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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

dsi or leapster explorer for my 6 year olds bday? she already has my old ds getting old and a leapster bit old for it

11 replies

tinkbig · 10/07/2011 20:12

any thoughts

she is saying she would rather get a dsi than leapster explorer?
games i am looking at getting for dsi - hello kitty one,brain training etc so educational ones
thinking dsi would last her longer than explorer

OP posts:
glassescase · 10/07/2011 20:15

Not sure what your AIBU question is Confused

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 10/07/2011 20:22

Leapster def a bit young for your DD ... Much better to get DS.

TidyDancer · 10/07/2011 20:23

I don't understand the OP. Is the DS itself getting old? Or just the model getting old, so you want to update?

Without sounding too judgy, I don't let DS (5) have either. Can't you find something else?

MuddlingMackem · 10/07/2011 20:23

She's probably too old to spend money on a leapster, unless you can get one second hand. I take it the Explorer is the newest version?

Both of mine have loved their leapsters and, although he now has a DSi, the 7 year old still plays with his sometimes. His is a Leapster 2 and dd(4) has the older Leapster. Do you have to buy one of them new? Perhaps you could buy a pre-owned DSi and an older, second-hand Leapster, for what you'd pay for one brand new DSi. Might be an option if you can't decide.

Actually, perhaps the best thing to do first is check out the games for the Leapster and see if she already knows what they teach. If she does then you can rule out the Leapster as an option, but if she doesn't then it might be the better option. Of course she's saying she'd rather have a DSi - I think most of my son's class had a DS before he did, but I hadn't heard of even one other kid who had a Leapster. ;)

DeWe · 10/07/2011 20:31

DSi definitely. My (just) 4yo got one last Christmas and he loves it. Polishing Thomas the Tank Engine with a pen is obviously fun. Confused But not as fun as zapping zombies with plants. When he's waiting for his sisters or ill or something it's something that will always keep him happy.

IlanaK · 10/07/2011 20:42

I just got my 7 year old a leapster and he loves it. Depends on the child though.

Oggy · 23/11/2011 13:05

Sorry to ressurrect this bit it came up first when I did a Leapster Explorer search.

My son is desperate for a handheld console but husband and I (well husband moreso) doesn't want to go down the DS route yet, feels he is a bit young (6 next month) so he is dead against getting him a DS.

Is a Leapster Explorer a reasonable compromise for a 6 year old that def won't be getting a DS? The people saying it is a bit young for a 6 year old, in what way is it too young? Games too easy or just that it has more of a clunky babyish look and feel (my son won't care about that I don't think as long as the games are fun).

I understand many will say DS is better, agreed, but given a DS is not an option, would Explorer be a reasonable alternative?

CalmaLlamaDown · 23/11/2011 13:09

My 4yr old loves his explorer, i would say the games are too young for a 6 yr old, probably not keep him that interested

Oggy · 23/11/2011 13:51

Hmm, fair enough.

Wonder if I can convince husband about a DS. Are there plenty of good and fun educational games? If I can convince him it can be educational he may come round...

aldiwhore · 23/11/2011 14:14

If anything, I'd get a DSi from Ebay. If new, go for the the 3DSi.

We bought my eldest a DSi for his 7th bithday and tbh, we were all disappointed with it.

lazylula · 23/11/2011 14:30

Ds1 is 6 this weekend. He wants a dsi xl but we feel he is too young for such an expensive present so the compromise we reached is that he can save for one (he now has £30 and will get money from various people for his birthday). We have told him his playtime on it will be limited to 30 mins a day but on long journeys he will be allowed longer. He had a Mobigo for his birthday last year that he also likes using. 3ds' are not recommended until older I belive, 8 I think.

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