Comments on: Dear Santa, Bring me Gadgets. And an Elf.

By: Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting

Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:03:22 +0000

I love it. Seriously. Our kids could be twins.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:36:24 +0000

I feel you, Ilina! My sons have a playstation2 and a Wii, but choose to play outside rather than with them all of the time. Got our first PS2 years ago, and it has never been an issue. The Wii reminds you after a certain amount of time to go out and play.

The boys love digital cameras too and will set up scenes and video it. I did not even know my camera did video until they told me.

I am not up on the latest phones, but have one I can work off of in carpool, gotta make that money.

If it is radio controlled, though, they are all about it!

As to the elf, that is indeed interesting. Did he learn more about them from the latest Phineas and Ferb episode regarding Christmas? gphd it would not let me publish this with an id

By: DCUrbanDad

DCUrbanDad — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:58:39 +0000

Everything in moderation. Not a big fan of deprivation. But not a big fan of giving kids everything they want. A healthy mix.

I did not get a Playstation until I was out of college. We spent many a day outside playing with our bikes and in our forts.

By: Camden Watts

Camden Watts — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:20:38 +0000

Great minds think a like. I wouldn't mind a limo, T-Rex, or an elf!

Totally understand what you mean about just being a kid, though. Always thought I was missing out because we didn't have cable when I was a kid, but now I look back with gratitude for all the time I spent playing outside and being creative. I'm incredibly thankful for time spent playing with friends, making up games, exploring the woods, and just being a kid.

Btw, if you need some more film for that camera, I have a shoe box full of it, haha.

By: The Full Mommy

The Full Mommy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:33:11 +0000

My husband could have written that. Well, just the ranty part, not the part in which you admit to still using a camera the requires film. (Really? Film?)

You make some good points. Given your eldest son's age, I'd get him a LeapFrog Didj and convince him it's cool. He had plenty of time to upgrade to a DS in the future. Plus keeps your little guy from the DS a bit longer, because by the time he's six, he probably will have his own iPhone.

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:24:26 +0000

It's interesting to think about when that happens, especially to kids now. Sad, too, I agree.

Now, an elf. I like that. I would like one. They are handy. I bet they mix a mean drink (you know the Clauses tip). Probably don't even eat much. Ha, imagine Lark with his new elf friend!

By: Green Girl in Wisconsin

Green Girl in Wisconsin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:09:01 +0000

What a funny thing! We are luddites, like you, which is funny since my husband owns a technology company. Our tvs are old, we own NO game systems, my cellphone is embarrassing. My sons each want a DS and a wii–we will get the wii, but only because the games for that have endings and it's a more interactive set up. Like you, I prefer my kids to play with bricks and tinker toys and blocks and their brains.

By: The Mother

The Mother — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:21:07 +0000

We are toy collectors, too. iPods and iPhones all around.

Here's my take: the video games have been shown to increase eye-hand coordination, visual skills and strategy based thinking. For my geeky boys who won't go outside and can't hit a baseball with a barn, that's all good.

Plus, those iPhones and iPods are great productivity devices for the high school kid.

That said, they are not addicted to the games. They play, but the interest is fleeting, and they move on to something else. Like puzzles, or strategy board games.

Those video games are also springboards for their imaginations, not stifles of them. Would I rather they read? Sure. But three of them do, prodigiously, and the other is dyslexic.

As a parent, you can't win them all. You can only guide and hope. Video games and tech stuff is one battle I will not fight.

Now, about that elf...

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:54:45 +0000

We are a techie family. My husband is a software developer, iPhone developer and all around super tech guru. We have a wii and an xbox. And amazingly my children hardly ever play them. They are literally collecting dust. Except for my husband, we just aren't gamers (and he has no free time for it anyway). That said, the technology of the iPod touch and iPhones are pretty amazing. The children use the camera, video camera, and all the cool art apps and make amazing collages, singing cards, etc that they then email to family. So for us, it's really just another tool for creativity, not a brain suck!