't own any video game systems, just the Vsmile that they don't play and the little Leapsters that do have games on them. They do play the Leapsters about once a week, but that's it. DS is getting old enough to have a regular game, whatever is the new thing I guess, but he hasn't asked so we don't get one. Oh and they do play a few games on the computer like Elmo or Nickjr.com I almost forgot about them.


Do your kids play video games?

What age do you think is too young?

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we have them but the kids would sneak and stay up all night playing them so into the locked storage box they went

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Since I play video games my kids have always played video games. My 10 yr old started when she was about 3 on the playstation 1. There were alot of preschool games for it she liked. Then we got a gamecube and she loved playing animal crossing- I liked animal crossing for her because you had to read and write to the animals in your town. It's how I got her to start liking to read and write.
Now we have a PS2. Next year we're getting a Wii for her and a PS3 for me with taxes. I like that they have to move around to use the Wii.

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Yes my kids play video games. Mostly their gameboys, and my kids are 4 and 7.
(He is turning 4 actually at the end of October)

I think our almost 4 year old doesn't really have the skill to do much in the games. But he is very happy to just jump over the same mushroom over and over again to hear the sounds.
He gets around to different boards and we laugh that he gets to levels our 7 year old cant by just working it out on his own.

Our 7 year old- she loves the games, she has had hers since she was 6, but I think its mostly a peers thing at this age. A lot of kids on the bus take them to play together and chat about different pokemon games/sonic etc.

We do use the gameboy as a punishment leverage and it works-
ex:// she doesn't behave- we take it for a day or two-

My kids all play video games. My oldest is 17 and he has been playing since he was probably 3 or so. My younger 2 are 8 and 10 and they may have been younger than 3 when they started just because my oldest always played.

Jen

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Yes, DS (6) and DSS (13) both play video games. DSS is completely obsessed with playing, personally I think his mother allows him to play them way to much. DH one time counted for 3 months how many time DSS was playing video games when he called, out of the 27 time he called, DSS was playing 27 of the time. The thing that really bothers DH, is DSS doesn't stop playing when talking to DH on the phone so their conversation goes something like this.......DH: How was school today? DSS: uhh yeah good DH: Do you think you want to come over this weekend? DSS: Ummm yeah umm what did you ask me? DH: I asked if you wanted to come over this weekend? DSS: Okay, can I bring my DS Lite? DH: Sure, but I was thinking of taking you and DS fishing! DSS: well I will have to check with my mom DH: okay, so is there is something you want to do? DSS: Oh Dad I just got to level 12 DH: Did you hear my questions?
DSS: umm hmmm what did you ask?

So I think video games are okay, as long as they are played in moderation. DS isn't allowed to play them Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, and he can only play them on the other days once homework is done and after he goes outside and plays for awhile. During the winter when the weather is bad, I do allow him to play video games more, but I also make sure he plays with old fashion toys...lol.....you know the ones that don't require batteries.

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flipper, I think that is about the age that we got a Nintendo 64. I purchased a huge package on eBay... 11 games (lots of big name games, ie. Donkey Kong, Mario 64, Yoshi, etc.) and the system and a couple of controllers.

The kids have played quite a bit but in spurts over the years... usually because they couldn't go outside because of bad weather or they need some 'down' time. At one time, we had to limit game-play because they were playing too much but they are both more into other things these days.

We now have PS2, Wii, and DS as well as the old N64.

Yikes.

yep!! My son just turned 6 yrs old and is currently playing the transformers game for the ps2 he also played both star wars lego and completed them both himself. He also has 2 other star war games that he has mastered as well. My 8 yr old has all 3 bratz games that she enjoys playing.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

My boys are 4 & 7. We started with Leapster and a few computer games. Then we moved up to Gameboy. Since they both got Gameboys (7 year old got one first and then I got one for the 4 year old because I saw how well he liked it). My 4 year old is actually better at playing it than my 7 year old for some games. We are getting a Wii for Christmas. I had put it off because I don't really want them to take over the TV, but lots of their friends have them and it's nice to have friends over and play video games. Most of the friends have PS2, so we're getting the Wii for something different and becuase that is what DH & I think we'll like best.

I do have to monitor their game time, however, otherwise that is all they would do. I like the Gameboys because we can take them and the boys can play them while we wait, etc. I don't allow them to play them in the house very often -- just when we go out or in the car.

Sarah......mom to Jason & Devin

My son is 16 and yes he loves his xbox 360 but homework is always done first.

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"Never loan your car to someone you have given birth too"

I guess I'm in the minority here. We don't play/have video games.

I really don't want to buy them - haven't been met with any real complaints yet. Not saying that I won't fold, but I haven't yet!

All six of my kids play 'em. I think that video games in moderation are great! My kids aren't allowed to play on the weekdays, though exceptions are made if I have to drag them to appts. or meetings then they may take their DS's if homework is finished. On the weekends they are allowed 6 hours a day (sounds like a lot, but divide it by the 6 kids and it's only an hour! ) Sometimes they trade off turns, but they basically play as a team....I love to see them helping each other! My youngest 2, are 3 and 4 and are slowly getting interested in video games. They love the Wii, and it's easy for them to use.

IMO if you are going to get them a type of video system I would go a with a Nintendo system, I believe they are more kid friendly and have a lot fo the games that little ones are interested in.

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Yes, my kids all play video games they all have a Gameboy and we have a Gamecube and a Wii. My girls are not as into it as my son, he is 7. He know what games he wants and when they are coming out.

My kids are video GEEKS!!! Hubby was and still is into all the games so we have EVERY system out there(which I find a bit silly). The kids are not allowed to play during the week, only on weekends and I limit them other wise they would play all day.

Yep mine play. They each have all the little do dads plus we have sega, playstation, xbox, and an xbox360. I want a wii. They look like a lot of fun.

My DH plays also. When he starts a new game he doesn't do anything else for days sometimes. Well except work. I do limit the boys time though. They get 1 hour a day. When I didn't limit them they were playing constantly and never playing outside. They do also get 1 hour online a day so if they choose to play games that's fine.

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nope your in good company.. I hate those things! I'm not against them having them but since they haven't asked I'm not running out to buy them! We have lots of computer games that we get from the library that they can play.. my boys are 3 and 4.

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Geez...it's not the kids it's the husband!
My husband was going nuts with the recent recall of the xbox 360. His system was gone for the better part of a month! He also has a PS2 and an old school 8 bit nintendo...it's sometimes fun to play childhood games!
I let him have a dream weekend this weekend and took the kids and he was able to play halo 3 non-stop for 24 hours...sad, very very sad. Oh well...back to responsibility!
He's off this week and I am working about 40 hours!

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I am so glad that we never got into them much. We had a nintendo years ago, but mostly played as a family. DS had games on the computer, but I never let him play for long. IMO kids can become antisocial, and it makes them cranky, just like if I'm on the puter too long. It upsets me to see kids at a family gathering not playing with others but with their face stuck to a video game. Too sad. I think they've become far too important. Life is too short....

I have 3 kids and two of them are the same age as yours. We started out with a Nintendo 64, with Mario. My son was HOOKED. So last Christmas we got a game cube, a few mario games, Animal Crossing, and Sonic games. My 4 yo also plays with her brother when he's playing. They like to play Mario Kart together. We do only allow 45 minutes at a time. And it's was only when the 6yo did other things, like homework, cleaned room, and stuff. Now that he's in first grade he doesn't have as much time anymore after school, homework and chores, to play the gc, so it's mostly a friday, Saturday thing...

I have never played my kids gameboys (they have them for long roadtrips and for playing while the other is in a private karate lesson so they aren't bored). We did just get a WII a couple of months ago but that's a family thing and I do play that. I haven't played it solo though...always with DH or one of the kids (or all of us)

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