Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child?
 

Our sweet little daughter has been playing Animal Crossing New Leaf on a friend's Nintendo gadget. I looked it over as soon as I found out and need advice. It seems innocent and sweet, and there is no violence. But I have reservations as I don't know enough about it. It might possibly promote materialism and be a time-waster, then again it might be innocent entertainment. Can someone give me some advice?
Thank you all in advance.:dunno

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

It is rated "E" for everyone and looks innocent enough to me. But you would actually need to see the game in person to judge it.

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

No one knows your child as you do. Time waster? Well, that's up to you. Where you place your limits on her wasting time. Do you have anything else you would like to do with her instead of playing that game? Then take her to do that. More time you spend with her the less time she has with video games.

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

Thanks for answering! I played it with Mary and her little friend for a while, and I thought it was perfectly harmless. I was just afraid that after a few months or a certain stage that it might have a surprise. I'm afraid the rating might be misleading. Have a blessed week!:bouquet

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

Thanks for responding. If we do get her a unit, it will be just for playing with friends. We want her to have fun - innocent fun. Right now we are shackled by city living, but we play Old Maid, draw, sing, play piano, take drives, and make desserts together. (Dad skips that last one!) We are planning to move back to the rural South where she can grow up as I did, with church nearby, horses, nature walks, planting flowers, and all the things you can't get in a sweltering hot city of over a million people. It's how I grew up and I think it is the best rearing you can get.
Thanks again and God bless!

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

It's an innocent game, which is hard to find these days. My girls loved it. Only thing I'd suggest is monitoring the time you allow on it. It can go on forever. They can save their game, so even if they only play 20 minutes to an hour on occasion, they can enjoy it.

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

Thank you so much! I know now what to look out for. She does tend to play with one thing for a long time, so we will limit it from the beginning. I'm glad your girls enjoyed it. I am so happy to get an opinion from someone who knows the game. If you ever think of any other advice about it, please let me know.

Thank you and God bless! :ty

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

Animal Crossing New Leaf is for the Nintendo 3DS, which has a 3-D function to it, that can be used or left alone, controlled by a slider on the right hand side of the machine. Depending on your child's age, it is important to make sure the system is not placed in 3-D mode, per Nintendo's own instructions:

http://en-americas-support.nintendo....intendo-3ds%3F

Secondly, there are a lot of things within Japanese culture that are considered innocent or mild, or okay for children, that you might find objectionable as a Christian. Having never played the game, I cannot speak to specifics, but if you see any mention of things like "yokai", please understand that that is a Japanese word for demons or spirits, as in the game Yokai Watch, which is a Nintendo product for the Nintendo 3DS:

https://yo-kai.nintendo.com/

Also look for words like "tengu" or "kami", as these also relate to Japanese demonology and deities within the Shinto religion.

See:

http://yokai.com

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Tengu

https://www.ancient.eu/Kami/

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

I would also like to echo the words of EB. Nobody knows your daughter like you do.

I am not familiar with the game, however I would encourage you to be diligent about the attitude of your daughter. She will tell you through her behavior if she is into something that is not good for her. Defiant behavior, withdrawal from interaction with you, or other shifts from her normal sweet self are causes for concern and should be delved in to. Also some games that are innocent can well lead to others that are not so innocent.

Any games that interact with others online are a concern.

God bless your parenting efforts.

Re: Nintendo and Animal Crossing? Okay for a child
 

I never let my children interact with anyone online, until they were 15. Then only people they knew from church or family.

The internet is a cesspool.