This does not hinder us from actually going out and doing things. It hasn’t stopped my kids from wanting to play in the fall leaves or my son from wittling (his new hobby). It will not keep them from being creative with the snow this winter. A 2nd thought isn’t even given to it when there are options like washing the car by hand and hose on hot summer days.

Bowling, tennis, etc. are still just as exciting to do in real life because while the game is fun in the living room, it can’t compare to the fresh air outside or the real sound of crashing pins. It does however provide an alternative when we don’t have the extra funds to go out or it’s 10 below 0* and real tennis is not an option.

My 11 yr. old is an avid reader, and I love that he has something he can just simply enjoy. Some of the books he reads are just fun, they aren’t adding much if anything to him. In fact he’ll just sit and read for 2 hrs if I let him. Times like that, WE is a nice change of pace.

The only way for this to be a hinderance is if it’s allowed to have more value than other activities. It’ll be exciting at 1st but balance will come in. How I’ve raised my kids is not going to come crashing down b/c of a game, or that would say more about how I raised them in the first place. My kids’ values and character have not changed.

Can’t wait to hear whatever way you choose!

Of course the kids love it but it has been a hit with adult friends too! When a family has come over, there’s always someone playing something on it while talking. Mind you, I require that the sound is always muted, but that’s me. It has taken an earned place with Yatzee and the likes. You can visit while others are taking a turn, and there have been some group cheers over good plays just like traditional games.

And it seems like there are NICE games to get with it. Games that don’t have heavy metal in the background but are still exciting and challenging. Mario Kart and Sonic Olympics are some. That boxing will plum wear you out! My 7 yr. old girl wants the “Cooking Mama,” and while I may or may not eventually get it for her, as a real life cooking Mama, I’m tickled pink.

We got ours last Christmas and had been conversing as though it was a stretch to think that we could/would actually buy it. My hubby got a stand for it on sale and we had them open that first. We had done such a good job of playing down the idea that they both thought that was kind of a pointless to buy the stand. And a second later it hit them. THAT was a fun moment!

If you go that route I recommend plenty of rechargeable batteries and charger. When my children are struggling to be cooperative, it is the 1st priveledge to go and for a good amount of time, which includes not watching the others play it.

Talk to more people that have it, some of the accessories are really great and others not so much.

Did you know you can also take your camera SD card and put it in there and watch slide shows and play with the pictures a bit? In fact, if you take a video with your camera and put the card in that, you can play that on there as well. If you have wireless internet, you can also get weather and other interesting things.

I can’t wait until WE get to play it!

Like you we’d rather take the family to go bowling, or play touch football in the yard, or go to the tennis courts and play. What fun are these things if you can do them everyday at home?

We set limits on use and no one complains. They don’t play every day. We go through spells, especially when we get a new disc, where we play more, then don’t touch it for weeks. We have not been bothered at all by its presence and we love that our 4 year-old daughter can play with her two big brothers (6 and 8) and whoop their tails at bowling :D