Parents- how much time do you allow your kids on the DS

Deskjockey

Have a 7 and a 5 year old getting these for the first time tomorrow, just wondering what General rules people use in terms of time allowed.

Have 2 brilliant sporty kids with no electronics (bar looking for a go off my smartphone) so am new to this

Does something like this sound normal- reasonable, nothing on schooldays and 60/90 mins a day on weekends?

lukesmom

Yeah sounds okay except Id probably allow them a little time on weekdays too.

Myrddin

If their homework is done, & anything else they've to do is taken care of, I'd allow some DS time on the weekdays too. Game time is privilege time imo, & having all responsibilities take care of first, then getting some privilege time is a constructive lesson around that age.

Andrew76

No video games on a school night in this household and a couple of hours at the weekend if they ask. Mine are a little younger at 4&1/2 and 5&1/2 so I'm a bit more weary about getting them addicted too young, they're also more into Lego & action figures at the minute anyway. :pac:

Retr0gamer

When I was brought up it was no videogames until homework was done. They tried to do the no games during the week but it drove me nuts so didn't last long, i didn't cause trouble just bored out of my mind without them when I wasn't doing sports club stuff or nobody was playing outside. Did no harm to me but definitely put limits on them if they are doing it to excess.

60-90 minutes just at weekends definitely doesn't sound enough. As long as they enjoy it and it's not affecting them in any negative way then there's no reason to put restrictions on it. Taking away something that they enjoy isn't healthy. Who knows, they might not take to it.

iamtony

I've been playing games since I was a wee lad and don't see a problem with it I'm a pretty well rounded individual, well I think I am:-)

My 2 kids play games, my 11 year old plays ps4 but even though he plays in his room on his own he is on a mic chatting with his friends building his social skills. He also plays football and loves it and has real life friends. He probably plays about 10 hours a week.

Me and my 5 year old girl play games together and I think it's a great bonding experience and it teaches them a lot of things like problem solving, reading and it's much more sociable than watching a film together or something as we can chat while we're doing it and we're having fun together!

I say let them at it!

COYVB

Put whatever limits on gaming that you put on TV watching. Easy.