[blparent] New member intro

[Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter]

Josh,

Personally, I plan to keep my children away from video games as long as
possible. Even educational games do not make up for actual in-person
learning that's truly interactive. We recently started allowing our
four-year-old to watch shows on an iPad for a single movie or one or two TV
shows, but it's a reward for doing things, following directions, not
something he can do whenever. I'm aware I'm in the minority when it comes to
games and tablets and show watching, and yes, on the rare occasion we need
him to sit and not be loud or interrupt, we have allowed him to watch more
on the iPad, but it's rare. I try to engage with him more, or encourage
actual imaginative play. My husband was a huge gamer before he lost enough
sight where he just can't do it anymore, but even he agrees he spent too
much time playing video games and watching shows. I grew up in a house where
little TV watching was allowed, and video games were limited. I didn't feel
like I missed out on something because of it. But my point is that in
general, I think it good to avoid these things while they are young because
when they are older, they may have a more balanced concept of entertainment
and activity. It bothers me when my nephew and nieces prefer to sit indoors
and play games on their personal tablets instead of play outside or with all
the toys they have.

I also don't believe young children need expensive toys, be it gaming
systems or something else. That's a lot of money to spend on a child. Maybe
I'm old fashioned, but it doesn't seem like young children need toys and
items that cost hundreds of dollars.

And many of the games are violent, graphic and inappropriate, especially for
young eyes. I know games have ratings these days, but most the "cool" games
are the bad ones. I've spoke with kids who were 8 and 9, playing a game
where they could pick up a prostitute, take her into a car, have the car
rock back-and-forth, simulating things, they the player can beat her up.
Eight and nine, and they were playing this game. Disgusting. Adults
shouldn't even be playing games like this, in my opinion. More and more
games have realistic violence that's graphic. Short of Super Mario Brothers
or athletic games, I can't think of many video games I would feel
comfortable with young children playing.

Teaching your son that he needs to work and save up is a great lesson. Not
an easy one, but a really great idea. I think as parents we often feel
pressure to give our kids everything other kids have. We don't want them to
feel left out or be upset, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't
hurt them. And you're instilling valueable life skills that he will benefit
from down the road. Not quite the same, but at a recent birthday party, my
son was told if he didn't eat his lunch, he could not have cake. He refused
to eat lunch, so when cake was served, he missed out. Most people thought we
were being too harsh, but my son frequently doesn't want to finish food. I
don't expect my kids to eat all their food if they don't want too, but if
they don't, no dessert or treats. It's just a rule we stick with all the
time. He won't learn if the rule can be broken periodically.

I'm aware that at some point my children will be exposed to games and shows
and subject matter. I don't and can't control everything. As they grow older
and begin to spend time at friends houses, they may be exposed to things I
don't like or am uncomfortable with. But I can do my best to avoid it at
home, nurture what is important to me from a young age and just hope they
are able to make better choices as they grow older. Nothing is perfect, no
person is perfect. I've already made a lot of mistakes, and hey, we all give
into lazy parenting at times; you have too sometimes, but ultimately, I'm
trying to establish something at home and with my children, and consistency
is the best policy.

So I totally support you in not investing in an expensive gaming system that
you are on the fence about. Your son will be disappointed and likely mad,
but he will get over it. There's a lot of toys I never received, and I was
hurt at the time, but you know what, hasn't affected my life all that much
as it turns out, smile.

Bridgit
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2016 23:58:13 -0400
From: Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982 at gmail.com>
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] new member intro
Message-ID: <b5265202-695f-2756-1ef6-7b4d9b48d80b at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

hi
I'm a new member well not exactly I was on this list about 10 years ago. 
But I may be new to some of you. Anyway my name is Josh Kennedy I live in a
rural town in PA. I subscribed mainly because I have a question. My sighted
son is 9 years old. He keeps asking for an xbox 1 or xbox 1s for Christmas.
But they are expensive and I'm on SSI. Also my tv only has one HDMI
connection and that is being used by the apple tv box. and I'd rather not
spend nearly $600 for an xbox 1s and a new tv to put in his bedroom where he
wouldn't be supervised as much. I'm totally blind by the way and use NVDA
for my screen reader and will soon be using the orbit reader20 low cost
braille display for braille input and output. 
You all can google search orbit reader20 if you want more info so anyway
rather than getting him an xbox 1s and new tv and stuff besides I don't have
the money for a new tv in my living room with 2 or more HDMI connectors at
the moment and I won't for a good many months... So do you all think I
should just get him a good android tablet? I found one with a 10.6 inch
screen octa-core 8 processors and 2gigs of ram for $130. 
much more affordable for me. It's difficult to save money when only on SSI.
I had to save 6 months and give up lots of stuff just to save up for the
orbit reader 20 at $499 due out in october 2016. He keeps asking for M-rated
games like GTA and the crew and stuff like that. So what do you all think.
save up for xbox 1s, and new bigger tv or good nearly 11-inch much more
affordable android tablet? also gotta save for the braigo low cost embosser
supposed to be out next year so I can have as much braille as possible for
his future school endeavors. next point is i figure if he wants a fancy xbox
when he's older that may give him an incentive to get a job and get it
himself. after all if I get him everything where's the incentive to
eventually work for or save for what he wants to have just like i had to
save for the orbit reader20 and will save for the low cost braigo embosser
due out sometime in 2017?

thanks

Josh Kennedy