C3 News :: Parent Blames DS For Bad-Behaving Children
Username:

Password:

Parent Blames DS For Bad-Behaving Children

on 05.05.2008 at 10:59 User Icon Posted by Jorge Ba-oh (jb)
Tag Tags: Nintendo DS, Monsters, Children
In yet another case of trying to blame a gaming device for poor parenting: "Ninten-Don't... How I watched my children turn into monsters".

In a column for UK newspaper The Daily Mail, mother of four Rosie Millard discusses how buying a single DS with 20 games between the group lead them to become argumentative "monsters".

I finally buckled to buy a Nintendo DS Lite after considerable and sustained pressure from my children.

What finally did it was a suggestion from my oldest child that without a Nintendo in her school bag, she would be unable to fit in at school. (Yes, I know - oldest trick in the book. And I fell for it.)

It was that, plus reading a piece in one newspaper which suggested that if you regularly played Brain Trainer on your Nintendo, you'd bump up your mental acuity.

And another piece from child expert Dr Tanya Byron, of all people, which, as far as I recall, actually suggested that regular use of interactive toys such as the DS helped your children to be caring and creative.

I also had a sneaking and totally selfish wish to be Mother of the Year. Which I was, for about a day.

When the pale blue, £150 Nintendo finally arrived last November, fresh from Hong Kong (I had bought it on the net), crammed with a 'bundle' of 20 games including Brain Trainer, Fifa 08, and Nintendogs, my children hugged me tightly.

"Thank you, thank you, Mummy," they chorused. "We LOVE you!"

Mission accomplished, I smiled indulgently at them.


She describes how Brain Training became predictable for the children, and so they moved onto their own fixes of the 20-game catalogue. The "toy" caused "endless rows, sessions of screaming and increasingly regular parental punishment."

Our Nintendo had taken the guise of a small but toxic drug which, little by little, was poisoning my children.

When they had had their fix, they were even more frustrated and discontented than before.

...

I have first-hand evidence that using a Nintendo turns my delightful, curious and funny children into argumentative demons full of aggression, wholly uninterested in anything apart from playing, and then playing some more.


She has since donated the DS and games to charity.

  • Full Daily Mail report
  • Thanks to GoNintendo

  • Can a "toy" really cause so much frustration and mess up young people's lives? Normal sibling rivalry? Or is it down to poor choices and bad parenting looking for something else to blame?

    Be sure to have your say in the comments forum below.
    Please post your comments below | Submit News Tip | Archive
    Add a comment to this Story
    Please login to post a comment :), or sign up for a free acccount.


    Echoes221 Reply Quote #1 

    Echoes221

     L48 Kremlin Guard
    STRAWBERRY ON THE SHORTCAKE!!

    Offline

    Number of comments 875 87 Number of comments 06.04.2005 Wi-Fi Name echoes

    nope, its due to sibling rivalry, you know how it is, if one person plays it, they all want to play it at the same time.
    DRAW UP A TIMETABLE!
    Some say time is like a river that runs fast and smooth, but i have seen the face of time, it is an ocean and a storm.

    on 05.05.2008 at 11:24 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    SuperLink Reply Quote #2 

    SuperLink

     C3 Mod
    Go Team Sea Slug!

    Offline

    Number of comments 14330 758 Number of comments 19.01.2005 Wi-Fi Name Link / SuperLink9

    Oh. For fucks sake.

    This kind of thing really rubs me the wrong way. Such ignorance...

    1) Her children obviously aren't very old. Therefore Brain Training is a bad idea, it's aimed at adults after all...

    2) Children fight over ANYTHING. Consoles? The type is regardless. Any kid a certain age will fight over something unless they have one each... and even then they'll find a way to fight.

    3) I bet this woman has never even heard of the SEGA MegaDrive. The console that me and my brother waged an epic war over in ancient times. The console that got us banned from videogaming for 2-3 years. Why does she think it's exclusive to the DS? She's simply pushing the blame where it can get her the most money...

    4) Why are they taking a story from a single mother from the whole of Britain? She acts as if she's made some amazing discovery and everyone else on the planet is in the dark...

    Hey waitaminute.... OSHI--.

    ~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!

    C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
    YouTube Profile: Super Slick Bros are GO! + Super Smash Bros YouTube Group
    ~Brawl Friend Code: 4081-6946-5924
    ~
    BUY OKAMI
    on 05.05.2008 at 11:27 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    The cheese. Reply Quote #3 

    The cheese.

     L100 Eternal Master
    A star or two would be nice, for anyone reading this ;-)

    Offline

    Number of comments 5165 276 Number of comments 02.07.2004 Wi-Fi Name none

    It's clearly sibling rivalry that she can't cope with/control.

    And she bought it from Hong Kong with a 20 games bundle? Sounds legit. Smilie
    This is my very small signature. I hope it's not too big.
    on 05.05.2008 at 11:32 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    D_prOdigy Reply Quote #4 

    D_prOdigy

     L17 ReDead

    Offline

    Number of comments 167 14 Number of comments 23.03.2008 Wi-Fi Name D_prOdigy

    Thank God for messiahs like Jack Thompson, who are fighting their hardest to ban this sick filth.
    on 05.05.2008 at 11:53 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    SuperLink Reply Quote #5 

    SuperLink

     C3 Mod
    Go Team Sea Slug!

    Offline

    Number of comments 14330 758 Number of comments 19.01.2005 Wi-Fi Name Link / SuperLink9

    D_prOdigy said:
    Thank God for messiahs like Jack Thompson, who are fighting their hardest to ban this sick filth.

    Amen to that (I can't believe I live on this planet... Smilie )

    BTW, thanks to video games my brother and I are best friends. I guess that woman was too selfish, ignorant and impatient to see it through. gg :3

    Although from the soundsof things they would have been brought up as casual gamers anyway...

    Born and bred on Sonic games I was. Smilie

    ~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!

    C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
    YouTube Profile: Super Slick Bros are GO! + Super Smash Bros YouTube Group
    ~Brawl Friend Code: 4081-6946-5924
    ~
    BUY OKAMI
    on 05.05.2008 at 12:00 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Jump_button Reply Quote #6 

    Jump_button

     L76 Ridley

    Offline

    Number of comments 2610 180 Number of comments 04.05.2004 Wi-Fi Name jumpButton

    20 games as a gift some one rich wish she was my mum lol

    ps 20 game take a long time to do XD i know i be busy playing them too

    ( Edited 05.05.2008 12:09 by Jump_button )

    on 05.05.2008 at 12:07 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Ikana Reply Quote #7 

    Ikana

     L58 Hylian Knight
    Diglett Dig, Diglett Dig, Trio Trio Trio!

    Offline

    Number of comments 1305 149 Number of comments 07.06.2006 Wi-Fi Name Ikana

    Hm, I was gaming since I was 5 years old...but my little brother has never been into gaming. Though I do have some good memories of playing co-op on Alien Storm on Mega Drive with him when I was about 8/9 and he was 6/7. I don't remember us ever arguing over games...lots of other stuff, yeah, but not games. Smilie

    Well, these kids sound a) Rather spoilt and b) Completely normal. As others have posted before me, it's just sibling rivalry; kids will fight over ANYTHING. Our old Christmas home movies prove it. Smilie
    on 05.05.2008 at 12:17 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    SuperLink Reply Quote #8 

    SuperLink

     C3 Mod
    Go Team Sea Slug!

    Offline

    Number of comments 14330 758 Number of comments 19.01.2005 Wi-Fi Name Link / SuperLink9

    Jump_button said:
    wish she was my mum lol

    No you don't Smilie

    Instead of getting 20 games she could have gotten another DS.

    ~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!

    C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
    YouTube Profile: Super Slick Bros are GO! + Super Smash Bros YouTube Group
    ~Brawl Friend Code: 4081-6946-5924
    ~
    BUY OKAMI
    on 05.05.2008 at 12:26 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Darkflame Reply Quote #9 

    Darkflame

     L51 Regular Knuckles

    Offline

    Number of comments 972 66 Number of comments 07.12.2004 Wi-Fi Name none

    "And she bought it from Hong Kong with a 20 games bundle? Sounds legit."

    Yeah, exactly.
    She is hardly setting a good example by showing their children that hard work is worth nothing, because piracy is ok!
    on 05.05.2008 at 12:28 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    SuperLink Reply Quote #10 

    SuperLink

     C3 Mod
    Go Team Sea Slug!

    Offline

    Number of comments 14330 758 Number of comments 19.01.2005 Wi-Fi Name Link / SuperLink9

    Neither her, her children, or the Daily Mail probably have any idea the DS was a pirated machine.

    What can you do about that?

    EDIT: Ooooh I hope Nintendo reply to this <3

    ( Edited 05.05.2008 12:37 by SuperLink )


    ~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!

    C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
    YouTube Profile: Super Slick Bros are GO! + Super Smash Bros YouTube Group
    ~Brawl Friend Code: 4081-6946-5924
    ~
    BUY OKAMI
    on 05.05.2008 at 12:37 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Kafei2006 Reply Quote #11 

    Kafei2006

     L7 Mushroom Guard

    Offline

    Number of comments 67 22 Number of comments 10.01.2007 Wi-Fi Name none

    Ikana said:


    Well, these kids sound a) Rather spoilt


    I can only agree with that. If you teach your children not to fight when another has something they don't or if you simply teach them the value of things (by not buying them anything they want) then i think they won't fight over anything.

    I can tell cuz' i've been raised that way, and saw my cousins and mates back in the day fighting over a Game Boy while I was keeping my cool. I ended being the one allowed to play with the Game Boy cause i remained calm while the others were arguing Smilie. Thanks to my parents for that :lol !

    Ikana said:


    b) Completely normal. As others have posted before me, it's just sibling rivalry; kids will fight over ANYTHING. Our old Christmas home movies prove it. Smilie


    Yup ! It's not only over video games, it could be over the last Action man, (or Barbie if it's girls), or whatever... she's just blaming video games because it's something i bet she doesn't even know about too much.
    I used to be Umaro in my previous life. Really !!!
    on 05.05.2008 at 13:02 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Azzy Reply Quote #12 

    Azzy

     L23 Fire Leo

    Offline

    Number of comments 249 39 Number of comments 11.08.2005 Wi-Fi Name none

    Clearly the Daily Mail is the biggest pile of wank of a newspaper running at the moment.

    When I saw this article on the front page of C3 today, I thought exactly the same thing as SuperLink:

    "Oh. For fucks sake."
    Video Game Music on YouTube!
    Includes music from Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Super Smash Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Metroid, Tales of Symphonia, Donkey Kong, Star Fox and many more!
    on 05.05.2008 at 13:17 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    mOojc Reply Quote #13 

    mOojc

     L94 Overworld God

    Offline

    Number of comments 4481 206 Number of comments 06.06.2004 Wi-Fi Name mOojc

    I agree with the mother, DS is baddddddd. You would want your childern to be playing GTA IV anyway.
    on 05.05.2008 at 13:25 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    jb Reply Quote #14 

    jb

     Founder/Admin
    Brawl. Music. Orgasmic!

    Offline

    Number of comments 14153 886 Number of comments 04.01.2003 Wi-Fi Name jbcubed3.

    Perhaps she should have set more firmer rules, or get them something else (e.g. a home console or at least a second DS) so they can all play nicely. Stricter rules and better judgment would be a better approach.

    E.g. only able to play after rehearsing their instrument, doing their homework etc.

    Blame the parents I say.

    jb(at)cubed3.com
    on 05.05.2008 at 13:39 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Martin_ Reply Quote #15 

    Martin_

     L100 Eternal Master
    I KILL FANBOYS

    Offline

    Number of comments 6457 723 Number of comments 05.09.2004 Wi-Fi Name none

    on 05.05.2008 at 14:00 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    chrisjwilkinson Reply Quote #16 

    chrisjwilkinson

     L3 Gooba Guard

    Offline

    Number of comments 25 21 Number of comments 25.03.2006 Wi-Fi Name none

    To echo what (several) others have said, I have two young children (aged 3 1/2 and 2) and they fight over who gets to push a toy wheelbarrow around the garden or who plays with which dinosaur!
    Of course, I almost didn't bother reading further when I saw the words "The Daily Mail"...
    on 05.05.2008 at 14:29 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    samus_boy Reply Quote #17 

    samus_boy

     L7 Mushroom Guard
    Sometimes it's hard to figure out how to have a life.

    Offline

    Number of comments 63 42 Number of comments 16.03.2008 Wi-Fi Name Evan, Jr.

    When I was much younger, I attacked my brother for turning off LoZ: LttP because he was mad that I'd been playing so long. Fast forward to yesterday when he was at my house for an hour + playing Mario Kart Wii.

    Video games are obviously the work of the devil.
    Smilie
    on 05.05.2008 at 14:44 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Steoandnoodles Reply Quote #18 

    Steoandnoodles

     L2 Toad
    I'ts Time to Smile :D

    Offline

    Number of comments 12 20 Number of comments 18.04.2007 Wi-Fi Name none

    depriving your children of entertainment and allowing them to have short bursts sorta would make them annoyed.
    I blame the Mother.
    on 05.05.2008 at 14:53 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    SuperLink Reply Quote #19 

    SuperLink

     C3 Mod
    Go Team Sea Slug!

    Offline

    Number of comments 14330 758 Number of comments 19.01.2005 Wi-Fi Name Link / SuperLink9

    TBH coursework/revision has made me far more severely depressed and angry than games ever have. I think that should be more of a concern to parants TBH.

    ( Edited 05.05.2008 14:54 by SuperLink )


    ~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!

    C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
    YouTube Profile: Super Slick Bros are GO! + Super Smash Bros YouTube Group
    ~Brawl Friend Code: 4081-6946-5924
    ~
    BUY OKAMI
    on 05.05.2008 at 14:54 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    mushroomer Reply Quote #20 

    mushroomer

     L1 New Born

    Offline

    Number of comments 5 20 Number of comments 24.10.2006 Wi-Fi Name Mushroomer

    This lady has no idea what she is talking about. The DS isn't addicting at all. Man this makes me so mad that I need to go play some Advance Wars. BRB.

    Actually, I am , i think addicted to DS. Although I only play on my commute to work, I just feel like I need to play 2 times a day for 40 minutes or else something is missing. Currently I am playing: Band BrothersDS(guitar hero-like game imported), RBI BASEBALL DS(Imported called famista DS), and have recently been done with Advance Wars DoR, Tetris, Jump Ultimate Stars, Zelda, Metroid, and the number 1 addcitive game thus far for me, Mario VS DK 2 because of the level editor and wifi sharing abilities.. ahah anyone else list off their most addictive games?

    ( Edited 05.05.2008 17:57 by mushroomer )

    on 05.05.2008 at 16:00 Games | Blog | Wii Codes | Message Me

    Tools | Top | Bottom

    Phoenixus Reply Quote #21 

    Phoenixus

     L72 Samus
    This is a Forum Message. Will the person who looks like my brother, please go jump off the nearest cliff.

    Offline

    Number of comments 2092 400 Number of comments 30.04.2007 Wi-Fi Name S.J

    Pitiful Woman. If she can't control her ki