[blparent] New member intro

Thu Sep 8 14:51:53 UTC 2016

The best we can do as parents is establish a firm and loving foundation when kids are young, and keep communication lines open as they grow up.  

I think it's pretty neat that father and son share a love of technology, but, as Bridgit says, there are things not appropriate for kids ore adults that are out there, and parents have the responsibility to monitor the home.

Judy

-----Original Message-----
From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via BlParent
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 8:38 AM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Subject: [blparent] New member intro

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

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