The off topic thread 6.0

[Zidane98]

Local two player was the best. So good versing your mate next you in the same room.

Back in the day for me it was hang out with friends playing multiplayer on a console. Usually after riding bikes to get to our friends joint.

These days my 13 yo son is on discord etc conferencing with his mates on Roblox etc ffs

 

[Jatz]

Strangely the research has found that screens can be beneficial in some instances - mainly things like Facetime where the child is engaging actively in a conversation with a relative where they can see them because they learn facial cues etc. so I don't think the idea is that screens in general are bad, it's quite a nuanced issue.

For instance earlier you mentioned gaming, and I think there's research that says that as a general concept, gaming actually has a positive impact on boys when it's done in small quantities and doesn't dominate their lives.

Jenson does get a bit of facetime, purely because none of my family live near us anymore. But even that's only about 10 mins a day max. And it's normally when he's in the bath or something where he's still engaged with his toys etc.

Yeah I would think that's true. But at what age? Surely not when they're 4/5 etc?

 

[Jatz]

It's hard and sometimes unavoidable. Most people live very busy lives...until the kids go to bed. For some though it is just lazyness or outsourcing parenting. My daughter is learning to read and is close. I'm hoping to turn her into a bookworm.

Oh completely. My wife often will put it on so she can shower when she's at home with the two of them for instance.

We don't ever have it on when we're both there. I'd much rather him go play in the park than sit there staring at the box.

Actually makes me sad watching him watch it. He just becomes so engrossed, stops listening etc.

 

[SM]

Jenson does get a bit of facetime, purely because none of my family live near us anymore. But even that's only about 10 mins a day max. And it's normally when he's in the bath or something where he's still engaged with his toys etc.

Yeah I would think that's true. But at what age? Surely not when they're 4/5 etc?

Yeah it's an interesting/counterintuitive one when it comes to Facetime, I think it's actually been shown to be a benefit developmentally. I mean when we were kids we'd talk to relatives on the phone but wouldn't be able to see them, by getting kids exposed to talking to people visually where they learn to maintain eye contact, learn gestures/facial expressions etc. it can actually be a big help.

Yeah I'm talking about teenagers RE gaming.

 

[Cruyff14]

Tablets at 4 years old? That's wild.

I've still got to wait and see how this plays out for us but we feel guilty when our 18 month old gets more than 10 mins of screentime in a day. We generally try and avoid it altogether if possible.

It's really saddening that so much of being a child now is revolved around a screen of sorts.

Sometimes you just need to, for your own sanity.

If my daughter is very tired/sick and is being entirely uncooperative, TV time does help. We don't do it often, but there are times when we definitely do lean on it.

And some days it is impossible to get my daughter in the car without putting something on YouTube.

 

[Jatz]

Sometimes you just need to, for your own sanity.

If my daughter is very tired/sick and is being entirely uncooperative, TV time does help. We don't do it often, but there are times when we definitely do lean on it.

And some days it is impossible to get my daughter in the car without putting something on YouTube.

Yes, that's true. If he's been throwing up etc, I'm more lenient with it.

Although (and absolutely no judgement here, parenting is a very unique journey) your last point is one I'll never do with my boys. J has just started throwing tantrums at times when he doesn't get what he wants. My wife relents to him more but for me, I'll never reward poor behaviour with something they want (youtube etc). I'd rather be late to something than just concede to him in that instance.

 

[Cruyff14]

Yes, that's true. If he's been throwing up etc, I'm more lenient with it.

Although (and absolutely no judgement here, parenting is a very unique journey) your last point is one I'll never do with my boys. J has just started throwing tantrums at times when he doesn't get what he wants. My wife relents to him more but for me, I'll never reward poor behaviour with something they want (youtube etc). I'd rather be late to something than just concede to him in that instance.

Yeah fair enough, but when she is climbing around the car, trying to get in the front seat, locking her body so she won't sit in her car seat, there's no other option, especially when you need to be somewhere by a certain time.

 

[Jatz]

Yeah fair enough, but when she is climbing around the car, trying to get in the front seat, locking her body so she won't sit in her car seat, there's no other option, especially when you need to be somewhere by a certain time.

Yeah like I said, no judgement here. Every child is different and has different needs and every parent is the same. I won't ever judge how someone opts to parent (outside of obvious abuse etc).

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

I remember when i was a kid being excited about finally getting a colour tv

 

[SM]

I'd be home sick from school in primary school and mum would put a TV in my room so I could watch the cartoons on in the morning and that was pretty fun.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Home sick midday movie.

 

[moomba]

My lad (14) spends a lot of time on his PS5 shouting and screaming at something or another with his mates. Sometimes we have to check to make sure homework etc isn't ignored but he tends to self regulate himself with his online time.

Both have had phones since they were 12/13, it's a bit or a case of if they didn't have them all their mates would be chatting all night and they'd be left out.

Lots of their homework is done on the phone too so a bit of a necessary evil.

Covid had a big impact as well, and in general I'd rather they socialise over the phone than not socialise at all.

 

[moomba]

I don't think I had a phone until my 20's, and my days were spent on a footy pitch or cricket nets playing with my mates.

I remember ringing a girl up on a landline once and her dad answered. I asked if she was in, his reply "not at this time of night she isnt" ha ha. I nearly shat myself.

My generation had it so hard.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Tablets at 4 years old? That's wild.

I've still got to wait and see how this plays out for us but we feel guilty when our 18 month old gets more than 10 mins of screentime in a day. We generally try and avoid it altogether if possible.

It's really saddening that so much of being a child now is revolved around a screen of sorts.

I've been on the Luas (trams) here and there are parents who just give their less than 3 child a phone or tablet to keep them busy while they're on their on phone. My wife and I are promising each other we won't do stuff like that. Have no issues with putting them in front of a TV every now and then for say wiggles type content, but not all day. I'll actually be a parent, not using the TV/Phone/Tablet to parent. Hypocritical I know since I grew up in front of a computer but that wasnt the parents doing that to me, that was me.

 

[RPCB]

Stole my idea.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Stole my idea.

Try an aubergine.

 

[SM]

My lad (14) spends a lot of time on his PS5 shouting and screaming at something or another with his mates. Sometimes we have to check to make sure homework etc isn't ignored but he tends to self regulate himself with his online time.

Both have had phones since they were 12/13, it's a bit or a case of if they didn't have them all their mates would be chatting all night and they'd be left out.

Lots of their homework is done on the phone too so a bit of a necessary evil.

Covid had a big impact as well, and in general I'd rather they socialise over the phone than not socialise at all.

I find the "everyone else is doing it" line is a bit of a cop out personally but everyone's different.

 

[moomba]

I find the "everyone else is doing it" line is a bit of a cop out personally but everyone's different.

LOL. They certainly are.

 

[peternorth]

In my day games came in the form of cassettes and it took ages to load. There was no internet.

 

[RPCB]

In my day games came in the form of cassettes and it took ages to load. There was no internet.

Funnily enough, games from 30 years ago load quicker than most games today.

 

[SM]

Funnily enough, games from 30 years ago load quicker than most games today.

Why wouldn't they? They had less to process.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

No epilepsy warnings and disclaimers back in the day too.

 

[Jatz]

I don't think I had a phone until my 20's, and my days were spent on a footy pitch or cricket nets playing with my mates.

I remember ringing a girl up on a landline once and her dad answered. I asked if she was in, his reply "not at this time of night she isnt" ha ha. I nearly shat myself.

My generation had it so hard.

Hahaha that reminds me of being a teenager and calling a landline. Ask the girl in question (on MSN) to make sure she answered so I didn't have to talk to anyone else.

Then I'd ring and her Mum would answer and I'm sure my face would go bright red. "Uhh hi, is such and such home"

 

[peternorth]

Why wouldn't they? They had less to process.

some games took a long time to start up i rememeber. put cassette in, walk away, come back 5 mins later

 

[RPCB]

No epilepsy warnings and disclaimers back in the day too.

Have you played Wolfenstein 3D and Doom? Those games definitely needed those warnings lol.