Does your child have a Wii

[Sooze2]

Just wondering because the other day I bought a second hand Eye Toy for the PlayStation. My 6 year old twin girls loved it and played really well with it until DS came along. He caused havok! Had to win (as with everything), they were playing a game where you had to wash the soap off a window by waving your hands around and he just stuck his hand over the camera so it all went away automatically and was really cheeting and upsetting the girls. When hubby told him to play properly he had a tantrum and couldn't understand why he couldn't do it how he wanted. The whole thing turned into a nightmare with every one totaly wound up and getting told off. I even sent them all to bed early because it got so bad!

 

So............

 

Is the Wii going to be the same?? Does it have the same concept as the eye toy?

 

I have bought one for Christmas as a family present and it is the main pressie because they have all just had birthdays and don't need anymore toys. They will only get a few nick nacks on top of this.

 

Is it a bad move? What are your experiences of an Autistic child playing a Wii with siblings or generally sharing it with anyone?

 

Is Christmas going to end up even more stressful than usual because f the Wii?

[warrenpenalver]

I dont think you can cheat as easily with a wii. Ive only played one a few times and i found my lack of co-ordination frustrating.

[Sooze2]

Thanks Warren, thats exactly what I was wondering. He gets very frustrated when playing on the Play station with anyone exept his freind, I can't play it with him and he tolerates his Dad playing but will turn it off or get angry if he thinks he MAY lose half way through the game even though he really wants his Dad to play with him. Add to that the fact that he will be standing up holding a weapon - I mean a controller and waving it around and we could have a war zone in the front room!

 

Thing is that I know me and the girls will like it and he really wants one. Dad thinks the whole idea is terrible partly because he hates technology and partly because he is worried about what will happen when we turn it on and whether it will be in one peice at the end of Christmas day!

 

I recently bought the Buzz junior game for the playstation which four of us played (all children) which resulted in a very stressed son. I thought the eye toy would be a test of how he would cope with the Wii, he has used one before so I thought it would be ok!

 

Can you play the Wii like a normal console if you want? If you can he could do that and me and the girls could do the team games together couldn't we?

 

I can't beleive I am talking about this because it shouldn't be causing concern really but as we all know here these are the things that are hard to cope with and with it being so expensive I am now quite worried it will be too much hassle to use it but I think it is now too last to take it back since I bought it last month on a special Bundle deal!

 

Blimey, what a bore I am.

[ScienceGeek]

I know that you can play gamecube games on the wii with a gamecube controller that plugs into the top of the console Plus there is a classic controller that you can get for the wii as well.

[stressedmumto2]

We have got a wii and tbh it has helped my son alot to learn to share and lose a game, but 2 year's ago it could of frustrated him, children can play it on their own and with others, we find for family use wii sports to be one of the best games, they all share it very easily as you have your own wii person and I think it does help to teach sharing, as for losing, my girl NT is a bad loser so we do have some problems with her but she's getting better.

 

If you can persevere with it then I think it would be great

[stressedmum]

I've got exactly the same thing on my mind. Both kids have been hankering after a Wii since they came out so this year I've bought one between them for christmas as their only present. My son, who HAS been diagnosed with ASD, isn't the problem but my daughter, who hasn't been diagnosed, is. I've had to ban the playing of board games because of her behaviour when playing a game and we've also had the same problems over the computer, playstation, even the TV remote

I'm just hoping a miracle happens on christmas morning and peace descends over our house once the box is open

[alisonatt]

my son likes to play bowling on it, he has his own style and seems to jump as he bowls but it works and does beat us, its only game we can all play together without my son getting upset and messing up the game cos he has not won, does not bother him if he does not win on the wii, he does not play on xbox or playstation much as he gets so angry if he cannot do it, its just nice to be able to play something as a family without the board going flying across the room.

 

[sesley]

we have a Wii and he gets obesseive and frustrated when he can't win and so he gets banned from using it again,they are good fun and if you can get family games it can help with learning to turn take, have some fun and they have to cope with the concept of loosing with some :crying:and its not important to be ,just try next time.

[Tally]

My brother was like this as a child. I hated playing games with him and always let him win because he would throw the most spectacular tantrums if he lost and accuse me of cheating. Even drawing was a nightmare because he used to get my mum to choose which was her favourite picture. She always said they were both just as good, but he wouldn't stop until she said his was best. I also used to babysit a girl who hated losing and would cheat or throw things so that she didn't lose. Neither of these people are autistic and both have grown up very well-adjusted adults, so this might just be a phase he will overcome.

 

Are there any non-competitive games, or games where you compete only against your own previous scores?

[JsMum]

 

we have it and it is a good social game, I cant deal with the visuals though, the sea makes me queezy, I dont know if it would effect children with epilepsy or migraine sufferers, so do be careful.

 

Its got a lot of good games, and the wii fit is something Id like but its too expensive at the moment.

 

I would go and have a go in a gamestation as they have them to have a go.

 

 

I also feel they do need a bit of room, and watch your orniments however it is good game once you have your bearings and foundations sorted out.

 

JsMum

 

[peaches]

We have bought one for R for Christmas as he is really absorbed in Game Cube and Game Boy, and he asked for it. Fortunately his birthday is boxing day so its a joint present. I hadnt thought about all the thrashing about though!! We have got the Mario Kart game in with our bundle which has a special wheel, which I hope doesnt have to be thrown about!!! The sports games wont interest him as he is mad on Mario and Sonic. In fact, they are his "specialist subject" ... the amount of detail he gave the CAMHS psychologist who was passing him in the corridor about a sonic game probably convinced her of his Asperger's. She couldnt get away from him! We didnt have to show him how to use the game boy or game cube, it was somehow instinctive.

 

However, he is really bad at board games, has to control everyone's play and has to win, also has to make up novel new ways of playing Ludo, so I really dont see the Wii being a sharing game for him.

 

Im sure its the right present for him though as he is so into gaming he ignores most of his last years toys like pirate ship, scalextric, lego etc.

[MelowMeldrew]

My lad is getting a wii this year, it's a gamble, because he hates 3d type games he gets disorientated with it, the school says his spatial skills are improving so. Up to now he has refused to play any game but spiderman, and only the first level on an xbox, after exhausting 3 ps2's ! he won't proceed any further, he must know every computer byte of that level by now ! I've bought spiderman game with the wii too, because I am unsure he would attempt another game, he has refused to play the 15 he has ! I may be wasting my money, I don't know. I remember years ago, he had a gamecube and at xmas he had 6 games given with it, he threw 5 in the bin, and just played the one.... 160 quid into the rubbish ! every xmas, a total gamble ! I've told relatives just give him the money and put it in his account, because presents are a total gamble. Lately he has said he wants books, I thought GREAT !!! but since I have been buying the ones he asked for and chose, he has refused to read them, he puts them all in a neat pile and gets angry if anyone moves or opens them to read... ? Comics the same they are shrink wrapped and he gets very stressed if you Try to take it off, he just.... collects.

[Zosmum]

I've toyed with the idea of a wii for xmas but still haven't decided

 

Do be sure to buy the wrist straps if you do get one. I know of a couple of people who have had the controller thingy going through the front of the TV

[bikemad]

Ive got my lad one n im thinking it l either be fab or a disaster lol.

[tjw]

hi

my son age 6 has had a wii for two years now, and it has improved his coord no end he is very good on it , he also will take turns with peeps just as long as they dont go out of turn or have more gos than allowed but over all i think it has been a good thing for him, he has been obsessed with game consoles since an early age, and they are the only things he will play with, we have to monitor his intake with some games ie wwe he is only allowed 5 games a day on this because it makes him jig about to much and he lets me know when he has had 5 gos and turns it off. he can become a bit upset when he is losing but we just refuse to play with him if he has a strope and when he has calmed down will say sorry and play nice again.

theresa xx

[NobbyNobbs]

not a child but... i got a wii a few weeks ago and absolutely love it!

 

its helping a lot with my hand-eye control and great for giving me a way to socialise with my parents without actually having to talk to them!

 

you can't cheat with the Wii because its so much more sophisticated than the game you were talking about . the one thing to make sure is that the controller is always strapped on though!

 

a lot of the competitive games (wii play and sports) can be played on your own as well as with others so if your son can't cope with playing with others you could always relegate him to playing them on his own until he's so great he can beat you all without cheating!

 

i think that fair play is a very important social skill and perhaps the Wii would be a good tool to work on that for him, so much in life is about following rules and games are a great way to instil that into kids

[madme]

We bought it last Xmas. We spent two weeks in a small chalet on a french mountainside playing it most days for a while and loved it. Bowling is great. It is very good for play skills ie turn taking. Can be played alone or in a group.

Edited October 28, 2008 by madme

[NickyB]

Just wondering because the other day I bought a second hand Eye Toy for the PlayStation. My 6 year old twin girls loved it and played really well with it until DS came along. He caused havok! Had to win (as with everything), they were playing a game where you had to wash the soap off a window by waving your hands around and he just stuck his hand over the camera so it all went away automatically and was really cheeting and upsetting the girls. When hubby told him to play properly he had a tantrum and couldn't understand why he couldn't do it how he wanted. The whole thing turned into a nightmare with every one totaly wound up and getting told off. I even sent them all to bed early because it got so bad!

 

DS1 got an eye toy recently, too and we've had EXACTLY the same problem as you. It descends into chaos every time unless I can get DS2 away from it. AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH

 

On the subject of the wii, DS1 desperately wants one, but as he has an X box and PS2 already, and he's getting a laptop soon, we've told him that's enough.

[NobbyNobbs]

another thing i LOVE about the wii (and nintendo in general) is that there really aren't any games that you have to say 'no you can't have that' about. they're all clean, non-explicit games whereas the playstation and Xbox lot seem to be about violence, killing and who knows what else. we have the wii on the main family tv because of this. if it were anything else i would have to have it in my room to ensure the kids didn't have access to anything they shouldnt, but it really is a family game

[JsMum]

another thing i LOVE about the wii (and nintendo in general) is that there really aren't any games that you have to say 'no you can't have that' about. they're all clean, non-explicit games whereas the playstation and Xbox lot seem to be about violence, killing and who knows what else. we have the wii on the main family tv because of this. if it were anything else i would have to have it in my room to ensure the kids didn't have access to anything they shouldnt, but it really is a family game

 

 

 

Thats a very good point there with wii, they do tend to be of all age group, with no violence.

 

It was on tv not long ago as it was used for therapy for a group who had a stroke, and they found the benefits where great.

 

JsMum

 

Edited October 29, 2008 by JsMum

[MelowMeldrew]

I've zero interest in gaming at all ! the problem is when my son hits a snag or cannot proceed he demands I sort it out, it's a ###### cos I haven't a clue.... and he gets frustrated then. I thought the idea of these things was to test his skill at overcoming obstacles, that's what I tell son of anyway If it was me I'd never have them in the house, espcially as the games are about �40 a time as well........ it is so expensive, because us poor ole parents have no idea till he switches it on, if he will play it.... asking sale or return doesn't go down too well at the shop...

Edited October 29, 2008 by MelowMeldrew

[JsMum]

I've zero interest in gaming at all ! the problem is when my son hits a snag or cannot proceed he demands I sort it out, it's a ###### cos I haven't a clue.... and he gets frustrated then. I thought the idea of these things was to test his skill at overcoming obstacles, that's what I tell son of anyway If it was me I'd never have them in the house, espcially as the games are about �40 a time as well........

 

 

 

 

We get preowned games, we only ever get new games when there slashed half price in a sale.

 

We borrow games too as well as swap.

 

JsMum.

 

[Sooze2]

I've zero interest in gaming at all ! the problem is when my son hits a snag or cannot proceed he demands I sort it out, it's a ###### cos I haven't a clue.... and he gets frustrated then. I thought the idea of these things was to test his skill at overcoming obstacles, that's what I tell son of anyway If it was me I'd never have them in the house, espcially as the games are about �40 a time as well........ it is so expensive, because us poor ole parents have no idea till he switches it on, if he will play it.... asking sale or return doesn't go down too well at the shop...

 

LOL MelowMeldrew you sound like my DH who still won't use the PC.

 

Our local Blockbuster video shop sells loads of second hand Playstation games for only �3.99, we got the Eye Toy with a game for that price the other day. Sometimes they are on a by 4 for �10 offer too! I am hoping that it will be the same for the Wii games as well soon because they are so expensive to buy new aren't they!!!

 

Thanks a lot for all the replies, I'm glad to see I am not the only one thinking about this because I thought I was probably thinking too deeply about it - as I often do about most things really

 

[KateBall]

We (I) have a wii and ds uses it sometimes. He likes the simple sports games - eg bowling and tennis. He can get frustrated with more difficult things. The family ski game is good as are the wii fit exercises - in fact our OT recommends the balance games. However I haven't managed to persuade ds that the wii fit board is quite safe to stand on. He seems to think he's going to fall off the tightrope walk or drown in the water or whatever. He can't see yet that it is not real. I'm actually quite happy with that for the moment because I don't want him monopolising it!!

[JsMum]

 

 

 

Its a great game when the weather is pretty dull, like it is here right now, rain, and more rain, just wished it had of snowed, like others here have.

 

So now the winter has drawn in and its pretty cold, the wii is a good indoor game, keeps them active too, just another pointer.

 

JsMUM

 

[SuzyQ]

Hi We have a wii, and have to say my DD is great on it she has aspergers and is 14 she loves wii fit, it has heled her as it is fun, we also have brain training and she is better than I am at alot of it!!! I am not into playing serious games but wii fit and the wii sports type things are brilliant as are the cow racing!!!! My DD also loves the xbox 360, she plays games and is more of a gamer, but often will ask DH to help her when it gets hard as I am useless!!!

I am lucky as my children have always learnt that loosing is an important part of playing games, I grew up the youngest of 4 so often lost, and had the most anoying brother ever who would run around rubbing my nose in it, so I have taught my children its the playing that counts, winning is great but playing in the first place also is!! Saying this now my DD will just turn it off if she can't do it more often than not.

But the Wii is an all round good thing I am ok at bowling, but I cannot play the baseball but both my children are quite good at baseball!!!

It is great entertainment and gets everyone involved!...god I should work for nintendo!!!!

[Sooze2]

Yes, I have taught my children about playing games and that the fun is in the playing and joining in rather than the winning, it worked on 2 but not on DS who really thinks that all games were invented for him alone to win and everyone else who joins in are there just to be beaten for his amusement - if he doesn't win the world collapses around him and we will all be punished for our disrespect!

 

The Wii sounds great though, I don't think there is much chance of us all being able to play it together andwill more likely be him and his dad playing OR me and the girls. The more I think about it the more I realise that I was living in fairy land when I dreampt of us all playing happily together on it like they do in the adverts. I am a marketing mans dream.

 

 

[NobbyNobbs]

I've zero interest in gaming at all ! the problem is when my son hits a snag or cannot proceed he demands I sort it out, it's a ###### cos I haven't a clue.... and he gets frustrated then. I thought the idea of these things was to test his skill at overcoming obstacles, that's what I tell son of anyway

thats what the internet is for! you can find a walkthrough for the game then give him some clues that will help him solve it for himself. for example 'find the red palm tree and jump lots' will solve a level in the game i'm playing at the moment... i'd never have worked that out for myself, but i still had to then find the right tree etc. its not cheating, honest!

 

i had an old Xbox when they first game out and i despised it. i couldn't understand the games, the controllers hurt my hands and all in all it wound up being used as a dvd player and nothing else. it is a big gamble, but with the wii you're pretty safe because its so diverse. the only area it doesn't cover is the violent killing genre (and kids dont need to be playing that kind of game anyway!)

 

i also take my games in to exchange if i get bored/dont like them. although obviously you dont get all your money back it softens the blow when you've bought a game and just dont get on with it.

 

oh and watch out for super mario galaxy.. if your child has problems with feeling his physical place (can't spell the technical name) he'll feel like he's flipping upside down all the time while standing still. ive abandoned that game until i feel like i wanna be upside down!

[sandyn]

I think it depends on the game being played. We have had a WII for about 2 years now. We have way too many games ( guess whats going on ebay soon!!)

 

R loves the WII but on his terms. He insists on having the number 1 controller, and always bombards into each game without worrying whether anyone else can play. Sound familiar??? My NT gets all stroppy cause she cant do the things R can do. OMG!!!! I do sometimes wonder whether it is worthwhile having the blooming thing!!!

 

The game which both my kids like is Mario Party.

 

 

[pookie170]

Hmm........

 

We're thinking about a Wii for the lad's xmas too, but having second thoughts after reading this thread and considering how they might react!!!

 

Got one who gets soooo frustrated, screeches at the consoles and stims like billyo when it all goes wrong, and a littl'un that's just hit the stage of howling 'Its not FAAAAIIIRRR!!!!'

whenever he's losing....

 

In the words of Fagin from the musical Oliver,

 

'I think I'd better think this out again!!!!'

 

 

(but I really want one too, so maybe I'll get it after all, heheh!! )

[chris54]

I must be the only person in the world who has never played on any of these electronic games.

I don't know anything about them and am not in the slightest interested.

 

I thought a wii is something you did in the bathroom.

 

 

The nearest my son gets to any thing like that it playing things on the Internet.( his school site or BBC)

[Cariad]

We got a Wii last Christmas and it was a big hit with T's sisters, now he has taken to playing Super Mario galaxy and loves it as it is a one player game and My Sims. We have also got a second hand gamecube and second hand Mario games for him this Christmas just for himself as he's Mario mad, so he has two consoles he can play it on.

[joybed]

We also got a Wii last christmas and to begin with it caused nothing but trouble. We have a wall mounted tv so DH wasn,t keen on the little ones palying with it in case they pulled the wires and broke the TV so DS1 was only allowed to play at certain times and this was usually when Dh wanted to watch tv so loads of arguments initially. He stopped palying with it until very recently when he also has got into Mario and the twins now paly with him. They alll love it. It still causes hassle as DS1 trys to control how the other 2 paly but i have to just stop them palying quickly if it gets out of hand.

[MelowMeldrew]

I must be the only person in the world who has never played on any of these electronic games.

I don't know anything about them and am not in the slightest interested.

 

I thought a wii is something you did in the bathroom.

 

 

The nearest my son gets to any thing like that it playing things on the Internet.( his school site or BBC)

 

 

Right on !! I have read about people insisting dogs can cure my son of autism, and now electronic games will, and boost his fitness ! he can run rings around everyone now......which is in stark contrast to the advice I had that electronic games will hinder his advancement and spoil his communication, if our kids are playing that all hours they aren't talking are they ? My son is strictly rationed, to certain times, and to a certain time scale... and only after he relates his day and what he has done...Some of us still don't watch TV my son doesn't, he has zilch interest in it, which I suggest is the true mark of a discerning viewer ! cos I hardly watch it either... as son of only plays one game and up to only one level, what's the point anyway ? these games seem to be a way out of communication, not a way in. At present it is a distraction till he finds something else to do...

[peaches]

Right on !! I have read about people insisting dogs can cure my son of autism, and now electronic games will, and boost his fitness ! he can run rings around everyone now......which is in stark contrast to the advice I had that electronic games will hinder his advancement and spoil his communication, if our kids are playing that all hours they aren't talking are they ? My son is strictly rationed, to certain times, and to a certain time scale... and only after he relates his day and what he has done...Some of us still don't watch TV my son doesn't, he has zilch interest in it, which I suggest is the true mark of a discerning viewer ! cos I hardly watch it either... as son of only plays one game and up to only one level, what's the point anyway ? these games seem to be a way out of communication, not a way in. At present it is a distraction till he finds something else to do...

 

 

Well that's one way of looking at it.

 

Our son's special interest is electronic games though. He seems to have a particular talent with the games for a 5 year old. He taught himself to read when he was 3 1/2 and often reads the little booklets that come with the games (the only person I know who bothers with this). He has even taken the instruction booklets into school to read. I also find that when he is playing a game it has a calming influence on him, i.e. he isnt jumping from one piece of furniture to another. I would rather he was outside with a football, but that can get annoying too. I have lived through many hours of thudding whilst my eldest sports mad son was kicking the ball against the outside wall. We all know that dogs and games cant cure ASD, but I dont see why our lad shouldnt enjoy them if that is his particular interest.

[JsMum]

 

 

 

What stopped Jay from running around on the train, knocking into people, tripping up people, falling over and getting everyone anoyed, video games and consoles and I tell you they are a god send, if they werent around I would be in padded cell, in a holiday placement for kids with ASDs/ADHD, the tv, dvd, video, ds, psps, Portable dvd players, were on constantly, we never ever got enough of tomous the tank, dinasours, ect,,,, for some as bad as it sounds, they give us parents a bit of respite.

 

JsMum

 

[peaches]

What stopped Jay from running around on the train, knocking into people, tripping up people, falling over and getting everyone anoyed, video games and consoles and I tell you they are a god send, if they werent around I would be in padded cell, in a holiday placement for kids with ASDs/ADHD, the tv, dvd, video, ds, psps, Portable dvd players, were on constantly, we never ever got enough of tomous the tank, dinasours, ect,,,, for some as bad as it sounds, they give us parents a bit of respite.

 

JsMum

 

Well said!

 

[chris54]

I must be the only person in the world who has never played on any of these electronic games.

I don't know anything about them and am not in the slightest interested.

 

I thought a wii is something you did in the bathroom.

 

 

The nearest my son gets to any thing like that it playing things on the Internet.( his school site or BBC)

 

 

Right on !! I have read about people insisting dogs can cure my son of autism, and now electronic games will, and boost his fitness ! he can run rings around everyone now......which is in stark contrast to the advice I had that electronic games will hinder his advancement and spoil his communication, if our kids are playing that all hours they aren't talking are they ? My son is strictly rationed, to certain times, and to a certain time scale... and only after he relates his day and what he has done...Some of us still don't watch TV my son doesn't, he has zilch interest in it, which I suggest is the true mark of a discerning viewer ! cos I hardly watch it either... as son of only plays one game and up to only one level, what's the point anyway ? these games seem to be a way out of communication, not a way in. At present it is a distraction till he finds something else to do...

 

 

I don't have anything against Electronic games , they just don't interest me and my son has shows no interest in them. That may be because he has had only a little exposure to them. Not something that I would think of getting him.

 

I was prompted to look in a shop window when out the other day, I did not realize that there are shops that sell only electronic game and dont some of them cost- �100s of pounds! Do people really pay that much for games?

 

I can remember my stepson when in his teen, got the latest thing, cant remember what it was now, but he had to have it as all his friends had one. I think he played it about half a dozen time, then it sat in cupboard for a few years then he gave it away.

 

Not long ago we had a family get together, How sad when you see a dad ignoring his kids.To engrossed playing his whatever to notice what kids are up to and mum to busy texting.

 

 

[JsMum]

I did not realize that there are shops that sell only electronic game and dont some of them cost- �100s of pounds! Do people really pay that much for games?

 

We saved up, Jay got his wii for his birthday and had to wait passed that to recieve his, he didnt just get it winny nilly.

 

JsMum

 

 

[JsMum]

How sad when you see a dad ignoring his kids.To engrossed playing his whatever to notice what kids are up to and mum to busy texting.

 

Not all dads/mums ignore their kids with these consoles, yes maybe some, I spend 24-7 with Jay without a break, so we do both do enjoy wii, or me on here the forum, but its doesnt mean I ignore him. he doesnt let me.

 

JsMum.