My 8 year old wants a Nintendo Switch like all his friends and I keep saying no but I feel like I'm being unreasonable. The thing is during COVID we let him zone out on screens and now it's hard to pull back. Don't want to be the strictest dad on the block but also don't want him glued to a screen all day. What does everyone else do for limits?
I think the 'all his friends have one' thing is the real pressure point here. My kids tried that same line and I had to remind them that I'm not running a comparison game with other parents. That said, eight might actually be a reasonable age if you set clear boundaries first.
My 10 year old wants one too and I keep holding the line. It's hard when all his friends have one but honestly the screen time battle is real enough without adding gaming to it. You're not being a bad dad by saying no.
I went no Switch for a long time and my 8 year old was the only one at school without one. But honestly he's fine, he plays other stuff. The FOMO is real though and I get why you're feeling the pressure.
This is the million dollar question right? I'd say set a time limit and rules if you do get it. Nintendo has parental controls built in which actually helps. Just don't let it become the default babysitter.
Being the parent who says no is tough but you're not wrong to be cautious. If you do get it, at least the Switch is easier to manage than a phone. You can actually see what he's playing and set actual limits.
This is the eternal struggle right? I went back and forth on this for months with my son. We ended up compromising - he gets the Switch but only on weekends and only after homework is done. Best decision honestly because now he appreciates it more and I don't feel like the bad guy.
Have you looked into parental controls? That might help you feel less strict about it while still protecting what he's exposed to.
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The guilt is real but don't let it make your decision for you. There's nothing wrong with saying no. My rule is I need to understand what the game is and why they want it before I even consider it.