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Lori,

Thanks for your post and you bring up a very good point that I have not even considered. For most kids video games leads to well video games. It is seen as dulling their minds. For some, their whole life evolves around it and they don't make a connection to other substantial interests such as your DS has. Is this the norm for gifted kids or abnormal? My DD is too young for me to in put her in the equation but it has surely peaked my interest and if it is more the norm for G+ kids to make that connection than I myself might be more willing to allow her time with video games and not worry about it soooo much.

Wow - I wouldn't have expected so many good experiences - my children must be more along the lines of MomX2's. We have real problems with computer games - both boys, but DS4 even worse than DS6 - he's like a little addict being taken off a drug. And the whining and nagging goes on for days and weeks after they've been allowed on. They were fine before they discovered non-educational games, but now there's no going back from the world of beepclickbeepgameoverwelcometolevelfiveclickbeep.

I saw a documentary a few weeks ago about the addictive effects of gaming machines - the constant stimulus of light and sound apparently does trigger the release of chemicals in the brain which can be addictive in some people. I really think my children have this tendency, although most people don't believe how bad they are until they've seen the horror for themselves.

It's a shame, as I really can see the potentially positive side, as Lori points out. We won't be having a DX or XBox in the house in the foreseeable future. Maybe when they're older and have more self-awareness we'll give it a try, in a very controlled way.