Wii rage turns 3 year old into (more of a) menace

Meet Adam McConnell: Wii enthusiast... future criminal. See the wee lamb purposely (this time) smashed his father's 42-inch plasma after losing in Wii sports. Father Brian left the lad alone playing tennis to get the boy a drink -- presumably, a pint. While in the kitchen the father "heard two big bangs." Brian returned to find his son "using the handset to smash the TV screen." No claims of a broken Wiimote strap this time folks, the responsibility lies in the kind of pure, seething rage only a 3 year old can muster. Oh we feel ya Adam, we feel ya.

[Thanks, Mark A.]

[tchiseen @ May 25th 2007 5:18AM]

The laws of natural selection say that it's the fathers' own fault for spawning this little retard.

[Dustin Frazier @ May 25th 2007 5:20AM]

Damien, aged 3.

[Dustin Frazier @ May 25th 2007 5:25AM]

This kid is the future FPS Doug.

[anonymous @ May 25th 2007 5:30AM]

More like shitty parents squirt out useless brat that society will have to deal with and can't be bothered to teach him not to throw a tantrum. And no, a three year old smashing a television with a controller is not the same thing as a regular three year old tantrum. And really, why does a three year old have a wii anyway?! A little young for videogames and television, don't you think?

[djtezze198 @ May 25th 2007 5:32AM]

Thats not actually a wii remote hes holding there, possible case of the child randomly attacking the expensive TV and the father blaming videogames rather than himself?

Maybe.

[elan @ May 25th 2007 5:33AM]

next week on Engadget: Adam McConnell murder trial

[Kevin Heath @ May 25th 2007 6:04AM]

Imagine living next door to that little.......angel.

I don't suppose the mother and father are much better. Let's face it, they think it's a good idea to admit that they have a poorly bought up child.

[Chicksta @ May 25th 2007 9:26AM]

'bought up' - unfortunately, probably more accurate than 'brought up'.

[Kevin Heath @ May 25th 2007 11:16AM]

That's true - I don't feel so bad about the spelling error now.

[iSpork @ May 25th 2007 6:12AM]

ASBO in the making.

[Blake @ May 25th 2007 6:45AM]

Kinda odd, I mean I've hurled controllers across the room before, but I can't ever remember getting pissed at the TV.

[Billy Bob @ May 25th 2007 7:02AM]

I know it is a little messed up but I can barely let my girlfriend play games alone due to a tantrum and a possible "accident". A 3yr old kid... yea its going to happen.

I would like to know exactly what age is ok for a kid to play games, certainly 3yr is borderline not ok. I think you should get a good view of reality and social interaction until you are at least able to not play with toy dolls for example.

Anyhow if hes fancy enough to get his stupid cracked lg on the famous internet news he probably has money to blow on a new tv. stupid lg piece of junk.

[greatslack @ May 25th 2007 7:08AM]

I think they missed the second rule of baby-proofing a house (right behind locking up anything the kid could kill himself with) which is that anything worth more than $500 needs to be kept OUT OF REACH.

[Willy the impeached @ May 25th 2007 7:30AM]

No mention of the "Arrrrggggggghhhhh" but I bet this is Howard Dean's kid.

[Drew @ May 26th 2007 2:46AM]

I believe you meant "Yeeeaaahhh"? Besides, it wasn't so violent as it was enthusiastic.

[Randomness @ May 25th 2007 7:45AM]

Some random thoughts:
-That's not a wiimote in his hands...
-The kid was banned from Wii for 2 weeks... wow, way to teach the kid a lesson. Isn't that about the length of time it will take you to get another tv?
-The linked article says the consoles were "recalled so nintendo could beef up the wrist straps", which isn't true. There was never any recall.

[some person @ May 25th 2007 3:08PM]

Nintendo actually did have a recall, they said so on the front page, why would they fake such important stuff?

[Eric Leung @ Jul 12th 2007 1:27AM]

it wasnt a recall but rather an announcement for OFFERED improved wrist straps... you did not have to get them

[Andy @ May 25th 2007 8:02AM]

Sex should always be the opposite of a "Bush war plan" ... if you can't pull out, don't even start. This guy is in for a 15-20 year nightmare.

[Pete @ May 25th 2007 8:20AM]

Another reason why 3 year olds shouldn't be playing video games. How about take the kid outside and play with a REAL ball. This kid is going to grow up and be a big fat load and live in his parents basement into his 30's.

[battleshipgray @ May 25th 2007 8:57AM]

Such rubbish. Parents should really use this as an eye-opening opportunity to think on what kind of child they are raising and what their priorities are.

[WizarDru @ May 25th 2007 10:38AM]

Oh, please....spare me your mock surprise at how a 3-and-a-half year-old acts. How many of you have actually RAISED children? Not that many, I guess, if you think this behavior was out of line with what a normal child of that age might do.

As for the 'he should go out and play for REALZ' comments: clearly you didn't RTFA, as the father and son had just come indoors from playing outside. And yes, two weeks is a reasonable punishment. Exactly what do you propose he do? The boy didn't fully understand what he'd done and the father shouldn't have left him alone, which he clearly appreciates.

[Jedimicsaber @ May 25th 2007 9:33AM]

Hey he's only 3 give him a break. just get a stronger tv. My question is; does he really know how to play these games or is he just waving the controller around? Smashing the tv shouldn't be blamed on the Wii at all. If he wasn't playing Wii it would have been something else that broke the tv. He is definately not too young to play games. He was obviously supervised until dad went to grab a juice box.

[James @ May 25th 2007 9:33AM]

I get the impression that every other poster in this thread doesn't have kids...

I have an 18-month-old. She's too young for games, but when she can follow what's happening, I think the Wii is probably the most appropriate place to start her -- plenty of social, non-violent games for her; at least this tantrum kid wasn't playing GoW or something.

To those saying to keep expensive things out of kids' reach -- have a kid, try it. Good luck.

To those saying take the kid outside to play -- I would hope that this audience in particular would be receptive to the idea that video games can be a healthy part of an otherwise active lifestyle; there's no indication that the kid was playing 18 hours a day (or even one).

To those saying 3 is too young to "expose" to TV and video games -- you're clearly not parents, or you're the crazy kind that isolate themselves from the outside world (what are you doing on Engadget???) and brag about not owning a TV. When you have a kid you basically spend every hour you're home keeping an eye on them, at that young an age. Your only "alone time" is when they've gone to bed, and in my case at least that's usually *everybody's* bedtime. So you have to choose between watching TV/playing video games with the kid around, or not at all.

So please think these things through -- I don't want to be one of those jerks that acts like "you can't possibly understand until you're a parent too", but people really *don't* seem to realize exactly how demanding it is to be a good parent. If you don't want to give up big chunks of your life, you have to find a to include your kid in them.



I can't wait until she bowls her first strike in Wii Bowling -- that one's going in the scrapbook.

[Whiplash @ May 25th 2007 9:41AM]

Wow, there's a wide variety of posts here.... Personally, I doubt the kid is a holy terror (despite this menacing picture), or that the parents are horrible.

Bottom line, the kid is three years old and has now exhibited a hot temper. It's what his parents do with him now that they know what he's capable of that will determine thier fitness as parents, and little Adam's future.

[LC @ May 25th 2007 9:51AM]

What a non story. Kids have tantrums. it's part of life. 20 years ago if a kid was upset he would have tossed a toy at a tube television and have it bounce off. Now the parents toys are a bit more delicate and break a lot easier.

I highly doubt a 3 year old knows that he was losing. More than likely he wanted the game to do one thing and when it didn't he tossed the controller at the screen in frustration.

Now the stories I could tell you about what my dad tossed at the television when the Giants played the Cowboys.....

[Eric Leung @ Jul 12th 2007 1:31AM]

the kid didnt 'toss the controller' rather he went up and bashed the tv like a construction worker bashes his nails...

maybe the wii doesnt only have wii sports but also wii careers (just a thought)

[matt @ May 25th 2007 10:11AM]

seriously, its just a kid. This stuff happens..
and the game this kid was playing isnt friggin "Killem all let god sortem out"... its Wii Sports!
The only semi violent thing in that game is boxing.
Again.. it sucks, the TV broke, dad should have been in the room... but he wasnt, and sh*t happens.

[Harlo @ May 25th 2007 9:57AM]

Looks like someone just won a drink from the FIRE HOSE!!!

[Ken @ May 25th 2007 10:29AM]

this is what happen when u dont teach your kid, what is right and what is wrong! my bestfriend let her kid, err baby, do whatever he wants! he scraming, yelling, crying all the time, and she doesnt do anything to stop him and show him who is really in control!

[Geir E @ May 25th 2007 10:56AM]

Even I was playing videogames in that age, and I'm close to thirty. My dad purchased a Vic 20 (and later c64 when it hit the marked) and I did understand most of the games. Some platforms needing timing my two year older sister was better on. But I grew up in the early computer game generation. But even though I had tons of games later on to play, I also did have fun outside. Most because my mother would revoke my privileges if i stayed in on a good day. Still, i rounded numberous of games and still close to 30 retains a fitness not surpassed by my classmates from that time.

So the mighty gameconsole does not turn your kid magically into neither a raging lunatics (with the frustration of most c64 games, I would have had enough reasons), but it requires moderation. Just like everything else.

[tekdroid @ May 25th 2007 11:05AM]

sometimes i wonder how/why these stories get in the press, and what the motivation of people that do this is. Why would a parent leak this to the press?

Some thinking music please.

Sell more Wii? Get more Wii virtually free publicity?
Hope for freebies from the public?

Why on earth would a parent release this to the press?

[FlickFlack @ May 25th 2007 3:54PM]

If my kid damaged my precious flat screen, I would drop kick his Wii out the top window and I promise it would still be airborne an hour later.

[erikcurtis @ May 25th 2007 11:27AM]

Folks, he's a three year old. C'mon, this is what three year olds do. That is why the toys made for "them" are hard plastic, indestructible, noisy and made to take a beating. I think that this is clearly a case of "Dad screwed up".
http://erikcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/05/25/who-is-to-blame/

[alex1robinson @ May 26th 2007 3:31PM]

Haha, strong kid, plasma's have a pretty tough plastic covering. Who cares that he did it though, I mean saying his parents have not done a good enough job at bringing him up is just ridiculous. Mind you having a photographer round to take a photo of him is probably not the best message. "Do something bad = Lots of attention"

[Dale @ May 25th 2007 11:37AM]

LITTLE

SHIT

[steve @ May 25th 2007 12:52PM]

Ironic, they came out with the LCD shield just a couple of days ago:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/23/lcdarms-safety-shield-protects-your-hdtv-from-your-wii/

Or is it "coincidence"?

[Megan @ May 25th 2007 12:16PM]

Um, he's 3. I remember my brother throwing things at the t.v when he was that age. It happens. If people would stop buying crappy t.v's for absurd prices, maybe they wouldn't break so easy. And about the kid gaming at age 3, he was playing Wii Sports. We don't know if this kids plays it all the time. Or if this was his first time. I don't see what the problem is. Its not like he was playing WOW or Halo. Or anything violent.

[Jason @ May 25th 2007 12:45PM]

As others have said, THAT ISN'T A WII REMOTE IN HIS HAND! So stop blaming Nintendo. Besides, the kid's 3! What does he know about expensive stuff and what you can't smash? I'm sure he wasn't thinking, ooh, expensive tv, let me smash it. Probably just threw a fit, started throwing stuff. Of course, parents blame the video games, not themselves for letting their 3-year-old alone in a room with an expensive tv AT ARM LEVEL FOR THE 3 YEAR OLD.

[LC @ May 25th 2007 12:43PM]

Daddy should have mounted the TV to a wall out of reach of the kid. Hell, I would do it just to keep the fingerprints off the screen.

[Grant @ May 25th 2007 12:47PM]

"Father Brian left the lad alone playing tennis to get the boy a drink -- presumably, a pint"

Lol, thats golden writing right there.

[LongshotX @ May 25th 2007 1:03PM]

Parents should have beat that ass! That'll teach the brat.

[Rick Lyon @ May 25th 2007 1:11PM]

I have a hard time believing a 3 year can even understand the concept of playing tennis on a video game system and understanding the workings of not only the wii remote but the game of tennis itself.

That and as pointed out earlier, he isn't holding a wii remote! Sounds like the wii is being artificially blamed here.

[Jeff @ May 25th 2007 1:27PM]

every single article has a comment from you spamming out these (or three other) links.

fuck off, spammer.

[WifeBeater3000 @ May 26th 2007 8:31AM]

42 inch plasma? Let's just throw out a random figure and say that costs about $3000?

For the next 3000 days I would beat the shit out of that kid. And then when he runs away from home, I would make time in my schedule every day to track him down, bring him back home and then give him a beating.

God I hate children.

[JohnnyB @ May 25th 2007 2:28PM]

Must be a Liverpool fan...

[King Monacle @ May 25th 2007 2:59PM]

I, for one, love it. This kid has passion for the games he's playing and he got PISSED OFF! As a gamer, this is completely reasonable to me.

Don't even TELL ME none of you have ever, ever whipped your controller across the room. Oh, wait - you're all super parents...that's right! COME ON. Total BS here in the comments. When did you guys become the moral majority? You're all full of it...harden the f$ck up! Especially you idiots with your 'parents need to raise their children better' message. You all probably want to prescribe the poor kid with some A.D.D. medication while you're at it, huh?

Tell ya what: meet me online, and I'll kick your ass so severely, you understand the poor little tyke's frustration.

There there, little Adam - keep yer chin up! Keep playing and getting pissed off. I hope you start beating up the wimpy kids in your neighborhood soon. The world needs more kids like you - NORMAL.

[some person @ May 25th 2007 3:07PM]

OBJECTION!

The story is fake, the pic featured at the top of this article and the one of the linked site both feature the kids next to a broken plasma TV with an TV remote that looks "almost" like a Wiimote.

[artifex @ May 26th 2007 9:30AM]

wow, he's been barred from the wii for TWO WHOLE WEEKS!
:)

[GuitarBizarre @ May 26th 2007 6:50PM]

1 - Who gives a damn?
2 - He's 3, I've done way worse stuff way older than 3 years old.
3 - So the dad went out of the room, big deal. Lots of parents do that. THe problem there is knowing if the kid is likely to flip out if he loses.

4 - The TV in the pic is only a friggin LG anyway. Those are what, 5 bones?