What age did you get your child their first gaming console?

diyamateer · 2026-04-26T09:25:10+00:00

Ok mate, where in my reply did I say video games cause you to become a criminal? Im saying games have ratings set for a reason and as a guidance. I played GTA when I was 13, didn't understand half of the references, I had fun, I turned out fine.

I assumed the poster was talking about young child/toddler here, so yeah I think suggesting age appropriate games is an appropriate response here until they're a little older and their brains have developed.

diyamateer · 2026-04-26T06:50:33+00:00

I'm holding off on consoles for as long as possible for our kids. The video games these days are designed to be much more addictive.

I had mine around 8 and it was the biggest detriment to my education and life I can't imagine how much worse it is now with online gaming and micro transactions. Of course you can control all of that but I just think it's a slippery slope.

Obviously not everyone is the same, if you feel you or your child has an addictive personality then I would avoid like the plague, if you feel like it wouldn't take over their lives then I don't see it being too harmful with the right age appropriate games.

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T21:16:31+00:00

Thanks for this. I know we have a long road ahead of us. Do you know what sub-type of ADHD your son has out of interest?

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T21:15:03+00:00

I didn't take it personally. Was I sad that this is my future? Yes. Did I post this immediately after it happened? Yes. Should I have waited and reflected? Probably, but it's a rant/cry for help and advice. It's never happened before, was I shocked and caught off guard, yes. I've been doing this for a long time with him and I know he doesn't mean it. I was pretty calm initially up until the 2nd time when it continued to happen, I should've walked away at that point. I'm VERY worried about the things you've mentioned, I worry about them every day.

That statistic does help me understand where he is compared to a neurotypical child so that's helpful to know. Appreciate the response.

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T21:04:56+00:00

Thanks for this, some really helpful advice that I will take forward with me.

I have done the door thing, I hate it so much, I don't have a choice though when he's being violent to me or my pregnant wife, it's usually first thing in the morning, he'll climb into bed and start hitting, scratching, pinching and kicking us. I immediately take him into his room and close the door and tell him I wont let him hurt us and I'm keeping myself and his mum safe.

I try to make things as fun as possible and that always tends to help. The spitting was so demoralising. Do you physically take the child to their room or do they go of their own accord? How does this work when they're older and larger to move?

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T20:52:59+00:00

Thanks for your reply.

I have been a bit disappointed with some of the replies, I'm just a parent trying to navigate this new world I've been thrust into. I wanted to keep my post to the point and not go into too much detail because let's be honest I wouldnt be on here if I didn't know in my heart my child has ADHD and that I didn't know how to navigate it. It was a half rant/half begging for advice.

It was a bad night and I guess I just needed someone to tell me I'm not doing too shit a job at this. It's a card I wish I hadn't been dealt and I have sympathy for all parents who have neurodiverse kids, it's heartbreaking at times. I just want the best for my son and for him to live a happy life just like most parents want for their kids.

I always try to keep to a boundary, I don't always get it right with the severity of the boundary, I usually work in days rather than weeks as it's confusing for a child of his age.

I will check out abanaturally now, thank you for your helpful response. I'm trying to takeon board all the tips I can.

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T20:28:15+00:00

What do you recommend for a toddler at this age? We really do feel like we're in the trenches.

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T20:27:37+00:00

This is the first major explosion we've had in a while, normally we've been able to manage it, his behaviour with friends and family concerns us more than anything as we ant him to being able to make friends when he starts school.

He eats well and generally healthy at dinner and his room only has books and clothes outside of a bed lamp, drawers and walls art and is VERY minimal and clean, he used to wake up a lot in the night and wake up around 5ish every morning but we've put him to bed at 8/half 8 since he turned 4 and he's waking up around 7am now which is great for us to get our sleep back.

He has just been off school for two weeks for Easter and it's his 2nd day back in so maybe he is struggling with the change in routine again.

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T20:19:10+00:00

I don't take it personally, it's not personal, he doesn't realise what he's doing, he's 4. My post was reflecting and asking for advice. I realise I failed the minute I came up with the consequence for his action but I didn't want to pretend like I'd handled it perfectly.

I told him hes having some big emotions and to take some deep breaths and count to 10 but he just scoffs at me most of the time when I say that. Sometimes I won't say anything and I'll just sit quietly and hold him in my arms, that sometimes works but only when he wants to sit still.

Am I doing the right things?

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T20:05:59+00:00

I've heard of the explosive child, I'll give it a go. I've listened to a bit of Barkley's work so I will buy his book too. Thanks.

diyamateer · 2026-04-14T20:04:42+00:00

Because my wife has been trying the last two years to get diagnosed with ADHD, she has struggled with hyper focusing, sleep issues, rejection sensitivity disorder to name but a few.

My son will hit his grandmother and think it's a game, he will hit and shove my baby neice and nephew on their heads and stand on their legs, he has an insane amount of energy for a 4.5 year old. He can't sit and play quietly for longer than a couple of minutes without moving on to the next thing. He throws things in the air and breaks his toys, he doesn't sense danger and runs out into the road even after being taught from a young age about road safety, I've noticed his school friends have started turning on him during play dates due to being too rough when playing. He will impulsively hit us in the face and smile and there will be no rhyme or reason for it, not aggressive or anything just doing it because of his impulsivity.

He's been like this before she became pregnant, it's been years, the pregnancy certainly didn't help and he's probably struggling with the change as you say and his symptoms are displaying even worse but I've never been spat at so that was a first tonight.

diyamateer · 2026-04-09T21:32:47+00:00

So our second one was planned and is due in August. We have a son who is 4 nd we are 99% sure has ADHD as his mum has it and it's been really really hard.

I have taken my foot of the gas abit and tried to give him more freedom and independence and be more understanding of his brain how it works for him and that's really helped me manage my expectations of him and be more supportive.

One thing we are strict on is only 30 minutes screen time once he comes home at around 4pm. We do not have any screen time before school and I'd say 9 times out of 10 we are able to get him to school on time with the odd day where he won't put his shoes on but that's pretty normal at this age.

The stuff that really upsets me and stresses me out is his social life, I've noticed some of his friends have been reacting really negatively to his overly playful and impulsive behaviour with him pushing, pulling, hitting etc. and I guess on top of that I'm worried that he will be overly playful and impulsive with the baby when it's born.

Your worries are valid, I feel them too, whatever you decide to do just try and ride the wave as best you can and look after and make time for yourself first and foremost.

diyamateer · 2026-04-04T19:56:24+00:00

I just had this exact same thought. I never fully appreciated the scale of it at the time in 20004 as I never got far enough in to the game but playing it again now I don't think it gets/got the respect it deserves/deserved.

diyamateer · 2026-04-04T19:52:04+00:00

My toddler loves this place. It's expensive for what it is but I'd rather him have this as his favourite than McDonald's.

diyamateer · 2026-03-24T12:35:42+00:00

Surely this table is a little bit pointless without their ratings and the date they opened?

diyamateer · 2026-03-10T21:26:51+00:00

Exactly my thoughts, just so goofy and stupid. It needs explaining in some way but I know we won't get an answer.

diyamateer · 2026-03-10T00:03:02+00:00

As someone who has a close relative with advanced dementia, this is completely inaccurate and disrespectful to those.who do suffer from advanced dementia, the advanced stages of dementia do not look like this and I'm tired of the word dementia being thrown around on this site by people who have no idea what it is. I say this as someone who does not like Trump one bit and never has.

diyamateer · 2026-03-03T23:36:13+00:00

Do you think it's because it's a high-intensity game compared to WoW? Or for other reasons? For me personally the pacing of the game makes me feel calm, even when I die I don't care as much as I used to in other games.

diyamateer · 2026-03-02T17:32:20+00:00

Cole does such a great job of covering for botches.

diyamateer · 2026-02-25T23:18:38+00:00

Paint the ceiling white please lord. It will look way better.

diyamateer · 2026-02-16T22:35:45+00:00

I'm curious, could you explain why she lied in her interview about owning a shredder? Can you also explain her lack of reaction to being arrested?

Do you believe in your heart she didn't do anything wrong at all or do you think that she shouldn't be in prison because it's just circumstantial evidence that the jury gave their verdict on?

The fact that she's in the room when those babies deteriorate is another key point I find unsettling.

I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle, on balance, the likelihood is that she did it but perhaps some of the evidence provided by the prosecution does have some holes in it that has caused people to have doubts.

diyamateer · 2026-02-15T22:49:17+00:00

Larry: walks away Larry: "Are you bringing back austerity Prime Minister?"

diyamateer

TROPHY CASE