I feel like we are the only ones who don't have video games! My kids are deprived, all they have are their Leapsters. We have the video now from a couple of years ago but they were never into it so it just sits there.

I am in no hurry to have my kids glued to the tv anymore than they already are (or DH either). Not to mention I don't feel like spending a fortune on these things.

Does anyone else NOT have video games? And why?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

My kids really aren't old enough yet. DH and I are still in our 20's, most everyone we know owns some sort of gaming system, we don't.

We don't have time. Our kids are 3 and 2. I don't see the need to waste the money.

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You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one

No game system here - and I have a 9 yo DS. He has really only mentioned a few times that he would like one - he does play at the neighbor's house every once in a while. I am trying to hold off as long as I can - not only because of the expense but my main reason is the time children waste playing with these. I also know some parents who use them as babysitters (my sister, for one) I know there are some good games and there are some that I would even like (DDR, for example), but I don't want to even get started down that road. My DS is pretty spoiled by his grandmothers and aunts and I know once I buy the system, he would be bombarded with games.

Count me in.

I have a Wii I bought it for myself at Christmas. i keep the games and controllers locked away cause if it breaks I'd rather be the one that did it. Kids have other stuff to do and I dont even play it in front of them it's one of the things I do after everyone else goes to bed and it's quiet time so I guess it's a "sorta" for this house, yes we have one but it's only mine not a sitter

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Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
http://bookcrossing.com

My other favorites
www.paperbackswap.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

not me either. but we do have plenty of computers for them to play with.

I think it's wonderful that y'all don't have video game systems. When my son was little it was easy to limit how much he played.

But now at 17, that's all he and his friends want to do with their spare time. He does have great dexterity and linear thinking (you know...like when they show you a 2D image of a cut-out and you have to put it together in your mind and figure out what shape it is), so it's not all bad...but kids need to go out and play too.

I don't think video games are bad, there are some great learning games -- you just have to be responsible and limit the usage.

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Mary

We do somewhat. Dh bought an Atari thingy a year or so ago that has like 25 games on it, and recently we bought them a 5 in 1 game controller (hooks right to the TV) that has Ms Pac Man, Pole Position and 3 other games. For Christmas they each got a Nintendo DS Lite from a family friend, makes it nice to bring on a trip or to someplace they'd be bored at. Dh did mention awhile ago that maybe in a year or two we'd think about getting a Wii, but we're in no hurry.

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Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

We just got an XBox 360 for Christmas, but my girls rarely play on it. They are 14 & 11 1/2. They are outdoors girls. Whenever it's even close to nice they are outside hanging with their friends, playing basketball, soccer, riding their bikes, scooters or whatever. The other night they were out way after dark playing hide-and-seek with the neighborhood kids in the dark. If it's rainy or winter, they MAY play on it, but it just sits a lot of the time, which is fine with me.

Yesterday was beautiful and DH made the comment that we couldn't force them to play that video game if we had too. They didn't want to be inside.

It's funny, we moved this last summer and our old neighbors would call their kids in from playing outside to watch a video. I think they didn't want to mess with knowing where they were and having them inside watching a video was easier. We never understood that. We'd get annoyed when their kids would then ask our kids to go in with them - WHY? They were playing outside!!!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

We dont have one. I always feel sorry for the kids that are glued to those things.

We don't have anything.
My grandsons have everything known to man I think!
I don't care to play them.
I wouldn't mind trying out that Wii thing sometime tho!

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

My 12 and 14 yr old children have their Nintendo DS handhelds and that's it. We bought Guitar Hero for the PC and they play that when they have time which is rare.
The next door neighbors with children the same age as ours bought older, used systems. Since last Christmas when the boy got a Xbox they also have rock band. Anything to keep the poor darling occupied. That's the neediest child I've ever seen. He was never taught to entertain himself or even made to read. The boy constantly has to have another child around to play with.
We don't see the need to have a gaming console.

Video gameless family here...

None here, kids still at home are 20, 15, and a pair of 13 yo's.
I never wanted them after seeing how obssessed some kids can become with them, and I know at least 2 of my kids woulda been that way. 20 yo bought himself a used PS2 w/it's own attached screen a few years ago, began failing miserably at school and having major behavior probs at home. DH discovered he was staying up *all night* playing games! That was the end of that.
Oh wait - I have an old Gameboy that I gave myself as a b'day gift years ago just so I could play Snoods away from home when I had long periods of times in waiting rooms or on a plane. I gave it to my 15yo dd cuz I knew she'd use it the way I did, but she used it so seldom she lost it. One of the younger kids found it, was quickly obssessed with it, so it mysteriously became *lost* again ;-)
My kids *do* play video games at their friends' houses, and that's enough for them in my book, maybe even too much.
I always figured with all the computers in the house the kids could play games on them, and they have done that.
I'm not totally opposed to video games on principle, but w/my particular kids I know it would get outta hand. As well, we only have one small tv in our very small living room so just finding the room to set up a game system is darned near impossible, so it really isn't even much of an issue here at all cuz the kids know we don't have room for one.
MZ

None here - no kids either but dh and I just really don't get into spending our money on those things.

We have a Wii. I have noticed that when the kids have friends over that aren't allowed to play video games or watch cable at home....that's all they want to do when they come over! I have to make them go out and play. My kids are allowed to do both but will chose to play outside any day of the week.

Rebecca

congrats on no systems! we were that way for a LONG time despite protests from DH LOL

We bought a Wii recently but we limit their play to 1 hour a week. They play games that give you a bit of exercise so I don't mind it much, plus we can play as a family which is always a good thing. My mom loves to "bowl" against the kids The kids do have Nintendo DS's to use on long car trips and traveling. We do let them play at home sometimes but they have My Spanish Coach and Brain Age...stuff that makes them thing, not mindless crap and that time is limited as well. We have the least amount of video game systems of most we know. Most have at least 2 major systems (xbox,ps2,ps3,wii). I agree that kids can be consumed with the games. I always let the parents of friends know that my kids can't play (or watch), video games at their houses. I am too restrictive as to what they get to play and/or watch. Too much violence...

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Nope, sorry but we have video game systems in our house but the kids don't play with them- I do. We have a PS2 that youngest DD(almost 11) plays with sometimes-I don't think it's been on for the last month at all. We also have a Wii we got earlier this year- the only time she plays it is when she has a friend over and they play the sports one for a little while. I don't play either of those.
I have an XBOX 360 and I am the only one that uses it. I use for stress relief. Every now and then DH will play on the Wii with DD.
So we do have them but the kids don't really use them.

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Mom to Katie 1/95 and Sara 5/97

We have an XBox 360, and a PS2. We also don't have kids just yet, so this topic doesn't entirely apply to me. But . . . .

I grew up during the era when most families had an Atari or Nintendo, and we didn't. My only exposure was an Intellivision system my grandfather had (that's one of the earliest ones), and I mostly just watched him play it. I still can't play video games. My husband got me an RPG, so I could use the 360, because I'd won it, and I didn't have the coordination (he took it over, and loves it). I've had friends try to teach me to play Katamari, and Guitar Hero, because those should be easy, and I'm no good with them. I'm beginning to think I'd better encourage my kid to play video games, so he'll have some chance at hand-eye coordination.

i wish we didnt but we do my DH is a big gamer mostly collector but we have them.My kids dont play until late rin the evening when its to dark to play outside.

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i'M THE TYPE

OF GIRL WHO WILL BUST OUT

LAUGHING ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

My kids have video game systems and some PC games as well.

In particular, the Wii can be quite physically active. Also, the kids learn to read, hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills, sportsmanship.... Also, youngest loves creating architectural wonders on Roller Coaster Tycoon (PC game).

I'm not quite sure that this same son would have learned to read as well as he does had we not had video game systems around when he was very small. Now, at age 10, he is a very proficient reader (great comprehension skills) and is doing great in school.

So, there can be some good things about video games.


We do not allow rated 'M' games at home or at friends' houses. My boys know this and will let their friends know as well. My boys are ages 10 and 13.

We didn't have one until Christmas this year. And we bought the WII. I like that it is an active game system. SO I am ok with them playing it. Although it may sit for a couple weeks with out being played with.

My kids are so active, we are only home two nights a week.

Between Soccer, basketball, baseball, TaeKwonDo, Cheer, Tumbling, boy scouts and brownies, there is little time for anything else.

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