Bought my 5-year old son a used videogame system for Xmas. Am I a piece of S...?

My son asked for a switch this Christmas and he is only 5-years old. I also have 3 other kids that are younger than him.

I really don't feel like spending all kinds of money on them because 1) they are too young and 2) they just destroy everything.

My 5-year said he wanted a switch, which is $300+, so I just went to the local used gamestore and got him a Nintendo DS lite with 4 games for $120. I think $120 is still overspending in my eyes. It didn't come in a box though, and while it is in decent shape, it's clearly used.

I don't think I ever received anything that was used for Christmas when I was a kid, but looking back on things, my parents were horrible with money and always went into debt to buy stuff.

I mean. I could clearly afford to buy him a Nintendo Switch without debt, but I just don't want to waste money. I also don't want him using it as a means to go online and watch youtube.

Am I a bad father for doing this?

 

My son wanted a PS5 and a Nintendo switch and an iPhone and a bike and God knows what else.

He got an iPhone and a basketball.

 

I think your reasoning is sound.

If nothing else you can call it a trial run to see if he's responsible enough for a portable gaming system.

I don't think I could have take care of a switch at 5 years old.

I got a gameboy color at like 7 but those are smaller and built like a Nokia phone. Litterally bomb proof, at least the original game boys have been proven to be, look it up! Impressive story.

 

I wouldn't worry it too much about it. I think you did the right thing and besides he may get other things for Christmas that capture his attention more than the Switch. When my kids were five and 7 we didn't get them any portable game devices or game consoles. Now they're 11 and 13 and they wanted the Xbox Series X and my wife and I talked them out of it (they already have an Xbox One S and X). Maybe we're the bad parents .

 

Not in the least bit. A wise idea in fact..who knows how he will take care of it and it sounds like you got a lot for your money.

 

Nah..my folks got the Mattel Intellivision when I was 6, but otherwise I bought every system I owned ever

EDIT: ESPECIALLY since the new systems can be used for more than just games, I say you made a wise choice

 

When you said a switch, I thought you meant the thing I got whipped with when I was 5.

 

When I was a kid my father was TOUGH on me but it was tough love, when we would go somewhere iknew to never “cry” for things. My father worked hard and I noticed it. I had 4 sisters and they were first priority and I had no problem with that. All grown up now I’m glad my father was tough on me cus you cant buy good morals, being a hard worker, I appreciate many things now. Till this day im not into materialistic things more concerned on my business and my house and my family. Youre not a bad father, my dad worked every day and the best gift was when me and him would play ball. Man I miss my dad.

 

So true... We really try hard to keep our kids grounded and teach them there are things in life that are more important than materialistic things.

 

This is why I say it's a good thing I don't have kids, they'd hate me. I was raised with the tough love, earn what you want, respect, etc. Damned if I wouldn't teach mine the same

 

I got a used bike when I was a kid, I was thrilled, I just wanted a bike, it didnt matter how I got it.

 

I wanted a new bike at 11..mine was fine but I wanted something more specific to what I was doing. Showed them a picture of it and they asked how I plan to get it. I got a paper route and started pushing the lawnmower for my neighbor. Paid $225 for that bike in 1985 money..they paid the last $50 and gave it to me for Christmas but I wasn't expecting it, told me take the last $50 I had and buy a good lock which I did and you bet I used it. My friends didn't buy their stuff and didn't take care of it as a result

 

No way man.. you're a good father can definitely use that money for things that will be beneficial to them in the household. Plus you're teaching him you don't always get what you want just cause you want it. When my youngest brother was little they'd always give him stuff like that and he'd end up just not taking care of it. In the end I think you're teaching your kid good life lessons that will pay off when their an adult. Kudos to you plus like someone else here said it's a good test run to see how well he can take care of it.

 

Not a bad father by any means. I have a 6-year old and I know she wouldn’t care one bit. You made a good financial choice and I can’t agree more with holding off on the ability to have easy access to the Internet and YouTube.

 

Why would you be 'bad'? Lucky enough kid to get a system for Christmas at all.

 

maybe not a bad father

yet U attempt to justify Ur actions for decisions U already made

no less Ur children would NOT understand

a- U could get them s o m e. of what they want

b- teach them how to take very good care of what they have .............

c-theres ALWAYS birthdays............spread the gifts thruout the year

EZ on the budget ..................also provides an opportunity for ‘ Merit ! ‘ to show up

chores
good grades
behaving themselves

 

Glad to see so far no one has ragged on Kamille.bidan. What ever you do make sure to enjoy it together. Make it a family gift if you all could enjoy it. I have two older sisters with a total of six kids between the two of them. When there kids were young I would try to buy each family member a personal gift. How ever the best gift was when I bought 14 tickets to the musical Stomp (dating myself) and the whole family attended together (80 something grandma to kids in the single digit ages). One additional benefit is it took me about five minutes to make the purchase. No malls at Christmas for me.

 

i went to see STOMP at the orpheus in NYC

being a drummer i enjoyed myself

have a safe

healthy holiday

with those U care about

 

Never saw that, but in a similar vein Blue Man Group is great to see if you like shows. My in laws got the 6 of us tickets last year

 

Yup, how many kids get things they need (and not even enough of that) every year?

Good teaching moment too that if he can take good care of it maybe down the road talk about something else