Nintendo for 6 year old?

[MumNeedsTea]

6 year old DS really wants one for Christmas. Up until now, we've been telling him that they are only for kids who are at least 10 years old, as we didn't want him to have one.
However, since he really wants one I'm rethinking our decision. Does your 6 year old have one? What games are appropriate for that age? And do they end up spending loads of time on it? When he's not watcjing TV, DS usually spends his free time with lego or colouring or doing some craft. I just think he'll always want to be on his Nintendo once he gets one.

Also, which one should we get? Apart from spending hours on a video game console playing Mario as a kid, I know nothing of the current gaming trends

TIA!

Definitely a switch there more than a DS but worth it I think

Sorry to go against the grain, but at 6 years old ..no.

Just because your kid 'really' wants something, to change your mind, is a terrible precedent to set

You make rules for a reason, not so they can manipulate their way round them

AiryFairy I see where you're coming from, but is there a reason you're saying no apart from the fact that we shouldn't give into something just because he really wants it? Do you think 6 is too young?

The actual reason I thought of changing my mind was because he's had a bit of a difficult year (don't want to get into details), but has still been a really good kid.. I really cannot fault him at anything, apart from not putting on his shoes on time when we have to leave for school

My only hesitation has been the addition of another screen in the house...

Don't get a 3DS XL - get a 2DS (sturdier, doesn't fold) or a 2DS XL( folds up).

They're cheaper, lighter, and more kid friendly. And the 3D doesn't make a difference.

Don't get him a DS, any 3DS can play DS games, but a DS cannot play 3DS games.

Oh, and a 2DS can also play both 3DS and 2DS games. It is part of the 3DS line.

I love Nintendo games, but their product naming really really really sucks.

I'd buy a 2DS. The 3D part of a 3DS isn't recommended for kids of such a young age. The non folding ones are sturdy and cheap to replace if the younger child breaks it.

There are plenty of age appropriate games such as Mario Kart, various other mario games, Nintendogs and cats, Wario Ware, etc

Chouetted you lost me on the second 2DS
I shall read your post again in the morning when I've had some sleep

Well DS turns 7 tomorrow and he is getting a DS2 for his birthday :) He has VERY excited!!!! He's had a kindle fire kids for 2 years and that has been brilliant! Unlimited games including minecraft, roblox, and loads of educational games as well as countless books. The kindle was pretty cheap too and you can set time limits and restrictions on it etc... All age appropriate games too (although roblox is pushing the limits a bit).

I'm not convinced the Nintendo DS will be better than the kindle, and am not keen on having to shell out money for each game, but other than that, I think DS will enjoy it and he wants to play mario which he can't play on the kindle! So we shall see! ......

The Nintendo DS is definitely a lot better for playing games than a Kindle. The DS is a dedicated device, designed for playing games, with games that have been made by teams of the most talented developers in the industry. The kindle is a tablet with cheap and cheerful games that are either a poor translations of existing games or games that people have slapped together on no budget in their bedroom.

The reason I said 3DS XL is the size of the screen , though I agree with the points above re 2D v 3D.

(The 3Ds can give certain games a 3D effect on the screen, which I think is yuck and you can turn off, and not recommended for children).

I think any would be fine really. We have recently upgraded our two old DSs and 1 3DS to two 3DS XLs at CEX. Mainly for screen size, as my eyes are getting worse, so when DD2 (14) needs help on a problem solving game (Professor Layton) I couldn't see the screens so well!

Nintendo are brilliant for kid appropriate games. We have a wiiU and now a switch and they're great for playing games together as a family. Personal favourite is super Mario 3D world on the wiiU as it's just so fun but it will probably come out in the switch before long, so a switch would probably be a better bet than a wiiU. The new Mario kart is great and Mario odyssey is brilliant. I've got a 3 and 4 year old and they love playing Mario games (within reason obviously, we limit how much they play). It's amazing seeing them being able to figure out the puzzles and work their way through levels tho. I don't really let them play on the iPad etc but playing Mario seems less insular I guess as we can work together and play as a family

Agree also with the above that a DS of some description could be a good option though as they're much cheaper and you can get lots of games second hand really cheaply. I keep meaning to find my old one for dd to have a go on!

The 2DS XL and the 3DS XL have the same size screen - actually, the 2DS XL is slightly clearer than the 3DS XL as it doesn't have the extra layer needed for the 3D effect.

My 6 year old would love a switch but he’s not getting one as we’re trying to avoid it for as long as we can. Luckily his friends don’t have them either so it’s not like he’s bothered.

Nintendo naming conventions are so confusing!!

Having read through this I think I sjould get a 2DS

I don't want to spend a lot so switch is not an option.

you might want to buy something like this, if you are getting a 2DS.

_content=Sub+Networks Nintendo have the 2ds so in a black Friday deal

Argos also have the 2ds xl on offer with free games

Don't lie to your kid. Nintendo is for ages 3+

I have a switch, one of my favourite consoles. The DS line will be coming to an end soon, superseded by the switch.

I can't see that the DS line will come to the end any time soon unless they want to loose the target audience of those consoles ie parents who aren't prepared to spend £300 on a handheld for a young child who is likely to be rough (and accidentally break it) and/or loose it when sneaking it to school or taking it to a friend's house.

Define "end". Most game development seems to have moved onto the Switch, but there's still a small flow of games coming out for the 3DS, and a large catalog of existing games that should be more than enough to impress a six year old.

Services wise, Nintendo are only just killing off the Wii eshop, and that's two generations of consoles back. The 3DS runs off the same eshop as the Switch does, so I can't see that going away for a very very long time.

In my view, the 3DS has a lot of portability that the Switch lacks - I spend a lot of time on trains, and while it's easy to while away delays on a 3DS or Game Boy, I'd look a right tit carting a Switch around, not to mention how much easier it would be to damage. I'm hoping for some sort of Switch Mini to be released, but right here and right now, the 3DS (er, 2DS ) is the better starter console for a young child.

My GD has had a Kindke since she was 3, now she's going to get a Switch for her 4th Birthday, just before Christmas.

Pick the console to suit where you want it to be played and the games.

She doesn't go on the Kindke, or our phones everyday. She's usually too busy with other stuff.

It's like anything, sweets, chocolate, you just make the amount consumed none negotiable.

Until they are a lot older, just regard gaming as a treat and not a real daily leisure activity.

Mine grew up with the original DS and it made travelling and eating out, sitting having a drink on holiday etc, so much easier.

OP - What Nintendo should I get?

Poster - A Kindle.