Children who game

[Brandwin]

For those who have children that game, what age did you start teaching them and how did you go about teaching them how?

I have an 11 year old daughter who couldn't care less about gaming, other than those dancing or singing games. I remember trying when she was younger and nothing. Even now when I show her something that I think is cool, she just rolls her eyes.

My son is almost 2.5 years old though and he already likes to sit there and hold the controller and watch me play. Just wondering how do I ease him into it and what is a good age to start? I just remember being about 5 and somehow just picking up a controller and going.

[JazzMan]

Re: Children who game

I would imagine just playing in front of them, and ease them into it. I'd let my 5 year old nephew play a few matches of WWE 13 with me and he loved it. Then he asked my brother while at home if he could play Minecraft on the Xbox while he was at work, and he played for 12 hours. Kid's hooked already.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Children who game

I taught my brother, nieces and nephews how to game at the age of 4. Gaming is just something you can't really force on a child. Some kids will like it and pick it up, some won't. It is just like fishing and hunting. They will either like it or hate it.

One of my nieces is grown now and she don't game anymore, she never got into it. My other niece is in college, she will play every once in a while, but it isn't a weekly routine for her. My nephews however are Black Ops 2 addicts. Disney and Lego games they refuse to play, they consider those games kiddie BS. My brother plays mostly action games, he hates sports games.

[AUChase]

Re: Children who game

I gave my niece my Nintendo Wii when she was three.

She prefers playing a Super Nintendo. She's only 4, but she's really smart.

I think that's part of the appeal of the motion gaming.. little kids.

Most adults I speak to who play games couldn't care less about the PS Move, Kinect, Wii/ Wii U.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Children who game

The only adults I know that love the Kinect and motion gaming in general are females. They love the dancing and zumba games. I use my Kinect for video calls with family and friends.

[AUChase]

Re: Children who game

I don't want my gaming to be a chore. It's supposed to be relaxing.


My sister has found a good balance with games and regular play time for my niece. She would rather be out riding the 4 wheeler, on the trampoline, etc.

Some of the old Disney and Mickey Mouse games for SNES still work well with today's kids. I think the SNES or Genesis should be most kids starter console now.

Some parents allow it to take over their children's life.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Children who game

I think it depends on where your kids are living at. If they living in a bad area, then yeah I think it is better for them to be gaming then to be outside. But if you live in a small town with an actual yard, then it is better for them to be outside.

I know for me, my parents purposely got me addicted to gaming because they didn't like me being outside. Even though I still spent some time outside. If it wasn't for gaming, who knows where I would have been.

[VDusen04]

Re: Children who game

Gaming is just something you can't really force on a child.

I agree. I wouldn't have minded if my little brothers never gamed, but I certainly didn't try to force it on them. From what I recall, similar to my own experience, it just kind of happened. I'm guessing at some point or another, they saw me playing a game and wanted to give it a shot.

For a while they used to just want me to beat Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 over and over again so they could see which cheats would get unlocked. And they loved the head-to-head tagging competition. They would have been around 5 and 3 at that point (or 6 and 4).

The only adults I know that love the Kinect and motion gaming in general are females. They love the dancing and zumba games. I use my Kinect for video calls with family and friends.

I'm actually still a sucker for Wii Fit. If my little brother hadn't pawned his Wii off, I likely would have bought it off him just for that (and Wii Mario Brothers).

I don't have a Kinect, but if I were going to buy one, it'd likely be for the exercise games. Obviously, they're not the same as real life basketball, mountain biking, etc. but for those moments where I'm kind of restricted to working out at my house (winter, no gym) having tracked scores to shoot for, track and eclipse really does the trick.

Some parents allow it to take over their children's life.

Yes, yes. I feel it's important to keep a close eye on that as well. My brothers have been that route too. There are times where they're left to their own devices and, well, they just game out for hours/days on end. Whenever I'm back home I make a concerted effort to establish gaming times and utilize our days for other activities.

[dbeth]

Re: Children who game

My little guy started up on the Wii when he was 3 playing Tiger Woods and Madden in All Play mode. He also became really good at Wii Sports. There was also some Mario Kart Wii in there as well.

Slowly, he morphed into being able to use a controller and understand the connection between button presses and on-screen movements. With the USB launcher on my Wii, he was able to pick the game he wanted and never had to mess with discs.

Now, he's in LOVE with the Lego games (specifically Lego City) and various Mario games. He now spends more time on the Wii U, and it's PERFECT for him. He's playing Lego City right now on the U, and has done the ENTIRE game from start to finish, and he just turned 5.

The puzzle aspect of all the Lego games has been great for him because he loves to try to figure things out, and this is really the first story mission he's played from beginning to end, so he feels a serious sense of involvement and accomplishment with whatever he does.

He also plays my 3DS, but primarily sticks to Mario or Lego on there as well.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Children who game

Do you guys think there is an age that is "too early" to introduce gaming? Just something I've got in the back of my head for down the road.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Children who game

Do you guys think there is an age that is "too early" to introduce gaming? Just something I've got in the back of my head for down the road.

Gaming in general, no. The type of games, yes. I mean hell they teach preschoolers with Ipads now with Angry Birds.

[USNAggie44]

I started at 5, playing some need for speed and Simpsons game

[cavsfan2]

Re: Children who game

My parents were really anti video games, do I didn't get a ps2 until I was eleven.

As long as they are playing nice kid-oriented games I think 4-5 is fine. I guess it sorta depends though, if the kid is already a bit of a couch potato I might hold off a bit. Just my opinion though.

[dbeth]

The biggest thing we're seeing right now is restricting/limiting the amount of time they can play.

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 4

[Dirty Turtles]

Re: Children who game

My oldest boys are 6 and 5 and they play my Wii frequently when they are here. We have to limit the time they are allowed to play, but they enjoy playing Mario and Mario Kart. My oldest son is autistic and it's amazing to see how good he is at solving the levels and being patient to not die on Mario. He can make it through levels I have trouble getting through without dying.

My second youngest is 3 and he likes to run around on Minecraft with me sometimes. He can only move and jump, but he enjoys watching me play and telling me what to do.