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We have a wii and play as a family and my youngest was not quite 5 when I bought it and he did pretty well with it on the Wii Sports. Regardless, I don't think a gift needs to be earned, thats why its called a gift.
My youngest is 8 months, and daddy and I have requested NOTHING but old fashioned wooden toys for him this Christmas. First, he has no idea what Christmas is, and second, thankfully electronic things make him angry - there is not much for him to do but hit a button or watch! I doubt his grandmother will respect our request, but it is in his best interest as far as we are concerned.
When I was pregnant with my first, we requested (well, no we told straight-out) that he was not to have any plastic toys. Boy, did that cut down on a lot of unneeded c**p! I made sure I reminded everyone several times from pregnancy until after the birth. Only one family member didn't seem to get (and still doesn't)--my FIL and his wife. But as they live in their own time-capsule type of life, I try not to care (it would really take too much to try to get them to understand why we don't want plastic, and then they would still be baffled at what they could buy the boys). I let the boys play with the FIL's toys for a little while then pass them on. Anyhow, insisting on wooden or cloth toys almost automatically puts the emphasis on quality, not quanity, which was a great side-effect.
My sister once knew a family that didn't want their child to have a game console, but theirs friends felt so bad for the child, that they went out and the child one for a birthday present and didn't tell the parents! True story! Makes you wonder what the h*** people are thinking!
Back to topic, I would take the advice of a previous poster who stated that you just can't get worked up over what other people give other kids as presents. In fact, I would apologize to the parent. Sounds like you went a little overboard. You still don't have to agree with them, but they would probably appreciate a "I don't agree, but I'm sorry I jumped down your throat" type of apology.
My son got his first video game last year for christmas. He was almost 7 and he got a Nintendo DS.
This year he is almost 8 and he will be getting a wii. His sister, who is almost 4, will be able to play with it and enjoy it but I would never have bought it for her.
Kids expect way too much nowadays. A kid that was here for breakfast this morning asked if I had any video games. I just said, No, we don't without any apologies. (The DS has been sent off to Nintendo for repair).
For like 3 years my son has played with an atari that plugs into the tv and has the games already on it.
I saw a kid, about 4 walking around a store playing a DS last week. it looked really oddb because the kid was so small.
When parents buy these type of gifts for young children...they have to be prepared to go bigger and better as the child grows. I personally think a WII is too much money to spend on one gift for a 4 year old. Could it possibly be a family gift? Four year olds should be spending more time with good ole fashion hands on toys...not electronics. My thought isn't so much that the 4 year old isn't capable of using it....but I am totally against commercialized holidays. I am certain this 4 year old will be getting additional on top of the WII and that is way too much money to spend on one four year old....doesn't matter how much the parents make for money. Go all out on a birthday..but Christmas should be more conservative imo.
When parents buy these type of gifts for young children...they have to be prepared to go bigger and better as the child grows. I personally think a WII is too much money to spend on one gift for a 4 year old. Could it possibly be a family gift? Four year olds should be spending more time with good ole fashion hands on toys...not electronics. My thought isn't so much that the 4 year old isn't capable of using it....but I am totally against commercialized holidays. I am certain this 4 year old will be getting additional on top of the WII and that is way too much money to spend on one four year old....doesn't matter how much the parents make for money. Go all out on a birthday..but Christmas should be more conservative imo.
I agree. At 4 (it's been awhile) we bought puzzles, board games, books. Almost all stuff we could do together or she could try on her own. I can't believe that people would buy that for a 4 yr. old. What will they get her in the future.. I'm 16 now you should have bought me a new car for Christmas, I don't want any of this crap!!
Just because they make games for children, does not mean it's right. I am downright old fashion, if you can't save up your allowance, than you can't get it. I find society buys into commercialism and trends and we set up our children for a generation of "I want this". My niece and her husband could well afford the Wii--I just think that children should do something to earn the gift.
Christmas isn't exactly the time to have children think they have to "earn the gift."
I tell my son to be really good so that Santa will bring him things, but I am not having him do anything other than expected behavior for his presents.
My five year old had a mild obsession with video games last year, there is a post about this somewhere floating around in this forum & this was after he had only played Nintendo less than 5 times & only as a perk for doing something extra. He got a taste & outdoors was no longer important.
I was freaking out, because video games was ALL that he asked for.
I put them away completely.
Recently, we moved in with a friend going through tough times & she owns a Wii.
My son gets to play bowling or baseball ONLY as a perk for extra good behavior & we do this as a family activity.
Last night we had a few friends over, all the adults played team bowling & my son watched, cheered us on & had a blast for about 2 hours.
I don't think there is anything wrong with THE FAMILY having a Wii, but to have it JUST FOR the 4 year old is a bit extreme, in my opinion. It is a great thing to do to spend time with the fam, I must admit & quite fun.
You cannot stop a 4-5 year old from playing video games if you are allowing their older siblings to play. My 5 year old and 7 year old love Wii. We have it in our bedroom so we make it a special family thing that we play together and it's not sitting in our main living/play area where it's accessible all the time. Most of our Wii games require standing up so when they do play, they are not just sitting around. They don't play every day and when they do, their time is limited. My 5 year old just turned 5. She has problems with some games and does great at others. Nothing wrong with it.
Kids who play Wii can still take classes and go to school and play outside.
Don´t want to offend you, but sounds cheap (and problematic) that you distinguish that much between a flat no for our step-son and a yes for your own off-spring...What´s that with the wicked step-mom (regardless of the artefact)
Quote:
Originally Posted by kimmieyky
It's not you. I saw a 6 year old the other day with a cell phone of her own (I think there is another thread running about this), and I could have died.
I do not know if it is back to the competition between parents, or of parents are so in awe themselves of the electronic world - they feel the need to start their kids so early.
My youngest is 8 months, and daddy and I have requested NOTHING but old fashioned wooden toys for him this Christmas. First, he has no idea what Christmas is, and second, thankfully electronic things make him angry - there is not much for him to do but hit a button or watch! I doubt his grandmother will respect our request, but it is in his best interest as far as we are concerned.
I know all kids develope at different stages, and yes, there are age appropriate games for the wii that a 4 year old would like, but I too, think that is a bit overboard.
BUT, like everything else, every parent has to make their own decisions, and if that is hers, there is not much you can do about it.
My question - where do you go from there? I mean, every year they are older and there are more expensive, flashier things to entice them, but I would think a second mortgage on the house will soon be in order to keep up with the level of presents! And how can you back a child down in their mind with less flashy gifts, if you go for the gold so soon?
My son and DIL told me the other day they wanted a wii for Christmas. It would be a gift for the entire family. That made sense to me, and is now on the list. But had they asked for one for my 5 year old step-grandson, I would have flatly said no way, and probably went for the leap frog!
My 3 1/2 year old plays with us with the Wii. It is a fun family activity. She doesn't want to play alone.
Why do people care what others buy for their children? It is none of my business.
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I made sure I reminded everyone several times from pregnancy until after the birth. Only one family member didn't seem to get (and still doesn't)--my FIL and his wife. But as they live in their own time-capsule type of life, I try not to care (it would really take too much to try to get them to understand why we don't want plastic, and then they would still be baffled at what they could buy the boys). I let the boys play with the FIL's toys for a little while then pass them on. Anyhow, insisting on wooden or cloth toys almost automatically puts the emphasis on quality, not quanity, which was a great side-effect. 
ehm
