Help! More exciting than a DS?

[book_lover]

I know I said I would stick in Photography, but for this I need lots of heads.

Laura is so set on a DS for Christmas, as her little friend Gregory has one and she loves it. I thought this would be ok and whenever we’ve chatted about it I’ve said she can put it in her letter to Santa and have never given her any reason to believe she wouldn’t get one. But DH has grown increasingly uncomfortable with the idea – to him, she is too young, plus I have to agree with him in that she has a fairly obsessive personality and so the rules we’d want to apply about time limits would be crying out to be broken by her etc.
I don’t want to let her down, she’s so excited about it, so I wondered if you ladies could think of something seriously cool that we could suggest she ask for instead? I’m only prepared to “change” this if she is on board, because I feel like I’d be going back on my word.

Also I hope this doesn’t turn into a bunfight on the rights and wrongs of games consoles for children – lots of Damsels children have them so I hope we can avoid that :-)

[Sparkly]

I seriously have no idea what would be comparable tbh? What is she into? Some kind of playhouse for the garden?

(We considered and decided against for the same reasons btw)

[Chell]

A camera like Mummy?

[Daffodil]

I'm considering a Leapfrog Leapster for my DD who is 4.5. I don't know if that will throw up the same issues for you as a DS though!

[Miss P]

A camera like Mummy?

:nod:

I've bought C this VTech Pro (http://www.vtechuk.com/products-and-accessories/kidizoom-pro/) - it's a 2 megapixel camera with a built in MP3 and a few games, so definitely comparable to a DS.

Other than that, a guinea pig or two? :teehee:

[Roo]

Her own little 'toy' laptop?? Laura has a 'Dora' one and loves it,and hope Adam will get a V-tech one for Christmas (£14.99 in Argos at the moment). Or a PC game just for her? Again L has a Peppa Pig one that she loves, plus we've got an old set of 'Jump Ahead' ones that she's mad on at the moment, but because she has to 'share' the PC she can't spend *that* long, IYSWIM.

[Sparkly]

Oh a camera is a great idea! Or what about a Vtech smile - Dita and others praised those highly for pre DS users! :lol:

[Littlejojo]

we have got Mia this, which I know she will love
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3474224/Trail/searchtext%3EVTECH+NOTEBOOK.htm

[Jubjub]

I don't know. I wouldn't dare welch on it, if you've already told her she can put it on her letter to Santa :meh:

I desperately wanted a Major Minor when I was little, but my mum insisted on toys of a more educational bent, so I got a Little Professor that was more or less a mental arithmetic test dressed up as a toy. It sucked, and I lost my faith in Santa a little bit that year. This was not anything like a Major Minor:

http://tvcream.squarespace.com/storage/photos/electronics/littleprof.jpg

You'll have to test the water with some chat about computers and cameras. Then keep her away from Gregory for the foreseeable future!

[One Sock]

A pony?

[Miss P]

A pony?

:lol:

[scatterbrain]

I'm not sure. I have a ds & have been toying with the idea of bying Elena a game for it (she's nearly 6). But, I can't get passed the obsessiveness of my nephew with his games machines. Honestly, he sits there even at Christmas constantly playing on it, rarely does anything else & has a strop when he has to stop (he's 9 now, but this has been going for a few years).

I would hate for Elena to get like this about a games console. But, saying that, she happily plays on the Cebeebies website & on her schools website & so long as we give her a limit (only one game or just until teatime) then she's generally ok about it & not obsessive. If she does start getting obsessive (wining to play on it or refusing to stop) she gets a computer ban for a week.

I think if you do get her one then laying down ground rules & limits is the way to go.

I think I'll be getting Elena a 'real' camera for her 6th birthday. Hopefully that will stop her constantly trying to use mine as she's out grown her kiddy one now. She's really interested in editing too (often sits with me & tells me to make it brighter or sharpen the eyes etc - lol), so I was going to look out for some children friendly photo manipulation software too.

Does she want a DS because her friends are getting them? If so, it might be difficult to get her away from the idea willingly.

S

[Oana]

I don't know. I wouldn't dare welch on it, if you've already told her she can put it on her letter to Santa :meh:


Agree with jubjub, if I had actively encourgaed her to add it to her list I'm not sure I could change my mind. If I felt really strongly I would make it a third parties fault e.g The elves have ran out :tongue:

[donna-j]

Agree with jubjub, if I had actively encourgaed her to add it to her list I'm not sure I could change my mind. If I felt really strongly I would make it a third parties fault e.g The elves have ran out :tongue:

I agree too. If you've said Santa will bring one then unless you can get her to decide otherwise I think it's a bit unfair :cry:

[Blonde Girl]

I agree too. If you've said Santa will bring one then unless you can get her to decide otherwise I think it's a bit unfair :cry:

I think that is what Bookie is trying to do though, although I am a mean mummy and I would just tell her that Santa din't have enough and get her something else :oops:

Dan is v. similar with obsessiveness and there is no way he will be getting one anytime soon :happyno:

ETA :teehee: at the pony idea!

[DietCoke]

It's a tough one, like the others have said, if you've already said that Santa will bring her one...

Can you get her one, but only get education games for it? Would that be a fair compromise? you could even say that Santa sent a little letter with it saying she's only allowed to use it when mommy/daddy says so?

[Cymber]

All of mine, including my 6 year old, have/have had hand held games consoles and none of them are in the least bit obsessive about them. They have lots of other stuff to do - playing out, reading, building stuff.

A DS won't necessarily lead to obsession.

Oh and my 6 year old is obsessive about some stuff. Dinosaurs anyone?!? :rolleyes::lol::wink:

[donna-j]

Oops, didn't read all of the first post - soz.

[Swingo]

If you don't get one this year, you'll only have to get one next year :twisted:

But seriously, I try to think back at myself as a young kid when we had technology (Ok it was a Binatone bat and ball game but still :teehee: ). Yeah, you'd go on it, but the lure of playing out, dolls, drawing etc is still there and still goes on.

[book_lover]

thanks for all the replies, I'm actually starting to feel a tad better about it reading this lot, and no way would I go back on my word unless she could be convinced to change her own mind - which is prob unlikely. Now IF we could do the pony thing, I can only imagine that would swing it :laff: but guinea pigs/rabbits will always be under threat here (foxes, buzzards and even my dog, although he's a bit past it he used to kill rabbits) - if it ever escaped it would be a goner (no real boundaries to our garden, none that would keep a small animal in) or dead due to the aforementioned predators :laff:

Shame as I BET her own little pet would have swung it :wink:

Some good ideas here though, but none I think that she would prefer over the DS :sigh:

[One Sock]

Hamster? Would be indoors...

[book_lover]

Cats :twisted:

[Mad Madam Mim]

Well we had this issue to Bookie, Dylan really wanted one and although I have nothing whatsoever about kids having one (I want one myself! :wink:) We did want to leave something like that for next year really. I sat and went through the ELC, Argos etc catalogues and looked at other things he might like. I mentioned a DS is quite expensive so Santa wouldn't be able to bring many other parcels and eventually sold him on something else (Lego and walkie talkies) for this year. I don't know if he is really suggestable but he went for it. I'm not sure what is comparable for Laura but maybe if you look through some toys with her she might see something? Oh and I am getting him a couple of games for the PC too.

[kelly]

I agree with the suggestion of getting it but getting educational type games for it. 'I did it mum' is quite a good one and vaguely educational.

DS2 was 4 in June and got one for his 4th birthday. He plays it every day but always hands it over when he's told. And its an excellent punishment tool for me with him too!

[Daisy66]

You might be surprised at how she is with a DS.

DH and I have one each, which the kids are allowed to use now and then. DD gets bored after less than half an hour usually. Even DS, who at 3.5 is not even able to play sensibly on it, will hand it over as soon as asked.

They're invaluable on trips to the dentist, for instance, when you have to wait for ages. Or on long car journeys.

I think you should get one and see how she gets on. I'd be surprised if you found her wanting to be on 24/7 :nod:

Daisy

[sunshine]

I got DD a leapster last year instead of a DS,as I thought it would be more educational/ appropriate. Tbh she has hardly touched it and it was a waste of money.

DH got a DS last summer. It is white and T knows that it belongs to Daddy, but he will let her have a go. She has 2 games- dora ice princess and dora saves the mermaids. She can go for months without playing it, and I thought that she would also be quite obsessive about it. She will play with it on long journeys and if we are away in the van, but apart from that, isnt bothered. Because it isnt hers, it doesnt go in her bedroom so she doesnt play with it at home.

[peppa]

I agree with the others. None of mine are on theirs 24/7 because they are used to other toys and playing out. They are very handy for rainy days.

[Miss Frosty]

Not sure anything else with be as *exciting* if that is what she has asked Santa for :happyno:.

Blair has asked for a DS this year and DH wasn't keen at all :no: but after listening to Blair talk about it and the fact that he is 6, he has agreed to get him one (which is just as well seeing I have bought a DSi :tongue:) and we will make sure that it is kept downstairs at all times and monitor the time he is on it, so am happy with it tbh :grin:.

Having said that, Blair had a a v-tech laptop when he was about 4 and he still loves it :thumb:.

[Hello Kitty]

I don't understand what the difference is between being obsessed with a DS or being obsessed with a VTECH toy??? :meh:

I have got G a DS this year but have looked specifically at more educational games. I am going to make sure she doesn't spend all day on it though just like I would anything else (tv, computer etc).

[Cherrypie]

I don't understand what the difference is between being obsessed with a DS or being obsessed with a VTECH toy??? :meh:).

I agree



I have got G a DS this year but have looked specifically at more educational games. I am going to make sure she doesn't spend all day on it though just like I would anything else (tv, computer etc).

Good idea.

I haven't considered getting Eilis a games console or similar yet as she's just not into them really. She plays the odd game (mostly educational) on Connor's computer but that's about it.

OTOH, Connor loves computer games and console games. We just apply a time limit - and have to be quite strict - for him.

[Katiekipper]

From my experience the children who become obsessively hooked are those who's parents denied them access to video games until they are older. Beanie was 4 when he got his and can take it or leave it. Even on car journeys he'll turn it off after an hour or so. But his friends who only got them this past year at age 7/8 are surgically attached to them.

[Mad Madam Mim]

My post should have said I have I have nothing against kids having them and I do want one myself. We aren't getting Dylan one this year for other reasons, he does play games on the computer and will almost certaily get a DS next year if he still wants one.

[Roo]

On the pet front, we see foxes most days in our garden but our guinea pigs live out in their hutch/run all year round with no problems, ditto we've had two hamsters at the same time as having a cat and never got eaten :happyno: Sorry, realise that doesn't help the OP but as the subject of pets came up I thought I'd add that! Just make sure hutches/cages are secure :thumb:

[Sadie]

I don't understand what the difference is between being obsessed with a DS or being obsessed with a VTECH toy??? :meh:

I agree. You can still buy educational games for the DS and monitor their usage of it.

[Dynamo]

I can't think of anything better than a DS - from Laura's perspective at least :lol: But wanted to add that we do successfully limit DS (and by extension any other games console time). It's fab as a reward for good behaviour (say some time on it on a Friday afternoon if they went to bed nicely all week etc.) Also totally invaluable in doctor's waiting rooms, dentist, airports - anywhere where they really just have to sit still and the time would be wasted anyway. These sorts of situations and car journeys are the main use of the DS for us. They have a special box in the house and only come out with permission. Maybe you and DH can explain the "rules" - right from the offset and that way you maintain control.

[book_lover]

Thanks so much for all the great replies, it's been so interesting reading them, and as you know we do feel a bit torn, but are going for it. Her heart is set on it, and her friend was here this weekend and she has some shots and she just loves it. So - better get onto Amazon and spend a hundred quid then I suppose :doh:

[Legolas]

We have got one for Maddy for Xmas. I got one this year and she plays Dora, Peppa Pig and Cooking Mama, but is not obssessed and probably plays mine once or twice a week for 30mins or so. Ive bought her her own Cooking mama and the tinkerbell game as it was buy one get one free at Game.

[Mad Madam Mim]

Thanks so much for all the great replies, it's been so interesting reading them, and as you know we do feel a bit torn, but are going for it. Her heart is set on it, and her friend was here this weekend and she has some shots and she just loves it. So - better get onto Amazon and spend a hundred quid then I suppose :doh:

Have you checked ebay? The new version is out so a lot of people are selling their older version.

Tell Laura I want a go when Santa delivers :wink:

[book_lover]

MMM, I will :laff:

I meant to type Ebay actually - although the 2nd hand ones seem as expensive as new :shock: