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Twisted Mother I may be, but Twisted Daddy agrees. Actually, he spearheaded the decision. Even Santa agrees with the Lage family's choice.
We take no issue with the gaming system. In fact, the extended family had a fabulous time elbow-extending with the Wii in our holiday vacation locale. Sarah and Darren are welcome to play video games at their friends' homes, on the computer (when they've earned some computer time), or on their Leapsters.
However, with a same age opponent always at the ready, to invest in a TV video game system (Wii, XBox, Playstation, Pong, etc) for our own home seems too indulgent, too tempting, too distracting. Yes, as parents we could police usage; just as we do with the TV, DVDs the computer et al -- but that's just it. We've modern and old school diversions a plenty.
We have enough.
As Elmer Fudd might ask, is anyone else intentionally Wii-straining themselves?
27 comments:
we won't be allowing a gaming system (other than maybe leapfrog) into our home either. i can't justify spending money on something like that....
Yeha I am not big on it either - but I have a MIL that will buy the boys ANYTHING and she can't wait to buy them this also. We will diffently have rules and such when the time is needed. I am hoping not for a few more years though!!
I say Wii-Ha! Go outside! Read a book! Spend money on something else! More power to you mom and dad! -e
Our kiddos aren't old enough to be asking YET, but my Scott and I have talked about it and decided we don't have enough time to do the things we want to do NOW...why add one more time consuming activity to the pile? No thanks.
We actually have a couple of different gaming systems, and so far we have no issues with over use. Our kids still prefer the old fashioned kind of fun of playing outside and with their siblings, but for us it provides family time as well, as we all enjoy video games, and often it can be quite an enjoyable family friendly afternoon!! I think balance and moderation is the key for all things including game time for us! It is something both my husband and I enjoyed as kids so we can see the joy that it can bring them. However I can see the flip side of how it could be difficult if it became something that takes the place of family activity.
Well we have an x-box that the kids and i play on but we are looking to get a Wii at easter. The reason being the kids worked out they will have saved half the money towards it, and if mum and Dad would help with the other half it can be a total family thing to own. And when they leave home we get to keep it!! hehe!! They are teenagers and 9 years old so i guess i can live with it now.
But we would not have allowed it pre being 10!
We did buy one. And to be perfectly honest, we love it. For one, I have a child that HATES the outdoors. Seriously will BAWL at having to be out there for any length of time. (Not saying we don't still make him go, but its hard sometimes!) And it really can be wonderful exercise! WE don't use it very often, but when its the 5th rainy day in a row, the games have been exhausted, the last scrap of paper colored, and mommy is on her last nerve, a good ol' boxing match between two boys on the wii is a perfect outlet for their energy. No one gets hurt, they burn off some steam, and we all win in the end. We've had it for about a year now, and we've used it about 10 times. . . so, if you average it out, less than once a month it gets used, but its still fun. We have no other gaming systems though, and agreed that we will not get those. We only agreed on the wii because of the movement factor, and we only get the movement oriented games, ie. sports, olympic games, etc. And they DO get a good work out!
I think its a "to each their own decision", and whatever works for your family is best!
I am there with ya! JayT is always asking for either a Wii or a cell phone. I have one condition for each ... for the Wii he has to find the PSP he lost almost a year ago after owning it for a total of 4 weeks. For the cell phone, he has to go an entire year without loosing a jacket, backpack, hat or his left arm.
Apparently, 11YO's loose stuff. All. The. Friggin. Time.
I am usually not one for gaming systems, but I have been considering getting the Wii game. Of course, there are conditions like limited use, and only movement and games rated for everyone will be bought to play on it, to name a few.
I think it's great that you & your hubby made the decision together & have stuck to your guns! It's definitely a choice for everyone & I agree that it would be a big temptation for your kids... especially with them being the same age.
We haven't regretted our Wii decision. However, there are strict rules in place for it. Only so much time on it & only if Hannah still spends huge amounts of time reading & doing constructive things, too. With Emma being 2, I don't have a problem with her picking up the Wii remote & pretending to play... she does it for about 2 min. at a time & gets distracted from it easily.
It has been a real fun thing for all of us, though. We have horrible winter weather & can't get outside to do anything other than walk the dog, so on a bitter Sat afternoon, if we're bored, we get online & play a ball game against my brother & sister-in-law who live 3 hrs away. It is fun being able to play games with them when we're not together.
I've been antigaming system for a while... because i have brothers, who as grown men still like to waste time playing silly games on the computer... I hated to start the trend.
But... I think we will get a wii. I want to get the Wii fit for one of my sons that while still healthy, could handle a bit more physical activity... I think it will be a great way to have fun all together. All things in moderation though, for sure.
Oh. I'm so on the fence. Until I read Goddess' Ladies of Loserville post about the Wii Fit today, I was all for not getting a Wii. I have to admit that I'm curious now...for me!! heh - keep the kids away ;) (ha ha)
We are an x-box, psp, wii and guitar hero free home. lol We do have two Nintendo DS's though.
I agree...wait, wait, wait. Your two are still so young.
Wii held out until this past December (our oldest are 12 and 14)and wii opened Pandora's box: a wii only comes with one nunchuk and one controller...so we had to buy another one of each. Then, because the controllers use batteries, we purchased one dual controller charger. It's like a nightmare...it never ends. It's wii-diculous.
But we do have rules: no wii during the school week...at all.
Sigh. Maybe I'll go do some dusting and pull a plug or two.
Well, as a father of three, (girls 8 and 5 and a boy 3, and uncle to the 2 children who are directly affected by Mrs Lage's decision) I am happy to say they got ME one for my birthday this past June. The Wii, when used properly, is the new family night, much like board games were in the 70s, etc. We laugh and laugh and laugh. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. There is still some physical activity, but anyone who thinks it's a substitute for playing outside or working out is delusional at best. They can earn Wii time by using the treadmill, cleaning up and helping their sibblings. But, we try at least once a week to play as a family bowling or darts for about 1/2 an hour or so. They cheer each other on, but do learn important life lessons about winning and losing. None of this feel good self esteem garbage being found in little leagues these days "we're all winners". They also have their own games (Disney Princess, CARS, Littlest Pet Shop, Daddy has Madden, WWE) Not to mention, as someone who likes to golf, I save probably 100s if not thousands of dollars playing top courses on the system at my leisure. Granted, the system is pricey and the games at 50 bucks a pop on average is a bit much, but there are other ways. I think you can get a system for 76000 Marriot Elite points. That's CHEAP! I respect your decision though, and let it be known they are welcome to play at their cousin's house anytime. The main question would be, just in the world of imagination, what if your dear children got one as a gift? Hmmmm.... :-) Now, back to the Wii and WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009!
Ours are still too young for the Wii. Sooo still haven't made a decision. But I agree it's tempting and too distracting. It's too tempting in that you can make rules all day long but those may just go right out the window if you are enjoying it too much. LOL. This is the reason why I think I wouldn't want to get it. I wouldn't be able to stick to the rules so just might as well not get it and play it when we are at the inlaws. LOL
I loved "Wii-straining" - you are so funny Cheryl.
I don't fault anyone for getting one or not getting one. Each family has to make decisions that work best for their family.
We have the Wii. We have ALL enjoyed it. But I say all in moderation, with rules and limits, for sure. And funny thing, this past summer it hardly went on at all. My kids still prefer tree-house building and ball outside. Thank goodness!
Hugs!
I want a Wii for me and DH not the kids! They are way too young. I know my kids will have games because my husband likes them but I am going t have strict at night after homework and rainy day rules. If its nice out, their butts are outside!
My husband used to have an XBox but he rid the house of it when Alaina grew old enough to show an interest in what it was. There are no game systems in our house and there will not be anytime soon. I have nothing against them. I just don't think we need one. We have enough going on to keep everyone busy!
Good for you! We have a Wii, and haven't used it in a while. We got Wii Fit for Christmas, and I'm hoping that it helps me resolve my issue of how to fit in yoga with my kids.. etc. Wish me luck!
We got a Wii for Christmas last year but I only use it for Wii fit, which I just love. but Sam and I have already talked and when Gwen and Giblert are older they have to earn time to play.
My inlaws bought the kids a Wii last Christmas....
So, we just don't allow the kids to play it on school days and can only play it on the weekends in the evenings (or if we have bad weather). i just hate the idea of the kids sitting in front of the tv all the time...UGH
It's why we take the tv away completely all summer long, except for movie nights.
Good for you making the decision now :)
Atari.
Do you have Atari?
We;ve had so many gaming systems.
Mostly the older boys buy them ..with their own money.
We did get a game cube for the younger boys last Christmas , but Joey becomes obsessive..and now with the Wii the same thing..and he breaks things when he is aggigated, frustrated, upset, excited..you get my drift right.
So it does cause a lot of stress.
But on the upside..Dad loves it..lol
I wish I could have won this battle a long time ago but when my spouse is a gamer, it's impossible. :(
This is so sad... but we have a Wii. The kids got it last summer. The only time they ever play it is if someone is here with them (friends, cousins...etc). JC had a playstation when we moved in. They occassionally play with it. I don't even have to yell at them to stop playing it! In the summer time (and sometimes in the winter) they are outside playing. Many times we are on the go or the kids prefer to just hang out with the old folks! I don't mind that at all!
I am so anti-game system, never had one. I haven't even let Braeden have one of the hand held ones, which my friends assure me are educational.
I just remember as a teacher a few of the boys with glazed over eyes because their teacher wasn't as stimuating was the intense games they were playing on tv.
We normally don't get too many extravagent gifts either, but I surprised dh with a Wii this year. Normally he gets the boring stuff and he really was surprised.
The main reason for my decision was to get Braeden more active in the winter. He is only in school 1/2 day and he does his share of reading and playing, but still gets bored.
Now when the babies are down for name we are running races, hoola hooping, walking a tightrope, etc. It is a great workout and something we can do together. It's not something he is doing by himself and I am only buying games that involve activities, not ones where you are sitting down with a remote driving a car or anything like that.
Now...if I could get my calves from hurting from that last race I ran against him.
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