just want to know ur thoughts??

Hope - posted on 04/08/2011 ( 32 moms have responded )

9

8

my 8 year old has pc in her room.She also has a facebook to play tha games?My 7 and 6 year old have vxbox live in there rooms and the new cod??

This conversation has been closed to further comments

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

32 Comments

View replies by

Cindy - posted on 02/29/2012

1

35

Pc's need to be watched. Do you Know everyone she plays games with? Is she chatting while playing? I have a 15 yr old girl with a block on her netbook. She still works and plays sitting next to one of us. Children think friends are safe but I don't what to worry about if she is going somewhere with someone that can hurt her.

Kimber - posted on 06/29/2011

109

3

Hello,well my 9 year old son has a x-box in his room wich he is on x-box live all of the time playing with all of his little friends,but no he does not have his own facebook account! He would really love to have one,but me,and my hubby feel like he is way to young to have his own facebook account just yet! I think that it would really worry us both if he had a facebook acount at only 9 years old! There are just way to many werid ass people out here in this world,and i like to know who he is playing his games with ,or talking too! I thought that i read some place that a child was not sopose to have there on facebook account untill they were like 12,or older,but iam not sure about all of that either! But if you feel okay with your child having there own account. well then i think that is just fine. You are there mother.

Samone - posted on 04/11/2011

43

29

I agree I mean there is a reason COD has a Mature rating for 18 and over.

Dionne - posted on 04/11/2011

76

6

Looking at most of the posts all are iin agreement about the internet access. I agree with limiting and paying attention to what they are doing while on the internet wether it is computer or game system live. All the game systems have live now. My older two kids have access to the internet but picked up on their dads closing out the window or the chatting page they were on. My younger kids do not go live except when the older brother or dad plays with him. My younger daughter only watches tv or dvd since she does not really kknow how to run the computer. The dad is a bad influence for my kids do to his addiction on electronics and other women. I agree with being careful on the ratings for movies and games. Kids are very impressionable at all ages.
One disagreement that I have is the handheld games. Since three of my kids have cognitive disabilities and sensory issues they do have handheld games. Age appropriate is what I aim for and cognitive level as well. It took forever to find a game my youngest could play. These are used as rewards or earn playing them and also for car rides since they can not keep their hands off each other if they do not have something to do with their hands. They also help distract the kids when places are busy and loud. If your kids do not have issues like these than I could see limiting them. My kids see their dad with some form of electronic in his hands 90 percent of the time so I run into the monkey see monkey doo issue with some of it. I try to engage the kids into conversations to show they are more than a video game.
Everything is in moderation now adays and at a young age exercise is important. With two of the kids I have a hard time getting them to do anything physically due to the cognitive impairment problems. But they swim once a week and participate in special olympics to try encouraging the physical part of their life.
Hope you find your answer you were looking for.

Jane - posted on 04/11/2011

2,390

262

My son is 16 and I still don't let him play Call of Duty.

Jacquanette - posted on 04/11/2011

23

24

No WAY would any of my children have their own PC in a place that I could not see them (while under the age of 18). I am not an advocate for video games either, they could be doing much more age appropriate things, like playing outside, coloring, READING, etc. Also, no one under the age of 13 is allowed to have a facebook account. I feel that you're putting your children at risk.

Stifler's - posted on 04/11/2011

15,141

154

I was gonnna say, isn't COD some shooting killing game?

Samone - posted on 04/11/2011

43

29

"I'm indifferent because COD is my husbands favorite game so I don't think there is anyway around that... " Allie Bradshaw

Your worried about the internet but your indifferent to COD, don't know if you play COD but I do and its worse then some of the content on the internet especially the users. The mouth on the players in that game make me blush @ 32 not mention the blood and gore. I think your being a little hypocritical, COD is a internet based game btw. Its a online first person shooter game or a fps. It has mutiplayer and single player and I'm sure your husband ain't playing the single player version. To be ok with exposing your children to COD but have a problem with them being on facebook is just a oxymoron it makes no sense at least you can protect them on facebook by making the page private and turning on parental control. With COD you have absolutely no control over what they get exposed to and just because your husband plays doesn't mean your kids should watch, listen or play the game too. My daughter is 8 and COD is off limits we only play when she isn't around.

Allie - posted on 04/11/2011

341

8

My son is only three so we have a while before it comes to that, but we only have one tv in the house (and probably won't get anymore because we're not a tv watching family) When my son turns 8 I won't let him have a facebook, even for games. As for violent games.... I'm indifferent because COD is my husbands favorite game so I don't think there is anyway around that... we're going to try and stick to handheld games (like a Nintendo DS) and in my opinion, just because you asked for thoughts, anyone not in 8th grade/high school/college age doesn't really have any reason to be on the internet unless its for a research paper....

Samone - posted on 04/11/2011

43

29

My 8 yr old daughter has a wii, a xbox, a gameboy and a laptop, along with subscriptions to several online mmo's such as jumpstart, wizards 101 and a subscription to xbox live. So I understand where you are coming from however, I do not allow her to have any of these items in her room. They are all setup in our living area where she has her own space so that I can keep a eye on her. I made sure all the parental controls are active and I monitor her time and watch over her as she plays. I also make sure that she goes outside to play at least a hour a day. I believe what your kids have is okay however it is not ok for them play with those items unattended. Remove them from their bedrooms and put them in a common room where you can watch over them and they can watch over each other. Kids love telling mom what the other one is doing and make sure they get some outside time.

Amanda - posted on 04/11/2011

166

39

I don't think that I would have it in my kids room at that young of an age but it's you're decision

Shannon - posted on 04/11/2011

208

28

With all the predators online there is NO WAY i would give my child a computer in their room at any age, young kids are too impressionable and easliy persuaded to give out personal information (i.e address, phone number, school, teachers name, when mom and dad are away, etc) we have 2 computers in our house and gaming systems but they are in areas of the house that I monitor and time is limited on both, family time is essential and i feel that having all of that in their rooms is more a way of getting the kids out of your hair, besides with all of that in the bedrooms you cannot use the punishment 'GO TO YOUR ROOM' they would prefer that to sitting in the living room. Good luck with your tech savvy youngsters.

Keli - posted on 04/10/2011

1,120

5

I think 8 years old is ridiculous to have a facebook.a few of my little cousons have it too aged 9-12 and i still think thats young and i have to watch my P's and Q's when writting statuses that little eyes shouldnt see!! the internet is a HUGE thing,there must be other gaming sites that children can use.i dont think kids as young as yours need their privacy in that way just yet.

Elfrieda - posted on 04/10/2011

2,620

0

I think it's way too much freedom/responsibility for such young kids. I don't know what COD is, but I assume it's a video game. Why rush them to grow up and trade the running-around fun of childhood for the couch-potato fun of adulthood? They'll fuss, but if it were me, I think I'd lock up all the electronics for the summer and get them doing fun stuff outside.

Stifler's - posted on 04/10/2011

15,141

154

I can understand confining it to their room so there's not game controllers and crap everywhere.

Kelly - posted on 04/09/2011

629

1

Way too much, too young. I am lenient about some things (my older kids did have a pc, internet and even facebook pages when they were in their early teens). They've always had video games in their rooms. However, they don't have satellite tv in their rooms. And I strictly stick to the age guidelines for movie ratings. It is such a treat for my kids to turn 17 and get to watch R rated movies! And turning 13 to watch PG-13. I actually had someone criticize me for that one time, saying she had always let her kids watch R rated movies when they were young. It should be pointed out that my kids are responsible, mature, well behaved and never get in trouble, while her kids were horrors. I think you have to have clear ideas about what you want for your kids. I always remember being told "What goes into a garbage can? garbage. What comes out? garbage. If you put garbage into your brain, what will come out?" Hopefully these posts will help you decide to screen what goes into your kids' brains, LOL. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Jennifer - posted on 04/09/2011

3

28

I have an 8-year old as well. The only thing that is allowed in her room is a TV, DVD player and radio. I am terrified of the internet and kids. Our computer is in the main living area so computer access can be monitored. I also have a ton of parental settings on the computer and TV's as well. I think if you give them too much in their rooms then they will never come out of their rooms.

Stacey - posted on 04/09/2011

154

19

I do not let my 15 yr. old have any computer in her room. too risky at any age.

Jane - posted on 04/08/2011

1,488

32

for me, the idea of a computer in their room makes me very nervous. my brothers have always kept their computers for their kids right smack in the middle of the family room so they can monitor things as well as track computer usage. you never know who is contacting your kids. better to keep things in the open.

Keera - posted on 04/08/2011

94

33

My parents gave me my own computer when I was 2 (now 19 with a 1yr old). And yes it was an actual cp with internet & all that. To this day I know more then they do about computers and my mom is taking a computer class =] As long as you monitor what they are doing I don't see a problem with it. You are introducing things that many other parents would introduce til when they are older but my parents were honest with me about everything & let me play/watch "R" games/movies when I was young. I'm glad they did because I learned things faster & knew better =]...I believe as long as you watch and make sure they aren't doing anything "wrong" or "bad" there isn't an issue...BUT make sure they still get exercise & aren't glued to the TV or computer!! =P

Jane - posted on 04/08/2011

2,390

262

Until my kids were both in high school no one had a computer or video game or video player in their rooms. They had those things in the main living area so I could casually keep an eye on things. Also as others have said, you need to be 13 to be on Facebook so either your child is learning to lie to get what she wants or your child is in contact with you don't know who.

Personally, I prefer the Wii and its active games to anything on the PC for kids. I also believe very strongly that kids need to get outside, run and play, and learn to deal with their peers outside of the formality of a classroom.

In our house the bedrooms are for sleeping, playing creative games with toys, reading books, and having a private place to keep your own things.

Danielle - posted on 04/08/2011

766

25

Oh man,
I would never allow a computer, t.v, and especially big gaming systems in my kids room.
I feel that those items are O.k in moderation, but to have them in their room and available would be unhealthy.

My son can have a bowl of ice cream, but I am not going to install a freezer in his room.

I also think that an over abundance of gaming systems and computers lead to a disconnect with actual people. It is one more way to be uninvolved in society and I think is the cause of the "rudeness epidemic".
I also think computers and games act as a disservice to the arts and literature. At this impressionable age I would try to instill a variety of entertainment, not just what is convenient.

Jeannette - posted on 04/08/2011

524

0

At the age of 8, she shouldn't have a computer in her own room, or on facebook. You are supposed to be 13 to have a facebook account. She can always play the games, on your account, while sitting in an area where you can readily keep an eye on her. I see know reason for kids to have video game consoles. My thoughts might change when my son is older (only 17 months now) but they shouldn't be allowed on line to play and definitely not COD! They make kids games for a reason.

I think the XBOX and WII are nice things to have on rainy/cold days, but not something to play everyday and only games appropriate for their age or exercise/moving games. I don't agree with young children having those hand held games because I've seen plenty of kids who won't put them down during dinner, during church... or complain and cry when they can't have them.

Sarah - posted on 04/08/2011

1,576

14

I do not allow tv, internet, or anything that can connect to other people outside our home in anyones rooms. There are so many scary things out in the world that make it so dangerous to have those unmonitored.....even if you have no fear your child will connect to those sites or people. Perverts know how to work the system. I was recently talking to a friend of mine who said her son (13 yrs old) was playing one of his games that he can connect with other people and play (outside of the house). One of the players said that he could get them 10,000 points if he would just give him his password. To an adult you know not to give out your password, but to a kid he sees that hey this guy is going to help me out so why should I not give out my password to him. Well, his computer and all of his friends computers got hacked.
I think it is mportant for parents to know what their kids are doing...which also means watching and playing. It is so much easier to know what they are doing when all that stuff is set up in an open location where at anytime you can see what they are doing. When it is in their rooms they can easily change from one site/game to another or talk to different people without you even knowing. As for facebook.....really an 8 yr old should not have her own facebook page. I know there are many kids that do have facebook pages, but if you read the age limit on facebook that is no suppose to be allowed (for good reason). My son likes to play the games that are one facebook also....so I allow him to use my account to play the games and since he plays them out in the open I always know what he is doing.
As a parent we are to protect our children from danger and I think that is just inviting danger to come into your family.

Sharon - posted on 04/08/2011

114

4

My kids who are now 20, 18, and 16 did not have their own computers until almost the middle of high school. We had one central computer in a study they had to share and that my husband and I could walk in on anytime. They may not intentially get into questinable sites but they can accidentally come upon on them.

Amber - posted on 04/08/2011

1,909

13

If she has a facebook then she must have lied about her age because nobody under 13 is allowed to have one.

I don't really have a problem with children having computer time, games, facebook, or things like that. But there has to be a way to monitor it. You never know who has access to your children once they are on a network somewhere.

I don't think them having these things are wrong, I just think unlimited and unsupervised access to them is dangerous.

Medic - posted on 04/08/2011

3,922

19

Well you asked my thoughts so here they are...there is no reason an 8 year old needs a pc in her room much less to be on fb unsupervised and really at all. I also see no reason for ANY kids to have video games in their rooms and not in a common area where they can be supervised and COD is TOTALLY inappropriate for kids that young. Don't they have better things to do than sit around and play video games??? Adults get on and play both the COD and on FB so how are you 100% sure whats going on in either room??? There are sick people out on both the net and xbox live, and why expose your kids to unnecessary aspects of being older? We have the xbox,ps3, and wii but even my husband only plays kid appropriate games while the kids are awake and saves his COD till after they are in bed.....and my 4 year old has his own computer but it is set up right next to mine in the living room where we can see everything he does.

Ashleigh Jade - posted on 04/08/2011

774

18

I agree with louise, its alot of technology to over see.

Louise - posted on 04/08/2011

5,429

69

Thats alot of parental control required. Personnally I think this is to much but it is your decision as their parent what they have access to.