To get my 4 yr old a ipad or DS?

[lisaleelu]

My 4 year old loves going on the cbeebies gameson my lap top. But he does struggle a bit with the mouse. I was thinking of getting him and ipad or Nintendo Ds for Christmas.

I dont want any lectures on kids using computers. I have weighed that one up myself. His use will be monitored and limited.

We are going to visit family in Australia at Christmas and I thought an ipad might be worth investing in (obviously the whole family would use it) as I think you can watch DVD on it - so good for the long flight as would games to play.

I am quite an old mum - 44 so out of touch with computer games and stuff - but I have heard people talkign about DS's get the impression they are small hand held games things. Realise much cheaper than ipad but not as only for games- are the games educational - can you get the cbeebies games - dont want him to play games that invovle shooting people if you get what i mean.

Will a 4 year old likely break an ipad - do they break easy? He is not the gentelest of kids.

Any other ideas - the journey to oz and keeping him occupied is a big part of the decision.

My dh think £400ish to spend on a 4 yr old is obscene but I am think we would all use it i think.

What do you think?

Great minds arac how weird is that - our first sentence exactly the same!

I'd get an iPad for the family and then let the 4 yr old use it when necessary. They're great but I wouldn't get an ipad for a pressie for such a young child. They're all excited, you hand them the package, they unwrap, then they can't play with it when they want. I'd get them something they can run around with and really felt like theirs.

The iPod touch is also very good, we have a couple. Again I wouldn't hand it over and say this is yours, I'd get one that she can then use. Like the iPad you can put some audio books, music, TV progs, film, few apps (many are free or v. cheap). They're cheaper than an iPad and easily fit into a handbag. You could get away with the 8gb, my 9 year has that. I have a 64 and it's no where near full, even with many films on it, series of The Inbetweeners, series of Ivor the Engine...

You can get headphones for children, the ones that go over the head and have the volume limited.

An emergency charger is always useful, I think it's the Gum Plus we have.

YANBU for considering any means to keep your kids occupied and as quiet as possible on the flight.

YABU to think that the noise coming out of tinny little speakers at any volume is acceptable to others. If your kids can't use headphones, gadgets like this are not the solution.

I Pad definitely, my 8 year old and my now 5 year old, though she has been using it since she was four both get a lot out of it. It is mine though but they use it whenever they want.

they also both have a ds each, one that I brought for myself a couple of years ago and don't use anymore so gave to dd and one that was given to me by a friend who also didn't use it anymore for ds. Hands down the I Pad is way better.

Even at age 4 I have found dd totally respectful and careful with the ipad and ds.

I'd like an ipad for the same reason (dd's are 5 and 2). DD1 uses our PC at home with headphones. Loves playing the cbeebies games. She's a whizz with the computer and finds the mouse easy to use. I'd like the ipad for trips/holidays etc and for me as well as the kids!! Sadly, too skint to buy one. We haven't bought DD1 a DS as they need more language to be able to play the games. Personally I wouldn't consider buying a DS until she was 7/8.

good

My DD for her 4th birthday was bought a 2nd hand pink ds by Grandpa. She loves it. Especially the Peppa Pig games and a drawing one. I limit her use on it. But it was a great buy by him. I admit I've only read the OP which I know can be irritating

Sorry to post and run. But I did want to post my two pence worth

Leapfrog have their own version of the iPad for kids, probably less likely to break than an iPad

I'm another one who would say the ipad without a doubt. It has amazing versatility, and is v easy for even our 24month old to use.

Ours was actually bought by my brother for ds1 (3 at the time) who has autism, and it has been incredible for him...he loves it more than anything and has learnt so much from the apps (which are so cheap compared to DS games). He has not treated it especially tenderly, but with an otterbox case it's still going strong (touch wood).

I have to say I wouldn't have bought one specifically for one of my children until they were teenagers. DD and DS2 play on my iphone and their dad's ipod touch, but they are well aware that they are our adult gadgets that they are allowed to have a go on when we allow it.

I would never have bought a ds for a 4 year old either...but have to say dh bought one for himself a few years back and none of the kids has ever shown an interest.

If any of my children had thrown my iPad anywhere they would never be thing it again!

Yes, on the whole an iPad beats a DS hands down. However, as an item specifically for a 4 year old to own, a DS wins IMO.

family item: iPad
4 year old: DSi

We have an Ipad, which we let DDs use on the understanding that it belongs to us! It's so intuitive our 3 year old has been using it with ease for about a year, but with complete supervision, because they just don't get that it is a very expensive item, and also it is very easy to get onto the internet (esp youtube) even if they aren't meaning to.

With regards to his favourite Cbeebies games however, I'm afraid they won't play on the Ipad as it isn't compatible with Flash. You can make it compatible but you have to 'jailbreak' it, which invalidates the warranty with Apple which you would certainly not want to do if you are giving it to a 4 year old!

I agree the Leap pad looks a far more sensible option for a 4 year old, as well as a portable DVD player which are cheap, robust and you can also use in the car.

Another vote for the ipad, we have a family one and ds1 has a DS. When we travelled round the States this year in an RV the ipad was a godsend, they all watched movies and played the apps, they also listened to the music. I used it to email and surf when they were in bed.

Ds2 is 4 and hasn't yet wrecked it. He is pretty rough with his brother's DS though and I'm not sure he really gets how to do the games.

You can't watch DVDs on a iPad

"You can't watch DVDs on a iPad"

You can if you rip them, convert them into iPad format and load them via iTunes.
or you can download the film from iTunes.

We just got an iPad yesterday and have decided that although DS1 will inevitably want to have a go on it, he won't be allowed on it by himself. Too expensive to replace if he breaks it.

I can see it would be very useful when travelling though.

I flew on my own with 4 children under 8 using various gadgets
My recommendation would be dss if they are physically capable of using them. The ones who watched films got bored quicker. Also something each or you'll get arguments

Also reccomend these that come in various colours.

i must have done something right as I was complimented several times on how well my children did.

recommend gah

DD is amazingly careful with my iPad. She knows how to hold and carry it properly and that she must sit still with it. She also knows that any misuse and she doesn't see it again. I trust her with it more then I trust DH with it!

I would'nt buy a 4 year old child an i pad, they are very flimsy, and can easily break, you don't want £400 to be going down the drain after a week. A ds is more appropriate at this age, mabey you get yourself one and let him play with it with supervision.

I was thinking along the same lines for a mammoth bus trip to the alps next year, with 3 young 'uns (I know, I know - DH's 'bright' idea).

I don't think I'd ever feel safe letting this age group play with an iPad. I was however considering an android tablet of some sort - they seem pretty reasonable.

Anyone have any experience of the androids?

not read all this maybe already suggested but how about i touch same sort of size and price as dsi but the games are so much cheaper. would go for ipad otherwise

iPad gets my vote - we got

...one for the 5 year old but his 3 year old brother is in line for one before we do our next long haul flight. It's in the otterbox case that was recommended earlier and has so far survived their wranglings with it.

(apologies for mispost, we just won the semifinal!)

Another ipad vote here as something for all the family.

DH has one from his job so DS (3.6) tends to just have access at weekends. He has the choice of iPad time or CBeebies and chooses one or the other as he wishes and we make sure his overall screen time is limited - provided you aren't using either as an electronic babysitter for hours and hours a day then I really don't see the problem. DS has access to computers at preschool and will at school so I don't see the problem with him having similar limited access at home.

There are some great apps for iPad - he loves a Postman Pat one with loads of games that have really helped him develop different skills (e.g. anticipation, speed, problem solving) - and it is brilliant when travelling. He doesn't have it the whole flight (he understands, roughly, about batteries running out!) but mixed in with stories, walking up and down the plane, watching the cartoons etc. it is invaluable and has been known on more than one occasion to rescue him from a meltdown 6 hours into a 9-12 hour flight...

It is great for us too on holiday - can store our music on it and tv shows we want to watch so it's great as evening entertainment on holiday, and also allows internet access if needed. At home we use it for looking at photos, internet, music etc. It's definitely a good family item and more flexible than a DS.

DS is a relatively careful 3 year old, but that doesn't mean much at that age :) No problems here with occasional drop and rough behaviour, although it does have a good robust case.