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Christmas

5 yr old DD wants ds/leapster - what similar-ish can I get 3 yr old DD?

19 replies

bluepapermonkey · 28/11/2010 10:52

DD1 is keen on a ds but will prob go for a leapster as cheaper and more age appropriate. we'll probably keep it for use on long journeys and i know DD2, 3, will be upset and feel left out if DD1 has a console type thing and she doesn't. but what can i get her which she'll be able to use and will console her? (geddit?!)

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pugsandseals · 28/11/2010 11:37

How about another leapster? I am sure she will manage as DD had hers from 2 1/2!

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PlonkerForLifeNotJustChristmas · 28/11/2010 11:47

Definitely a leapster! My dd2 got hers when she was 3 and was still playing with it 3yrs later when she got her ds.

We've gone for the leapster explorer for dd3 this year (also 3yo). I'm sure she'll love it!

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Chrysanthemum5 · 28/11/2010 12:15

Hi DS aged 6 has got a dsi from the grandparents so we've got a mobigo (?) from toys r us for DD aged 3. It has a little keypad and looks good fun it is from 3 years so should be suitable. It has had good reviews

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bluepapermonkey · 28/11/2010 12:15

ah, fantastic, thank you. so get games which are a bit younger for DD2? what's a leapster explorer? i'm also baffled by the difference between the normal £30 version and the prinecess version which is £50. am i comparing apples and pears? did start another thread about this under products. feel v left behind on the child games front!

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IAPJJLPJ · 28/11/2010 14:23

I personally wouldn't buy a 5 year old a leapster. They will outgrow it so quick. Would get a second hand ds from somewhere like game and get it insured. I know my son would have been mortified if he had got a "baby" toy.

Totally your choice of course, but my son would have been laughed at by his friends.

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sazm · 28/11/2010 21:51

i made the mistake of buying a leapster for my ds when he was 4. it was great at first,i ended up getting my 2.5yo dd one too.
a few months later we upgraded to a ds each for them.
you can get a pre-owned ds for £55 with a game in GAME.they come with a full 12m warranty,and you can add accidental damage insurance to it for £13(ish). plus the guy in the shop told us,if you buy 2 the same colour then the insurance covers both as you dont have to register a serial number with the insurance company!!
theres LOADS of games suitable for a 3yo for the DS and they are brill :)

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IAPJJLPJ · 29/11/2010 08:13

sazm - your so on my wavelength!!! Def get the insurance - have just claimed on it for ds1 (his is two years old) and it came back fixed and cleaned - marvellous

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savoycabbage · 29/11/2010 08:23

I was just looking at these options today and decided on a ds too. My dd is four. We already have a family ds which she has never played on, but I al looking at getting her a couple of games for that instead of the leapster. I was swayed by the fast that all of the leapster games were disney or Dora etc.

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bluepapermonkey · 29/11/2010 12:22

hmm, interesting. i thought the leapster more eductional but maybe not. many thanks for all info.

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Tikkabillajive · 29/11/2010 12:26

Oh no - I have got a Leapster Explorer for my dd, are they really only for younger children?

Oh well, it looks fab and she is not very techno-savvy so I think she will love it. And I really wouldn't want to buy her a DS (I know they are supposed to be great but I can't get past the thought of my nephews who barely look up from theirs to grunt hello when we visit!)

Also, she has a little brother who I am sure will enjoy using it too - so I hope we can get our money's worth out of it!

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skydance · 29/11/2010 12:46

Don't forget the vtech vsmile handheld as well, we've got that and the leapster, my son prefers the vsmile one.

He's 6 now though and both consoles are too babyish for him, I'd say it is more for 3/4 year olds. He first got the vtech vsmile when he was 2 1/2 years old and could play it straight away.

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IAPJJLPJ · 29/11/2010 16:22

Tikkabillajive - How old is your dd?

I would not of brought my ds1 a ds at the age of 3yrs as he wasnt techno-savvy. However ds2 who is 3.5yrs is more advanced simply from being exposed to it all by his big bro.

"nephews who barely look up from theirs to grunt hello when we visit!" - i personally think this says more about manners as I am sure that they would still only grunt at you if they were playing the Leapster.

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Tikkabillajive · 29/11/2010 16:42

IAP yes I suspect you're right about manners!

DD is 5 1/2, but in lots of ways she's a very young 5 1/2 - no older siblings, just a little brother and very little in the way of electronic toys etc. She had a Vtech camera for her 5th birthday and that's just about the right level for her while I know that lots of people buy them for much younger children, and she's clueless about playing games on the computer beyond Poisson Rouge so I think (hope!) the Leapster should be ok .

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BrandyButterPie · 29/11/2010 16:46

DS games start at age 3, although tbh DD1 just uses the wii and the actual computer for her computer fix (she loves reading eggs)

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skydance · 29/11/2010 16:59

Tikka I'm sure the leapster will be fine for her if she's never had any other electronic toys and doesn't have older siblings, I suspect my younger son will want/have a DS much younger than my oldest who still dosen't have one at 7 years old!

And completly agree with the manners thing, the DS would be no different to the leapster in that they could still barely look up at you if that's what they're inclined to do.

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Tikkabillajive · 29/11/2010 20:04

Thanks skydance

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zipzap · 29/11/2010 22:22

oh, I was thinking about getting a leapfrog explorer for ds1 (5) and ds2(2) to share, buying them a game each.

now worrying it will be too young for ds1. He is really struggling with reading so thought it would be nice to get something that had all the educational games on to help him with his reading (Y1 and still on the most basic level stuff ). Wasn't sure that you could get anything that was particularly good for the ds for reading and not sure I want a 2yr old on a ds.

Not sure how clued up ds1 is about techy stuff - he's good on the wii and his older cousin has a ds but he doesn't see her that often, so not sure if he will be pleased or disappointed by a leapfrog explorer.

And anyone know if it is worth spending more on the explorer or will the leapster 2 be OK (given the price difference!)

Also, if anyone is buying them, I think they have the games on buy one get one free in toys r us at the moment - was looking at them today (and discovering the playmobil offer of free vehicle with a big thing has gone off today so am cross with self for not deciding which to get earlier and getting good deal!)

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TiraMissYou · 30/11/2010 10:27

I have bought DS1 (nearly 7) a DSlite and DS2 (aged 4) a Leapster. They haven't had games consoled before.

We have checked out the Leapster and registered on the Leapfrog site for extra games. I think it will be fine for him, and if anything, I like the fact that it is 'babyish'. He is too young to have expensive gadgetry imo. Which is why we got the £30 Leapster and not the Explorer.

The games look interesting and fun enough, and I don't really want him absorbed by it for hours and hours anyway.

ZipZap - sharing one console might be a recipe for endless xmas day adjudicating for you though!