Best Gaming Console for a 5 year Old (Not Wii)

[superfoodist]

Originally Posted by Eisho

Just to broadly address the issue of whether or not a 5 year old should be playing video games...

Both my children started playing DS when they were 2. This has in no way affected them in a negative way. They are very sociable, very active (karate and No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and do plenty of other things at home besides playing games. Academically they are way ahead of their peers and yes, they do read.

I make sure they have plenty of different things to do and in many cases am a participant in different activities. In cases of addiction, I doubt it is the video games per se that are to blame, they just become the focus for an addictive personality.

Cheers,

Eisho

You won't notice it at that age. It's takes years and years, and it's very subtle. First, your kids will get used to playing video games, then they'll most likely want to play more, and more due to the intense over-stimulation. Then, in teenage years, it can reach the point where they're avoiding friends, or any social contact for that matter - to play video games.

In my experience, and the experience of many others who are now in my age group (I'm 19) that have played video games since they were toddlers - it's a very negative thing.

And it's only going to get worse considering the content and graphics of games nowadays. When I was a kid, it was just stuff like tomb raider, twisted metal, etc on Ps1... Imagine now with the nonstop violence and sex in modern games.

Like I said, that's just my input. From someone with experience that went through that 15 year process and is still dealing with some after-effects, I wouldn't recommend it :P

[ssandra]

Superfoodist, did you read my post?

Because I went through the exact same thing you went through, except with books and not with games.

It is all about an escape from reality. Some people are more prone to addictions then others, and some people will use anything to escape from reality.

[JackJ]

Originally Posted by ssandra

It is not what you use to entertain yourself, it is how you use it.

You summed up my feelings beautifully

Video gaming is very stimulating and interactive. I think any flaws - and I may sound like a bit of dick here - are due to our responses and individual use rather than the inherent nature of video-gaming itself. I sometimes like to read, but it doesn't draw me into the world as often as the dance of colours in front of me does.

There also many conscious games too. 'Flow' and 'Flower' on the PS3 from the PS3 store (is it available on Xbox too?) are absolutely beautiful games. And has anyone played 'Osmos' on the iPhone? AMAZING! It's a shame these fine works of art don't get as much promoting as games such as modern warfare.

The only social 'hindrance' gaming might have given me/developed is my quirkyness, but I love it all the same - it's an essential part of who I am I can proudly say I've grown up with some old-skool games like mario and the more contemporary epicness like final fantasy and its done wonders to invite me to imagine (something I value given my passion for crafting creative works!).'

Interactive media is so powerful! I hope evolved works come out to play more soon

Also, good job geting your kids into to martial arts, OP. It's a life-long endeavour, so it's great to start nice and early!

[superfoodist]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Superfoodist, did you read my post?

Because I went through the exact same thing you went through, except with books and not with games.

It is all about an escape from reality. Some people are more prone to addictions then others, and some people will use anything to escape from reality.

I know what your saying, and I agree, it's definitely just a tool for escapism - but at the age of 5, the mind is really sensitive to external stimuli, and a video game on xbox 360 is MUCH more stimulating then a novel. In a child that young, it can start to wire his brain to be severely addicted to the dopamine rushes of gaming.

At age 5 the brain is prepared to be molded into whatever is thrown at it, and if its the massive rush of video games, addiction will likely be a path the child ends up on..

[cheesedip1]

Originally Posted by VinceG

I was the stereotypical "video game kid." I played so much it affected my social development..

Yeah, I used to be that way. I mean, I did other stuff too, but I kind of shy-ed away from certain social experiences. I even played the Yugioh/Pokemon card game, and played Runescape for 3 years. We had a PS1 and a PS2 also.

After a while tho, I sold the games/game systems and moved on to other activities.

Of course...I'm only 19, so I'm fairly young yet..

[cheesedip1]

Originally Posted by superfoodist

. Then, in teenage years, it can reach the point where they're avoiding friends, or any social contact for that matter - to play video games.



And it's only going to get worse considering the content and graphics of games nowadays. When I was a kid, it was just stuff like tomb raider, twisted metal, etc on Ps1... Imagine now with the nonstop violence and sex in modern games.

:P

I used to play tomb Raider and Twisted Metal.

Anyways....I tend to agree, but things might be different now. I suppose games are different, but nowadays, with technology being so commonplace, it would be hard to get kids away from computers.

Games might be different tho.



-I wasted so much time with video games when I was younger. A couple years ago, I just go so bored that I decided to move on to other areas of my life.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by superfoodist

I know what your saying, and I agree, it's definitely just a tool for escapism - but at the age of 5, the mind is really sensitive to external stimuli, and a video game on xbox 360 is MUCH more stimulating then a novel. In a child that young, it can start to wire his brain to be severely addicted to the dopamine rushes of gaming.

At age 5 the brain is prepared to be molded into whatever is thrown at it, and if its the massive rush of video games, addiction will likely be a path the child ends up on..

Not for me.

Not at age 5 and not at age 30. For me, I still get completely lost in a book, lose track of time, don't hear or notice what happens around me and will blow of any type of reality in favor of the book...

games? I can start and stop at any time.

[MariconesUnited]

Games are much more socially-driven today. Lots of them are online and there's tons of multiplayer. I don't think socialization itself is a problem. I think the problem is with interacting with people face-to-face. A text message is so much more convenient. The problem is that a lot of youngins (hehe) get absorbed in their texting and forget the world around them.

I'm getting a bit off-topic I know. But I think there's a growing problem with all this media interaction and technology and videogaming is related somewhat.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I remember playing my dad's really old Atari when I was a child, before we got Sega Genesis. I remember the main game I played was Food Fight. I still remember that to this day, so it must have had a lasting impact on me. Playstation One was my favorite console ever, and we used to have a blast playing Blitz on N64. But all in all, I'd rather read a book, even today.

[ZephyrusX]

Ditto. I can immerse my self both in video games and reading, but I've heard other people claim that reading involves less immersion and I just don't agree with this. I can read for hours precisely because I am immersing my self into reading at a high level either by playing out the plot inside my head visually or by interacting with the underlying morals and philosophical principles embedded into the writing and asking, 'what if?'. The internet has made this easier to do as I can wiki or google concepts or historical contexts that I don't understand in order to facilitate this inner dialogue with the book and author. There actually is a high level of interactivity involved in reading insofar as the reader is occupying a space inside the text and interpreting what it means within the context of his/her own life. At least, in my experience, it is sort of like having a dialogue with the author. 'Ah, Dostoevsky! Wtf does Utilitarianism have anything to do with this?'

I essentially spend hours talking to my self while reading and because of what I am reading.

Originally Posted by ssandra

Not for me.

Not at age 5 and not at age 30. For me, I still get completely lost in a book, lose track of time, don't hear or notice what happens around me and will blow of any type of reality in favor of the book...

games? I can start and stop at any time.

[ZephyrusX]

I think playing video games or reading is only a problem if it interferes with another aspect of your life, such as learning interpersonal skills. As it is though, it sounds as if the OP is taking the necessary steps to make sure that his/her children are having the opportunity to learn good social skills.

I'm not sure if I would characterize reading and video games as escapism insofar as it deters you from interacting with the 'real world'. For me personally, reading or playing video games is like a dialogue that I can interact with, which in turn shapes how I see and interact with my world. So making an absolute distinction between the 'real world' and the 'not real world' within the context of reading or playing video games doesn't really make that much sense to me. But then, I see reading and video games as a medium through which we can learn about and perhaps even shape ourselves.

Originally Posted by superfoodist

I know what your saying, and I agree, it's definitely just a tool for escapism - but at the age of 5, the mind is really sensitive to external stimuli, and a video game on xbox 360 is MUCH more stimulating then a novel. In a child that young, it can start to wire his brain to be severely addicted to the dopamine rushes of gaming.

At age 5 the brain is prepared to be molded into whatever is thrown at it, and if its the massive rush of video games, addiction will likely be a path the child ends up on..

[aussieNickuss]

I reckon Playstation 3 would be a good choice for a couple of reasons.... A: if he's after a more challenging "kids" game, the PS3 has Little Big Planet 1/2 and B: you can snag yourself a Blu-Ray player (if you don't already have one).