It's a Wii Xmas

It looks like both boys are going to take after their Dad with having a passion for driving video games. Using my steering wheel both Joshua and Brandon have become a bit of a dab hand on GT5 and Lightning McQueen on the PlayStation. I even adapted one of their stools to mount the steering wheel to give them a more natural driving position (and to save me having to sit there and hold the steering wheel for them).

 

Joshua testing out our modified stool mounted PS3 steering wheel.

 

Successfully driving Lightning McQueen whilst his little brother watches whilst waiting his turn.

 

Then it is Brandon's turn to step up to the steering wheel.

 

Brandon chooses a white racing car and he is off.

The PS3 is great for the kids and can be used as a learning tool. We are very mindful not to let the boys become video game addicts and restrict their time on the PSW (and insist homework is completed first). One of the best family games we have found on the PS3 is the Move Carnival game which the boys love. However it has to be said that most PS3 games are for a slightly older generation and not really suited to 3 and 5 year olds. So I have been toying with the idea of getting a Wii console.

 

One of the ideas I have plagiarised off of my little sister is to buy a family Xmas present each year. Some years this might be just something small, other years it could be more substantial. For example last year we bought the Buckaroo game which will still frequently play. Given what I mentioned previously about the suitability of the PS3 for young children I decided to make this years family Xmas present a Wii games console. Initially we only had Wii Mario Kart and a steering wheel. But this was more than enough and the boys absolutely love it. Joshua can already navigate through all of the menus and set the game up on his own. Both him and Brandon are competent little racers and often place fairly highly. Joshua has even mastered using the power ups and learnt what each of them do. Its only a matter of time before they are kicking my butt at video games.

 

Joshua using the Wii steering wheel.

 

Joshua in deep concentration as he plays Mario Kart.

 

Brandon using the black steering wheel.

 

At first Brandon was turning his body to try and turn the car, but now he has mastered twisting it around.

 

Brandon seems to like picking the girlie characters on Mario Kart.

 

 

Both boys racing head to head.

 

And I can tell you that Joshua does not always beat his younger brother!

The Wii has been a great buy and I am looking forward to getting some more family games for those dark, wet, cold evenings. I managed to pick up a few bargains after Xmas with Wii Sports and Wii Party so we now have a few more games to play. The other favourite of the boys at the moment is the darts and crazy golf on the Wii Sports game.

 

Finally for this blog update I have a picture of Joshua with his new Batmobile car. This has absolutely nothing to do with the PS3 or Wii but I just love this picture as it shows off what a great smile the boy has.

 

A very happy Joshua with his new Batmobile car.