Topic: Questions for gamers with small children

I have a few questions for you gamers with young children:

1. At what age did you introduce your kids to video games? How did you first introduce games to them?
2. When you first have a child, did you have time to play games or did the time spent on taking care of the babies leave no time for gaming?
3. When a game comes out that both you and your child wants to play, do you buy one copy to share or two copies?
4. For gamers with a vast game collection in mint condition, given children tend to damage and break things, did you let your kids see and touch your game collection when they were really young or did you keep them out of reach until they are old enough to understand to take good care of your games?

Please share your experiences here if you don't mind. I am expecting to join the parenting club soon

I don't have kids myself, but I do have two young nephews (3 & 6) that visit with my sister (their mum) regularly. Both of them were playing games pretty much as soon as they could walk and talk. Although my sister does regulate the amount of time they're allowed to play them, basically because she wants them to play with proper toys and to interact with each other rather than just staring at the tv.
I've always kept my games collection in my cupoard where they're easily reached, but they're safely up out of the way of the boys. Luckily though, with exception to where their toys and clothes are kept, they've been taught not go into cupboards or draws without asking.
As for buying multiple copies of games, it's a bit pointless. Most games either have multiple save slots, or you could just set up another account that has age restrictions on it.

@Don Congratulations. As for your questions I can tell you from experience it's not as difficult as you think and sharing a hobby is one of the best things of being a parent. My son will be 17 here in a few months and enjoys gaming as much as I do. Anyway here's my answers

1. It's never to early really just be mindful of what games you play around him. I definitely wouldn't play Doom, GTA V or something along those lines around a young child or baby. I would play games like Mario 64 and Zelda OoT when my son was young and he would watch while in his swing or whatever. I would read the text to him like I would a story book. When he was around 2 or so I would let him mess around with Mario Sunshine and other games, most of the time he just had fun making the characters run or jump. As he grew older he tried more complex games just like anyone else.

2. I will be honest alot of your time will be taking care of the baby which means less time for gaming. However, you have to learn how to balance your time and make time but be ready to have to turn off that game at any time. Long games like Skyrim don't really go well with a new child. But you might be able to sneak in a quick gaming session when the child is asleep.

3. I havent really bought multiple copies of a game untill recently but that's due to his age now and peparing for when he leaves the nest and wants to take his 360 with him. When he was younger we just bought one copy. Multiplayer games like Mario Kart, Lego games or Halo for example are great to playtogether. The Lego series is one of my son's and mine favorite series to play together. Single player games like Zelda Breath of the Wild have multiple save files so there isn't a need for two copies. Now when you decide he's old enough to play games you might want to make him his own account on the system you have.

4. As long as you teach your kids boundaries you won't have that problem. You know kids will be kids so I don't advise leaving a toddler alone in your game room, that's just asking for trouble. If they want to see your collection show it to them yourself, with you there. Not only can you then keep an eye on things but it's also a way to bond with them and share your hobby.

Hope those tips help and hopefully you and your child will spend many happy years of gaming.

I'm going to answer these out of sequence...

2. Funnily enough, when my first daughter was born, I actually played quite a bit on my PS3 - while she was small enough to sleep on my chest. Actually, that was pretty much the only place she did sleep for the first year... I'd sneak downstairs with her in the morning, while the wife was trying to catch up on sleep, and she could lie there (facing away from the screen) while I got in some Fallout 3 or Fifa. That was only for the first six months or so though. I had just started Dragon Age when playing video games and parenting became incompatible. That was about six years ago - I don't think I ever played my PS3 again. It's basically just a DVD player and TV streaming device now. I still sometimes look at the Dragon Age box and think, one day...

1. Started introducing my daughters to video games on tablets and phones from around the age of three (they're three and six now). I tried LittleBigPlanet on PS2 with the eldest when she was about four, but she literally couldn't get past the first level. I carefully vet the stuff they play on mobile, and it's all good stuff (I have suggestions if anyone is interested). But I bought the Switch on launch to introduce more classic gaming to them. Now they're having a ball with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (ALL aids on). Love the Switch.

3. As above, just use multiple save slots. It'll be years before they're playing on their own anyway.

4. Don't expect miracles! If you care about something, keep it out of reach until they're old enough to understand how to treat it.

@Tasuki
Oh man, sounds like it will be difficult to play games with a peace of mind without worrying about being interrupted. I get one hour lunch break at work and there's a food court across the street from the office. Good thing the Switch came out just in time to address problems like this lol. So I guess I can get one hour of gaming on the Switch Monday-Friday without worrying about being disturbed in the food court. Although for games like Zelda it's hard to complete certain missions like divine beast in one hour, wish there are save states. As for PS4 or Xbox 1 exclusives, that will be hard to manage since levels in games like Halo usually take me a while to complete.

@Krillin
You are lucky to be able to get a good amount of gaming time when you first became a parent. It's awesome you were able to get your kids into games you can all enjoy together.

Just remember, when you have people, little or otherwise, that depend entirely on you... Their needs are more important than "just let me finish this one level". Always put them on the highest spot of your priority list.

Play responsibly and be a good parent. Your child may develop an interest in gaming, but it's important to let them enjoy their own things too.

I'm settling my 3 year old to sleep as I type. We've just read stories and now I'm gonna play something laid next to him as he drifts off.

It'd be rare to get any gaming time without a handheld these days. I can multitask in short bursts. I rarely get to play on the tv as during the day kids tv will be on. Then at night I'll watch something with my wife (whilst perhaps playing my Switch at the same time).

My one year old managed to grab hold of my Switch in its case yesterday and my heart was in my mouth, but it survived. I just have to keep moving things higher and higher.

Yes definitely, my lunch hour at work will probably also be my gaming time for a while @Meowpheel

Since you have a Switch I assume you purchased Zelda for it? If so, given your limited gaming time how far are you in it?@JoeDiddley

@don
Congratulations, I've got a 5 week old girl and let me tell you, it changes everything. As an avid gamer, I now see things won't be the same for a while. The Switch helps, being able to play anywhere is a godsend and the only reason I get any gaming in whatsoever at the moment.
Saying that's I would'nt change a single thing 😀

@Don congratulations. It's so strange & awesome when you first become a parent. All your previous priorities are out of the window and life revolves around what's going into (and coming out of) a little person. Sleep deprivation can make it trippy too.

I'm about 35 hours in to Zelda BOTW, whereas most people seem to be 100 hours in or more. But I'm so grateful to be able to play such a big game away from the tv. And it being broken up into lots of quick shrines rather than big dungeons helps as I generally get to play in short bursts (up to an hour, most days) rather the than in long sessions.

I'd be further if it wasn't for checking out other games too. But I haven't found it hard to keep coming back to chip away at it, and I'm really enjoying the long haul.

Portable systems are the best for a parent! You can open and close them whenever you want and don't have to be locked in front of the tv.

With that said my gaming time went way down when all 3 of my kids were born. It gets better as they get older but even still I'm often too tired to play a long dedicated game on the tv.

Just before my first son was born I was determined to beat Twilight Princess and I did. Just before my second child was born I beat Fallout 3. See where I'm going with this. Like was said above, long games and young children don't mix well. My youngest is now 4 and being able to play BotW on the Switch's handheld was the only way I was able to beat the game so fast.

My now 10 year old started playing Mario Kart Wii at 2 1/2 years old and winning regularly. As he gets older I've been introducing him to a bit more mature games like Monster Hunter and BotW. He beat BotW before I did lol and with practicly no help.

One of the best images I have of recent play is watching both my sons in the Arms testpunch playing together and more often then not winning and my youngest is only 4.

You have many good times to look forward to playing games with your kids. Nintendo has always been welcomed in my home for those young kids!

@Don It can be difficult but as I said you just learn how to balance it. As many others hae said handhelds are great for a parent with a young kid. I remember when my kid was pretty young that was when I got most of my DS gaming in since alot of the time the TV was in use.

@G0dlike, @Don: Congrats to you both for your new arrival, and (respectively) your soon-to-be arrival! I'm not currently a member of the parenting club, but this has been an interesting thread to keep an eye on!