Elizabeth has not been interested at all in hand held video games (or any video games for that matter) until recently. Our nephew gave her an old Leapster that doesn't work quite right, but she likes it. So we are considering getting her a new one for her birthday or a ds. We are not sure which way to go because she is not as coordinated with fine motor skills as most of her peers (which this will help) and do not want her to be frustrated and not use it. On the other hand, we would rather spend a little more and have something that will last more than a year. She is also not one to sit and keep trying if she doesn't get something the first time. She is aware when she can't do something as well as someone else and will just stop doing it.
Do you have a leasper, ds or both? What do your kids play with?
I find the new Leapsters are not made as well as the original ones. Ours are quirky, and we just bought both at Christmas. I would go with DS. THere are some educational games as well (the sticking point on why I went with Leapster originally vs DS)
Joe got a leapster for his 4th birthday, he never really played it as much as I thought he would. Mainly just in the car or every so often he will pick it up and play intensely for a couple hours and then nothing for a few weeks. Anyway I think he likes it ok but he is aware of his friends all having DSes so doesn't really take it anywhere (his friends at karate bring theirs for sharing circle for eg, he doesn't do that with the leapster). I think the games are great and he finds them chellenging.
I have an iPod touch that Joe loves, he has some good games on it, not as educational as the leapster but I know he enjoys the touch most. He also loves that he can listen to music on it.
I don't know anything about the ds, so I can't comment on that.
allie plays very little with her leapster. She uses it, but not a ton.
I was debating on getting her a ds, but decided to not right now. She is not into those kind of games. She likes the games on my itouch that we download, puzzels, math games, etc. So, not sure what I will do. I do not plan to buy her an itouch. She is in 1st grade and I just do not think she needs one. She uses mine here and there when she wants to play.
we don't have a DS, only leapster. ITA with Jenn about the new ones, so if you go with the leapster, I like the old ones better too.
My girls don't play with them all the time anymore, but they still really enjoy them, and we haven't had any issues with finding games for them that are challenging enough.
what about the leapfrog explorer or didj? Those might be good options too, but IDK much about them
anyway, we have been very happy with the leapster, but I have nothing to compare it to!!
We never had a Leapster, but got Mason a DS for his birthday. (Well, we actually bought it before Christmas when it was a really good price on Amazon and just saved it for his birthday, LOL)
He loves it so far. It's definitely something that can grow with him and we can play too.
We never had a Leapster, but got Mason a DS for his birthday. (Well, we actually bought it before Christmas when it was a really good price on Amazon and just saved it for his birthday, LOL)
He loves it so far. It's definitely something that can grow with him and we can play too.
that would be for me the one selling feature at our kids age. I think the DS will be long lasting and the Leapster will not.
Both girls have both -- first they had Leapsters, then last Christmas, got DSs.
That was the end of the Leapster use -- for both of them. (Although V does pretty much whatever A does, so who knows what she'd do left to her own devices...)
Owen and Bryce got iPod touches for Christmas this past year they are a huge hit. They have had DS's for 3 years now and they still get played. The leapster gets played by Keegan at times but that is it. Keegan is already wanting to Santa to bring him an iPod as well this year.
Hannah loves her DS. And like Tex's kiddo's it was the end of the Leapster use. She will play with it once in a great while. The DS is a lifesaver often, waiting in lines, waiting at the dr's office, long car trips, etc.
