Is a Nintendo DS to much for a 6 year old?

[Siobhan]

I had a major tantrum session over the weekend cause I refused to get Charley (now 6) a DS from Santa. She has told me all her friends have one and she knows 2 kids age 3 yrs who has one too (I actually seen a 3 year old with one of these). I put my foot down and keeping it down cause this year a DS, next a mobile phone, then a laptop.. where will it all end??

So just wondering if you thing a DS is far to much for a 6 year old or am I been unreasonable??

[Abi]

I dont think you're being unreasonable. They're over rated, anyway. Plus you hold them close to your face, so it wouldn't be good for her eyes, especially as she's so young.

And dont beleive her- All her friends won't have them. She might know 1 or 2 people with them, but i bet they share them with the rest of the family. She'll just say that to make you feel guilty, if shes anything like all the kids i know (Including myself, hahaha).

[Siobhan]

Trust me they do. I have seen a lot of her friends with them..they got them last year.. even one of her friends younger sister has one and she is just gone 4...

[Katy]

I think you are right puitting your foot down siobhan 6 is a bit young. When she gets a bit older she will learn the value more. I was like that with my first mobile phone. Everyone else got them brefore me. It'll be something else she wants in a few months anyway.

[samantha nixon]

It depends if you dont feel that she should have one then no your not being unreasonable, but I also think it is ok for a 6 year old to have one, as its fun for them to do, but i dont no you may prefer Charley to do other stuff rather than sit at a game thing, but a lot of the games are quite good that are aimed at children, and I know a child who plays the sodukus and stuff on there so they are learning at the same time

[Joanne]

I've got one for my daughter who will be 7 this Friday. Alot of the girls in her class already have one and, those that don't have one want one!

My younger daughter's best friend got one for her 5th birthday last week.

[pookie1968uk]

my sister wont get her 6year old one this christmas and i do agree with her. firstly if they are getting all these older gifts when they so young what will there be left to get them in a few years. secondly how many 6 year olds can be trusted with a £100 gadget? certainly not my niece anyway and im sure a lot of 6 year olds are like her. i think in a couple of years would be fine. my sister actually compromised and got her this:

http://www.woolworths.co.uk/web/jsp/product/index.jsp?pid=50494722

[Jojo]

Ciaran (5) has one.............I think its down to personal choice, rather than right or wrong etc. My children all know the value of money and aren't spoilt - and its actually done wonders for his hand/eye co-ordination.

[Siobhan]

thanks guys for all your advice.. Yes I totally agree with you Em.. if your kids have know the value of money then yes an expensive gift is fine but in Charley's case when she breaks something Daddy buys a new one so I don't think she knows the value of money. Once she has knows this then I will change my mind.
Just curious: what sort of game do you get for children on the DS? I would love to get one for myself with the brain training and I know that is too old for Charley.. do they have a child version of this?

[Jojo]

We have Big Brain Academy on the Wii, which is also available for the DS, which Ciaran loves Shiv.

This (http://www.bigbrainacademy.com/ds/index.html) should give you an idea of what its like.

:)

[Trinity]

My boys had gameboys, gameboy colours and nintendo ds (in progression - not all at once).

The DS was not a sucess with them - obviously they are much older, but they ended up selling them on ebay!

My wee nephew has had one for 2 or 3 years and he is almost 7. (he also has a playstation 2, Xbox360 and he is getting a Wii for his birthday next week!)

My wee niece who is almost 3 has a DS.

I don't think it is an age thing - it might be a responsibility thing, i.e don't get one if you think that your child with lose it/break it or whatever.

[Chloe O'brien]

Marley got a DS last year for her 8 birthday. She already had a gameboy advance and a nintendo 64 but they had been given to her buy her older cousin. It's up to parental choice but it doesn't help when the kids say but all my friends have one. Marley got a Wii last christmas and although she enjoys playing with her DS and Wii she is not addicted to it. She only plays on them a couple of hours a week because most of the week she is out doing sports.

I'm getting her a laptop this year although she's only 9 my sister and others may think I'm off my tree but it will be educational for her as well and recreational. also I only buy Marley presents twice a year birthday's and Christmas. She will get a huge amount of presents on Christmas but then she will have to wait another 10 months for more gifts. I know some parents buy their kids gifts during the year. I don't for 1 I can't afford to.

[.:SpIcYsPy:.]

Personally yes, it is too much for a 6 year old..

At 11 (when we moved into our new house) I got my own computer.. At 13? I got my first phone.. for my birthday.. Then I got an iPod, with my money when I was... 14?..

Stop. That's it lol, no TV in my bedroom no DVD player, no play station or whatever.. I do slightly remember having a Gameboy at 9? For Christmas, put all my Christmas money together and bought it..
My mum was thinking of getting one for my 5 year old brother but it just seems way to young.. and he's still at the stage of breaking everything so no and she agrees with me :eek::p

If you do decide to get your 6 year a Nintendo DS I think you should make it clear that it's alot of responsibility and also maybe ask her to chip in a bit with some Christmas money. It just makes it a bit more, ''it's mine''.. If I am making sense which I hope I am x

[Perdita]

Personally yes, it is too much for a 6 year old..

At 11 (when we moved into our new house) I got my own computer.. At 13? I got my first phone.. for my birthday.. Then I got an iPod, with my money when I was... 14?..

Stop. That's it lol, no TV in my bedroom no DVD player, no play station or whatever.. I do slightly remember having a Gameboy at 9? For Christmas, put all my Christmas money together and bought it..
My mum was thinking of getting one for my 5 year old brother but it just seems way to young.. and he's still at the stage of breaking everything so no and she agrees with me :eek::p

If you do decide to get your 6 year a Nintendo DS I think you should make it clear that it's alot of responsibility and also maybe ask her to chip in a bit with some Christmas money. It just makes it a bit more, ''it's mine''.. If I am making sense which I hope I am x

Makes sense to me, I agree with you. :)

[samantha nixon]

If you do decide to get your 6 year a Nintendo DS I think you should make it clear that it's alot of responsibility and also maybe ask her to chip in a bit with some Christmas money. It just makes it a bit more, ''it's mine''.. If I am making sense which I hope I am x


Thats a good idea about the chipping in bit, but most parents dont like doing that lol, for my birthday I wanted a laptop and I said to my mum that I would be willing to put money towards it, so she and my dad pay whatever amount they want and they said they couldnt do that as it wouldnt feel right as it was a present

[.:SpIcYsPy:.]

It dosen't always work when I want something, like I want a digital cam. now but even for Christmas no. I want UGG's no. I want a TV in my bedroom no.

Always worth a try but hey I'll live. I will just save up for a car instead and then once I get that I will enjoy my life to the max and still know the 'value of money'..

They been teaching it all my life, mistake with my parents is they are still teaching it and they know I've learnt it and do appreciate it..

[samantha nixon]

It dosen't always work when I want something, like I want a digital cam. now but even for Christmas no. I want UGG's no. I want a TV in my bedroom no.

Always worth a try but hey I'll live. I will just save up for a car instead and then once I get that I will enjoy my life to the max and still know the 'value of money'..

They been teaching it all my life, mistake with my parents is they are still teaching it and they know I've learnt it and do appreciate it..

Would they allow it if you bought the tv, or uggs or is it just a no as they dont want you to have one?

[.:SpIcYsPy:.]

I can live without both so I'm hanging in there haha.. But TV is a no UGG's are a 'you can get them if YOU want' lol..I think I might just get them tenner ones up the highstreet if all fails lol.. Can't have everything in life.. maybe later :p x