Our nieces and nephew just got a Wii so there will be no more guitar or keyboard playing. It’s sad for me that the real music has been supplanted.
My husband Jim and I discussed this before giving woodworking tools, an acoustic guitar and keyboard to “the kids.” We didn’t want them to have the PlayStation and Rock Band, opting for the real thing.
Apparently the real thing isn’t good enough. At their age, I spent winters reading serious books, and summers climbing up and down the hill, playing in the creek, and swimming. We had active imaginations and put on plays, dance recitals et al in the basement, even printing tickets for our parents.
At age eight I started to really cook, and planned elaborate parties for my baby brother. I didn’t need Wii or Rock Band or a cell phone or computer.
I know we can’t go back to those days when we didn’t lock our car or house doors but can parents please let their children develop an imagination before they text behind the wheel of a car? Sadly, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
There are times for Rock Band, and times for the real thing. We went through a big Rock Band/Guitar Hero time, but that hardly comes out any more. The Teen still plays a real guitar, and occasionally figures things out at the piano. Real tools for real music will last longer than the games.
Patience!
Hope that plays out in our family. We put a great deal of thought into these gifts, and at least one has come to fruition: a workbench and bird house.
We thought music might help the girls with math and homework. The best laid plans… Dee
Tools are cool!
Also I think it’s still safe to let kids out on their own….if you live in Utah!
Hey, Z still plays his REAL guitar, even w/Guitar Hero! [I think Mom plays & enjoys the electronic version better than he does; I know all the songs!]
He’s also plinking around on a keyboard…
Hopefully the novelty will wear off after a while ;-)