Gaming Console Strict Parent

[Anonymous]

My DD wants a gaming console so that she can do active games and that she has something to do when friends come over. I'm not wild about it but my husband is now on DD's side. I don't want them sitting around playing video games. My biggest regret in life is allowing Pokemon Go which DD plays all the time in the car.

What console do you recommend?

[Anonymous]

Your biggest regret is Pokemon Go? I can't imagine you are going to be happy with any gaming console, then. She'll want to play it. If your goal is to keep it as non-absorbing as possible I'd get a Switch. There are games you can play with two people, some of them active, but the little screen makes it less all-encompassing than something projected on a large screen TV like a PS. You could get a Wii, but they aren't terribly cool anymore.

[Anonymous]

My son had a console. It was fun. It didn't take over his life.

You can also choose to step up and parent. You can establish rules.

You should let the two of them choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your biggest regret is Pokemon Go? I can't imagine you are going to be happy with any gaming console, then. She'll want to play it. If your goal is to keep it as non-absorbing as possible I'd get a Switch. There are games you can play with two people, some of them active, but the little screen makes it less all-encompassing than something projected on a large screen TV like a PS. You could get a Wii, but they aren't terribly cool anymore.

I'm fine with it being on a big screen but I want it to be athletic. Not something they can port around in the car etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your biggest regret is Pokemon Go? I can't imagine you are going to be happy with any gaming console, then. She'll want to play it. If your goal is to keep it as non-absorbing as possible I'd get a Switch. There are games you can play with two people, some of them active, but the little screen makes it less all-encompassing than something projected on a large screen TV like a PS. You could get a Wii, but they aren't terribly cool anymore.

I'm fine with it being on a big screen but I want it to be athletic. Not something they can port around in the car etc.

you can want what you want, but I recommend listening to her and respecting that this is about liesure time and friends. let her be a teen.

[Anonymous]

I'm on your DD's side. Unless you think she's going to be outside with her friends building forts or playing tag or whatever, a many online games are actually great group activities. They require imagination, team work, cooperation, and problem solving capabilities. I get that you don't want her to completely veg out on the couch to monitor the types of games you buy. Make sure that they are, in fact, games that can be played by four players. Buy four controllers. Buy games that require strategy and teamwork.

Yes, I would prefer that my kids were outside building forts with their hands. However, when it's raining or 100 degrees outside, to hear them and their buddies playing the xbox together and compromising, building, arguing and resolving is pretty good too.

[Anonymous]

We have a PS4, a Switch and some older consoles.

I don't understand your desire to control your spouse's time and access to video games. DH will play open world games on the PS4 for long periods of time when he gets a new game (maybe twice a year). I don't really care what he does with his leisure time - he's 50!

DS mostly just uses the Switch and normally only plays it with his friends. He has a couple of extra controllers. This is certainly not the only thing he likes to do with his friends. He did go through a phase of playing online PC games with his friends (League of Legends, Overwwtch) when he was a little younger, but it didn't take over his life and that stopped when everyone learned how to drive and school got more intense.

Video games can be a lot of fun and very relaxing for people of all ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your biggest regret is Pokemon Go? I can't imagine you are going to be happy with any gaming console, then. She'll want to play it. If your goal is to keep it as non-absorbing as possible I'd get a Switch. There are games you can play with two people, some of them active, but the little screen makes it less all-encompassing than something projected on a large screen TV like a PS. You could get a Wii, but they aren't terribly cool anymore.

I'm fine with it being on a big screen but I want it to be athletic. Not something they can port around in the car etc.

Then you don't want the Switch - one of its benefits is being able to port it around. You can use it in the car if you have Wifi in the car. The Wii is probably the only console that focuses on movement in games, but I'd warn you against thinking it is "athletic." It isn't. There is movement in some of the games, you can get yoga or other fitness programs, but even something like Dance Dance Revolution (which is FABULOUS, by the way) is not athletic. But it isn't sitting on your behind, either.

[Anonymous]

I think choosing a system that’s not portable, with set rules, is a good compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your biggest regret is Pokemon Go? I can't imagine you are going to be happy with any gaming console, then. She'll want to play it. If your goal is to keep it as non-absorbing as possible I'd get a Switch. There are games you can play with two people, some of them active, but the little screen makes it less all-encompassing than something projected on a large screen TV like a PS. You could get a Wii, but they aren't terribly cool anymore.

I'm fine with it being on a big screen but I want it to be athletic. Not something they can port around in the car etc.

Then you don't want the Switch - one of its benefits is being able to port it around. You can use it in the car if you have Wifi in the car. The Wii is probably the only console that focuses on movement in games, but I'd warn you against thinking it is "athletic." It isn't. There is movement in some of the games, you can get yoga or other fitness programs, but even something like Dance Dance Revolution (which is FABULOUS, by the way) is not athletic. But it isn't sitting on your behind, either.

OP here. Thank you. I know nothing really about consoles but isn't the Wii too old now(?) Are they still making games for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think choosing a system that’s not portable, with set rules, is a good compromise.

Which consoles focus on activity? Wii- but it's old. Anything else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think choosing a system that’s not portable, with set rules, is a good compromise.

Which consoles focus on activity? Wii- but it's old. Anything else?

She wants to play with her friends. That is reasonable. That will guide which system is the preferred one.

Either PS or Xbox. Her call. It doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think choosing a system that’s not portable, with set rules, is a good compromise.

Which consoles focus on activity? Wii- but it's old. Anything else?

She wants to play with her friends. That is reasonable. That will guide which system is the preferred one.

Either PS or Xbox. Her call. It doesn't matter.

This.

I doubt a Wii would be what you want. You want games that will be challenging and imaginative. She can get the physical activity elsewhere. Kids just do the wrist flick with the Wii anyway.

[Anonymous]

You do not want a Wii. No matter what console you get, kids will eventually want the non active games. Just give them time limits or eat her earn screen time by first doing physical activity.

[Anonymous]

I would let your husband and daughter decide on which console, since they will be the ones playing.

Otherwise, you will come off like a control freak and really out of date.

People have strong preferences about whether they prefer an Xbox or a PS, but the games are just about the same. I think the "virtual world" that they play in (I'm out of date) is converging so that you can play with people on either system. Yes, there's more sophisticated vocab for saying this, but I don't know it.