Wii Monsters

What I thought was a fun idea has created a monster. We have had a Wii for 2 years and during that time the twins have been usually content to watch everyone else play. Initally you could give them a nunchuck and they thought they were playing. They do try every now and then to throw a ball on wii sports or drive on Mario Cart (but I have to push 2 for the gas peddle).

We got the New Super Mario Brothers for Wii for Christmas and the other morning after doing Wii Fit for me I decide to play Mario and I let R & S play with me. They can tell me where to go....down that pipe, Mom or get fire balls, just because they watch their siblings play so much. They are almost 4 years old. They were so excited that I suggested they play with me. R took only a few minutes and he had the controls down....left right, jump, throw fire balls. He just has to be holding the controller the right way. He is left handed so he wants to turn it around. S can do the moving but can't quite figure out how to jump then move sideways to jump up on something. He is getting better.

Now, a week later. All I hear from R is "I want to play Mario the Super Brothers" when he wakes up in the morning. After eating breakfast, after preschool, or lunch.....all the time. He had a huge fit today when I made him turn it off. Dad said he had been playing it for over an hour (I was gone). HE said he even completed some levels by himself. I warned him he had 5 more minutes then I turned it off for lunch time. HUGE Meltdown. He kept repeating "I want to play Mario......" He was in tears, the drama! I put him in his room at one point to throw his fit in his room while I ate my lunch. I had to return some books to the library and I had to carry him to the car because we refused to go. He was upset most of the time in the car and finally after carrying him into the library he settled down. That was an hour after I turned it off.

S on the other hand is having Wii dreams. He talks in his sleep and I have heard him say I want to get fireballs. Toby has heard him talk about being on the next level. He likes to play wii, but not as passionately. He prefers the Wii Fit game where he makes snowballs. The ski jump that when done wrong you make a snow ball. He likes to stand and go down the hill and in stead of standing up, he sits down causing the snow ball. He does it over and over again and is so pleased with himself.

The Wii has been a fun toy at our house and for the most part we take turns and play nicely. I just hope R's passion for it ebbs a bit because I am tired of his whining for it.