Survey: One in four kids have their own game console
Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:24PM EDT
See Comments (27)
Back when I was a young'un, I was lucky to scrounge an hour or so a day on my dad's Apple II (that is, when I wasn't hiking to school through six feet of snow, etc.). But according to a new study, it turns out that a quarter of today's kids not only play video games, they also have their own gaming consoles, among other cool gadgets.
I have to say, I was surprised by those figures—and I can't help but feel a twinge of envy. Back when I was the same age as the target group in NPD survey, it was the late '70s/early '80s (you do the math), and my idea of a portable media player was a big, four-pound Radio Shack cassette deck with five "D" batteries and a mono ear bud.
And 3-D gaming, even of the PlayStation 2 variety? Please. We pretty much had to do with "Space Invaders" and "Galaga." (You can't tell that I'm turning 40 next week, can you?)
Anyway, on with the survey, which found (among other things) that a third of parents plan on buying their kids some type of consumer electronics device in the next year—probably an "educational toy" for the little ones, while the older kids were more likely to get a cell phone or a digital camera.
Speaking of cell phones, the survey found that kids haven't just embraced them, they've also "migrated away" from using them just for talking—in fact, a full 46 percent of kids are well versed in the art of text messaging.
That's not to say that mere chatting on a cell phone isn't still popular with kids; I was impressed the other day to see a neighborhood grade-schooler—maybe 10ish—casually walking and talking on her clamshell. Probably not that uncommon a sight, but still, it gets me every time.
So, question for the parents: Do your kids have their own gaming consoles, laptops, cell phones, and the like?
Related:
Kids' Use of Consumer Electronics Devices Such as Cell Phones, Personal Computers and Video Game Platforms Continue to Rise [NPD Group]
Comments on Survey: One in four kids have their own game console
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2 Posted by ehtaft on Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse
I think the numbers are way higher than that. And actually, I have no problem with it as long as the kid in question doesn't get completely "sucked in", and enjoys more scholarly pursuits such as reading and schoolwork (the latter is highly unlikely!) As a kid, though, I'm probably highly biased :)
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3 Posted by kckid66 on Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse
1 in 4 will be brain dead zombies, read a book.
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4 Posted by nighteye19 on Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:59PM EDT Report Abuse
They won't understand that kckid66.... read a kindle.
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5 Posted by mazomaiden on Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse
Pretty sad, I have a nephew that would rather play video games than do better in school and he is only 9! He can't even stay at our house because we don't have video games here and he would be totally bored. I don't think he has ever read a book...oh and kindle is silly!
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6 Posted by wolverinemarky on Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:36PM EDT Report Abuse
wow kids today definitely have it better then when i was a kid I had all incarnations of the nintendo at that age but didnt have so many other electronic devices like they do
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7 Posted by alexisomarl on Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:09PM EDT Report Abuse
Its the future...what else do you expect, I meana c'mon that is why they call it the "Information Age."
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8 Posted by tuba_geek on Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:55PM EDT Report Abuse
i save my money for things i have a laptop, an xbox 360 elite, a nintendo wii, a huge room and a queen sized bed, and a huge couch. and i am getting a 52-55 inch hdtv. score.
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9 Posted by tuba_geek on Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse
i have an xbox 360 elite, wii, ps3, ipod touch 2g 32gb, samsung eternity cell phone, queen size bed, laptop, huge couch, huge bedroom. and i am getting a 52-55 inch hdtv. score.
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10 Posted by ckharleman on Sat Jun 13, 2009 1:55AM EDT Report Abuse
I have a cellphone and a laptop, and I'm pretty far under eighteen. I also have an iPod and a DS, the latter of which I don't use often, I share it a lot with my brothers. My 10 year old brother has his own computer, and my brothers share an old Spiderman and Venom game.
1 Posted by chunk2242 on Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:41PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm not a parent, just a really spoiled kid. I have my own computer, Xbox 360, surround sound system, 40" HDTV, iPod Touch (32 GB), and cell phone. My mom paid for all of it. I will say that I think 10 is too young for a cell phone. I got mine last year just before my 17th birthday, and I had no problem with that. But this is just the ways things are now, kids are spoiled. Not that I'm complaining...