The kids great PS3 debate!

[housefullofkids]

My 11 and 8 year old sons birthday's are a week apart (April 29th and May 3rd) and they are on a mission to get a PS3. For Christmas the oldest received a PSP and the other a Nintendo DS from their grandparents. I feel like they are just going from gadget to gadget. Not to mention these gadgets are expensive. I would like to know how others here feel about buying kids such expensive gifts?

[nanamom]

IMO they should be happy with the other systems for a couple years. I got my grandson a PSP for Christmas and he is 15. I have to say that the more sophisticated system run more sophisticated games most of which aren't appropriate for kids that age. If it were my son I wouldn't have bought the gift unless he earned some of the money for it or it was a reward for very good grades but since he is a grandson I can spoil them abit

[wakkus]

Maybe teach them a lesson about compound interest and the opportunity cost of spending money... why not say, here's the $600 that would go towards the PS3, and show them that if it were to be invested at 10%, what it would buy in 5, 10 years. Large pots of gold promised in the future can be very enticing (atleast for me). Give examples of what that $600 turning into $1550 in 10 years can buy for them...

Or perhaps explain just by waiting a year or two and buying after price cuts, what that money that they've saved can earn...

[cschin4]

I don't mind them playing video games but they can't buy into every new system. My boys (9 and 11) have Gamecube and the handheld DS. Their grandma bought them the DS. I bought them the Gamecube a few years ago. They wanted a Wi or PS3 as well.
Generally, I make them buy their own games with their money that they receive from allowance, birthdays, etc. Cuts down on the "bugging mom" to buy and also makes them more selective and choosy. And, I usually like to wait on a newer system until there is a fair selection of games.
But, if that is what the kids like, you may find it makes sense to buy what they like vs. trying to buy other things that they won't play with anyway.
And, realize that it will never end as there is always "something new" coming just around the corner.

[carsensejoe]

dont buy the ps3 just yet...there r hardly any games out for it yet anyway ...wait til the price drops and the bugs r worked out...til then ps2 is still my choice of gaming system

[baking23]

My parents got us an Atari when we were little but any game system after that my brother always bought. I think I bought maybe three games total through the use of the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, PS2, computer, etc...

[PrincessPerky]

My rule is the junk has to fit in my house, if you want a new computer you have to get rid of the old (actually since we are over stuffed on stuff, two out for one in, measured by volume, not object.)

Well that is the rule for my husband , my kids are great about giving stuff away .

Your house might be big enough for multiple game systems and if so, tell them to save up their loot, or if you normally spend that much on them, remind them you wont be able to afford more than just the ps3..so if Christmas morning is a bit strange with only one gift they are forewarned. (or if you do normally spend more, well, it is a gift, you can tell them the facts of letting time for debugging, and letting time for a game base to build, but you can't make them listen, though try anyway, can't hurt)