How old is old enough?

Stifler's - posted on 12/04/2010

my friend has a 3 year old with one.

Jessica - posted on 12/03/2010

My son is 4 and had a DS (it was actually my husbands) and it broke..so I knew he wasn't ready for something like that! LOL. But this year we bought him a USED Leapster Gaming System. I think he's old enough to handle one of those, since they are for children his age. I think 7 would be old enough for a DSi..but it all depends on how responsable he is with his stuff.

Hannah - posted on 12/01/2010

Amanda, have you thought about instilling a reward system of sort? Like if he wants to play video games, he has to do chores, or come away from video game when asked. The more he cooperates, the more likely he will be able to use the games? And if he doesnt come when asked or whatever, he has his gaming privelges taken away? I just thought if he had a goal that he can picture in his mind that would give him incentive, maybe that would work? Good luck with whatever you do though, I hope it works out! And keep us posted! ;)

April - posted on 12/01/2010

never. we don't do video games of any kind in our house. i am a big fan of playing outside in the neighborhood. ride your bike, play in the snow...whatever gets the body going and oxygen to the brain!

Amber - posted on 12/01/2010

My son's aunt and uncle asked if they could buy him a DS for Christmas this year (he just turned 4). We told them that it was fine.
He won't be allowed to play it all the time, and we'll get to pick the games so that we know it's educational.
He got an educational TV kids' game system last year, and we haven't had any issues with it. But we drive 10 hours round trip every 2-3 months to visit my inlaws. A game system to keep him busy in the car will be nice...then maybe I'll get my iPhone back and I can play games in the car too :) haha

I do think, as others have already pointed out, that if your son is already throwing tantrums, more game systems are not a good idea. It will reward him for what is already bad behavior. When he is a bit more mature and proves that he deserves it, that's when I would give him one.

Sherri - posted on 11/30/2010

I would say around 5 yrs old. Although I bought my 3 yr old last Christmas a handheld Leapster.

Shontae - posted on 11/30/2010

It really depends on the child and their responsibility. If you dont feel he's responsible enough to care for it, simply dont give it to him and explain to hubby your reasoning. My oldest got her DS for Christmas last year, and my 6 year old got a Nintendo Gameboy Advance (something or other lol) last year, and for my four year old's birthday she got a gameboy. They take very good care of the games so I dont worry much. Now that I think about it they dont play with them as much as I thought they would either.....

Holly - posted on 11/30/2010

Our daughter was 6 when she got her DS system. She saved her spare change and chores money for months to pay for half of it and she was so proud the day we went and got it - she was telling everyone how she saved up half the money! :) SHe takes great care of it and her game time is limited to mostly in the car or after homework is done.

WE did get hte DS from Toys-R-Us and they had a warranty for it that was $5 extra. Basically, as long as our daughter doesn't drop it in the toilet, they'll replace it (this includes damage like if it got run over by a car, just not water damage).

Also, the system helped her with her reading and most of her games are educational ones that she loves :)

Becky - posted on 11/30/2010

For us, it wasn't about age, it was about how well they took care of the rest of their stuff. My oldes got a ds when she was 6, just received a dsi xl for her 8th birthday. My 6 year old son has a ds and will get a dsi xl for his birthday next month. My 4 year old got a v smile last year for Christmas and I always wished I had just gotten her a ds. She will probably get one for her 5th birthday in May. They don't obsess over them and they take care of all their games, charging them when needed, and putting them away when finished.



I will add, they are not allowed to take them to school or over to a friend's house.

Meghan - posted on 11/29/2010

I agree with Leah...If you are worried about it getting lost or broken you could always monitor when he has it. I know here a lot of schools don't allow those systems in the school period. Maybe say he has to leave it in the car before school (if you drive him that is) or he can't take it to Bobby's house but if Bobby comes over here you can play it (that is if you want Bobby over lol)

Candi - posted on 11/29/2010

Thank you Barb. Sometimes kids can be so thoughtful...then other times,,,,well, we'll leave that one alone. LOL. He knows how I feel about buying expensive video games. Right now he is saving his money and asking for gift cards for Christmas so he can buy his own HALO XBox special edition bundle. He is willing to work for it and pay for it himself.
WIth all things, not just video games, the maturity of the person is where you decide what things are age appropriate. Sounds like your fiance is a little immature and needed to justify the reason for buying the game. If you are really not sure how he will react when its time to put it away, you may have to take more drastic measures with gaming. My kids are not allowed to play video games on school nights. They understand that and they're fine with it. If they want to play, they have to tell me and then they have to pay 75 cents to play. All of their homework and all chores have to be done first. Try the new rules over Christmas break that way it will be easier to keep up after school starts back

Barb - posted on 11/29/2010

On topic, i'm of the agreement that it's not the age that matters but the maturity of the child. If he can't handle the discipline with the games now, buying him another system/gaming device is sending the wrong message.

Barb - posted on 11/29/2010

Candi, a bit off topic but i just wanted to say i think that is just lovely he spent his money and bought his sister something like that.

Candi - posted on 11/29/2010

My son shot a commercial when he was 7. He got paid more than we thought. He took $400 and bought himself and his sister DSLites along with a few games so he would have someone to play with. THats when he was 7! He will be 12 in January and he still uses it ALOT. They wouldn't let their youngest sister play, so at 3, I bought one for her. It plays DS games, and GameBoy games. I have washed and dried the DS games and they still work like a charm. Buy the NERF case that just snaps onto the DS. That way if its dropped, it doesn't get hurt. They have some great games and it does keep boredom down and makes trips more pleasant!! They can play with other people with a DS and the DSi can take pictures and all. It will keep your son focused and engaged in something. I say congrats!! He will love it

Susanne - posted on 11/29/2010

My four year old had one last christmas when he was 3. He was using his brothers DS all the time so i got him his own. A year later its still in one piece and hes used it a lot.

Leah - posted on 11/28/2010

Haha you got to be kidding me right!?



You think your fiance is just getting back at you for buying the 4 year old a bike. That's ridiculous. And a bit childish that you think that. No offense but seriously I think 7 is fine. It's more convient on your trips,the kid will have fun and won't be bored. If you monitor his time and you lay down some rules explaining what will happen if the DSI thing gets broken or lost etc then you should have no problem.

LaCi - posted on 11/28/2010

I'm biased. I love video games- especially nintendo. There is such a great amount of stuff for the DS that focuses on learning, problem solving, and critical thinking that I can't imagine not letting my son play with it. You already have the rules down, and you already have one system he can play so I really just don't see a big deal with it. Games do have benefits, in moderation, I think we tend to forget that. It's pretty sturdy, I haven't managed to break mine yet although I did break a stylus a couple weeks ago. I have a tendency to break stuff. My two year old, who broke my phone in half, hasn't broken it yet. So I don't think that breaking it is much cause for concern.

As soon as mine is old enough to play, we'll be playing together. In moderation, of course.

Teresa - posted on 11/28/2010

It doesn't sound like he can handle it. As for age... me, personally, in this house? As a teenager if they want to buy it themselves I may let them. That's the same for all video game systems period though. All we have and will have is my computer that they can play sporadically.

Rosie - posted on 11/28/2010

i think it should be taken back. if he can't prove that he can handle regular game time well, then he shouldn't have the DSI. my son got one last year for christmas and it's already broken. he was 9 at the time. my son has ADHD though and apparantly can't ever remember to put it away, so his little brother got a hold of it.

Megan - posted on 11/28/2010

It does set off a red flag when you say your son has tantrums after you telling him his time is over. My son is only 18 months so I definitely cannot say mine won't be the same way if we have video games around. Right now my boyfriend and I only own the Wii. My biggest concern is with the huge rise in childhood obesity. Does your son get a lot of excercise and outdoor play during the day? I know a lot of people that do not allow television or video games during the week, and limit it on the weekends. I would probably not make your fiance return the DSI, but I would definitely make some pretty strick guidelines. I also work in a daycare facility right now, and once in a while I would work with the school aged children during the summer. One child had a DS and it was the caues of almost every single problem in the room. They can be great but I would definitely set some limitations for him and be strict about it. I know they could probably be a huge lifesaver when waiting for a long wait. I just had my son at the doctor for like two hours and I was wishing he was old enough that I could give him something to distract him while we waited.

Sapphire - posted on 11/28/2010

The first red flag I interpret from your post is when you passionately say how your son tantrums and is a gaming FREAK. IMO, it sounds like he's already addicted to video games. But since the DSI was already purchased, you might want to jointly come to a system in playing it. Set a time frame that your son is allowed to play it, and then he has to turn it over to you in between playing times. I can't relate becasue my 5 1/2 year old son has little interest in his portable VSmile system unless we are actually traveling. He does like computer games, but I don't have a problem with ending his game sessions. But I do know from teaching middle school kids, the DSIs get lost and stolen, especially when they are brought to school when they are not supposed to. So definately set some guidelines. Good luck!

Tabby - posted on 11/28/2010

I think if they are taught how to treat things than a 7 year old could handle one. However (and I'm really not trying to be mean or rude...) I'm not sure that's the greatest gift for your son... if he's throwing fits about only getting an hour a day to play video games and always wants to be playing them than won't a handheld game make the problem worse? I mean instead of saying ok the video games are ONLY for when we're at home, your now going to tell him it's ok for him to play where ever you go and it might make having him turn it off after his one hour harder. Also, if your going somewhere and he's playing in the car and then he has to turn it off when your getting where you're going he might start throwing those kinda fits in public or at other people's houses...

Kelly - posted on 11/28/2010

My son got a PSP when he was 5 yrs old. My husband said it is the same thing as a DSI except from Playstation instead of Nintindo. He said it was more durable and does more stuff. I don't know.
Anyway, I was on the fence about it. My concern was not over use, my son doesn't play video games that often, he is an only child and prefers activities that involve other people. It was expensive back then, it had just come out and was still well over $200, but hubby talked me into it saying they would share it (My husband never fully grew up :P) I've been happy so far, we've had it for over a year and it is not broken and has saved us on long trips, especially at airports.
In your situation, I think it would be fine to let him have it, but only let him use it when you are away from the house. We only let J use it when we are away, and he never asks for it at home.

I also agree with the communication thing. Find out why he's upset that you bought the bike, I think that's a great toy for a 4 yr old.

Jodi - posted on 11/28/2010

Hmmmm, this is actually not a black and white question. My son didn't get a DSI until he was 11, and neither did my step son. Reason? Because they used to throw fits when I asked them to pack up the PS2. It was only when they were able to show me that they could be mature and responsible enough to accept my limits that I allowed it.



My 5 year old, on the other hand, received a DSI for her 5th birthday. She actually hardly ever uses it. We bought it for her because when her 2 older brothers used theirs, apparently they have some mechanism they can play together (now I'm showing my absolute ignorance, because I don't know HOW that works), and she was feeling really left out. She never uses it, though, unless she is either on a car trip, or with them. Sometimes I pack it if we are going somewhere that I know we will have a long wait.



Now, having said all of that, I want to address your situation.....



Your fiance was *getting back at you* for buying the 4 year old a bike. I think the 2 of you have some communication issues you need to work out.....You should really be deciding jointly on what you are doing for your children at Christmas.