Should I Let My Son Play Games?

My girls play video games (ages 3 and 8), but certainly not anything like Halo! There are some fun games for children on the Wii & they're not games you just sit on the couch & play. They get up & jump around. We also have an Xbox & they have Nintendo DSs; both have fun, educational games, especially the DS system.

I do believe that video games can be fun, educational & family oriented. I wouldn't, however, feel any pressure to allow them to play simply because their friends are; nor would I allow any games that aren't appropriate.

my oldest boy is 12. he has a nintendo ds, but has a limit of rating E (not E 10 plus or higher). he does play my brother's Wii games, but they are very g rated, like bowling. he loves his computer games, but again i monitor what he plays. my youngest, at 5 1/2, is about the same, but no nitendo ds. i don't own a full video game system and will only do it if the price is right. even then there will be lots of rules put on it! follow your gut on this one.

You are obviously uncomfortable with this idea, so I wouldn't let him play. There is no need to allow your child to do something just because everyone else is doing it. Our child is almost 4 and he is allowed to play a drawing game on the computer by himself...anything else he must have one of us accompany him. He doesn't have the coordination to play anything on our Wii except Go Diego Go...so right now it isn't an issue for us. I have no problem telling him no. I don't know much about the games you mentioned, but they don't sound like they are exactly intended for kindergartners. We haven't had cable since before our son was born. There are tons of television references and cartoons that come up that he has no clue what is being referred to...he isn't a weirdo, kids haven't alienated him: he is a happy kid with plenty of friends.

I personally think that there are too many games out there that are completely inappropriate for any child of any age to see. My husband plays them and some of them are really bad (he only plays when our son is gone or late at night). In our house the only computer game our son (4) is allowed to play are games on Playhouse Disney online. He is not allowed to play any PS3 or Wii games and the only games he is allowed to watch are games that are rated E for everyone. We have bought him the leapster handheld game system all the games are for school age children with their fave TV characters and they are all educational, he loves it and thinks of it as his video game system like Daddy's.
If you feel that your child should not play games then don't let him. While he is staying at other children's houses that is a little harder but in your house you decide. I understand that he feels left out but this is not one of those things that kids have to do and not every kid does it.

V.,

I have semi-grown :) children -- sons 23 & 18 and daughter 21. I did not let them play video games until they were MUCH older. I'm agahst that 5 & 6 year old knows what "Halo" is. I just asked my 18 year old if it was appropriate for that age and, even he said "absolutely not". Trust your instincts! You will know when it's appropriate for you and your family to introduce video games and which ones. Video games are rated just like movies. There's a reason some of them are rated "Teen" and "Mature" -- those are not for young children. BTW -- "Halo" has one of those ratings. (I can't find the cover just now to verify which one; but, it is at least "Teen".)

Trust yourself. You are on the right track!

Good luck,
R. F.

Hi V.,
We don't let our son play games either. I have bought him educational computer games, and he loves them!!
http://www.childrenssoftwareonline.com/Default.aspx?m=sof...

He also loves Legos, Nascars, Puzzles, gameboards, card games, marble race, reading, etc... It's great to see him using HIS imagination. We also take the time to play WITH him.

This is just my opinion, but I wanted to let you know, you are not alone on this issue! :) We also homeschool, though, so it is much easier to control his environment and outside influences.

R.

hello

my son is 6 years and he plays 1 hour at day video games ps3 mostly he plays guitar hero world tour the same song all the time and he plays fifa soccer ,indiana jones ,star wars and batman the lego version are pretty good

halo is rate
mature and teen

A agree w/Stacey B.. If you're uncomfortable with this, don't succumb to peer pressure.

I'm also curious as to how you found out that "All my son's friends play..." Quite frankly, my kids will occasionally tell me, "All my friends have cell phones" or "All my friends so such and such" but when we talk about it more deeply and I ask for names, there are only a handful that are doing whatever they mention.

Personally, I have 8 & 10 year old girls. Obviously, my younger one gets to do things a little sooner than my older one, as once we get something like a Wii, they both get to play. The girls got their first DS about a year ago, and still enjoy games like Nintentogs, PictoChat, and Dolphin something. We also have a Wii, and they play Sports, Animal Crossing, and MarioGalaxy.

Do what you feel comfortable with.

Good luck!
www.familyeguide.com Free guide to affordable family activities in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, and the surrounding communities.