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Original poster

Not to by a DS for my 4 year old daughter

89 replies

merryandmad · 07/09/2008 17:30

My dd1 will be four in a couple of weeks. Recently 3 of her little friends have all had DS's for their birthday's. One mum has even commented how hard it is to get games that don't come with text (they can't read yet).
My dd is a September baby, so only just starting nursery- I do not want a DS yet- but at a birthday party today (4 year old boy) his mum was saying proudly that he'd had a DS and had been playing on it all morning).
I could see my DP's mind whizzing - he is a bit techy and brought his 60 year old mum a computer- I don't want him to buy her a DS yet, or a tv/dvd combi yet. What would you say?

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 09/09/2008 14:10

I reckon they're as worthy as a Wii

nooka · 09/09/2008 14:24

I think that 4 probably is too young. Most of the good games do involve reading, and it is very frustrating to always have the thing stuck in your face with a "Mummy, what does that say" or have complaints they don't know how to play because they have skipped through the instructions...

But I think that my son's reading did improve alongside his Pokemon addiction, and they are great for journeys, queues and other boring times.

I would not buy any of the "edutainment" devices. I think they expensive and an utter waste of time. Better to buy some really good PC games. I recommend the I Spy series good for all the family Or get a Wii - you will all enjoy that!

Sibble · 10/09/2008 03:00

ds1 was 7 when we bought his. ds2 was 3. I bought it for the return flight from NZ to UK which didn't have inflight entertainment (don't fly korean) . He plays Dora and some of his brothers games which his brother has taught him how to play. They also play together somehow as the games are 2 player.

twentypence · 10/09/2008 03:52

I don't even know what a DS is , ds got a leapster at 4 because we were making several longhaul flights in a year. Now he can read he doesn't bother with it at all - but the games are good for prereaders.

In summary - great for travel, especially on planes - but I wouldn't have one used in the house when there are so many other great things to do.

naughtynoonoo · 10/09/2008 06:57

long drive in france during the summer and these were brilliant for dd7 and ds4 otherwise we would've been stressed out with them fighting over it if we just had the one. Time on them is restricted at home and they can still be children and play and do other things as well as having a ds. Not sure regarding reading as ds has only just stated school but he seems to know his way round the ds games pretty good (some even better than me and I am 37!)

stirlingmum · 10/09/2008 09:34

An Aunty with more money than sense bought a DS for our dd when she was 5 (2 yrs ago) and to be honest she couldn't really use it because all the games needed her to read instructions.

Now she loves it and loves her Nintendogs (washing them, walking them, taking them to competitions etc..)

Youngest dd (4) does like playing the DS sometimes and there are now games that dont require the child to read anything (Dora and Diego games and "I did it Mum"). These usually ask them to pick colours or shapes etc so you could say they are educational!?

Pesha · 10/09/2008 09:39

My dd and ds1 both got DSs for christmas last year, she was 7.1 and he was 4.4. Main reason, apart from them both really wanting them, was that dp had got one free with his mobile phone so we only had to actually pay for 1. They don't play them unlimited amounts but as people have said they are very good for long journeys. DS1 can't read much but only needs to be told once or twice before he recognises the words and knows what to do. He has the Cars game and Ben10 and manages fine.

I never would have got him one at that age though if I hadn't been getting dd one. He also had a leapster which he loved but it has got lost somewhere. Moving next week so I'm hoping I might find it somewhere when I'm going through everything packing!

DS loves all things computers though - ds, wii, pc, sky games, playstation (not ours but occasionally at friend's houses) etc and always seems to be able to work out what he has to do even with his limited reading skills. I do limit him however but I don't think, in moderation, its a problem. In fact I think hes learning quite a lot of quite useful skills and fully expect him to be showing me what to do on computers in just a few years!

As with everything I think it all depends on the child.

mummc2 · 10/09/2008 09:55

I know its probably not the best place to ask but has anyone on here got a leapster they dont want anymore/want to sell? Very educational!!

MrsDanversApron · 10/09/2008 10:01

My 4 year old has a DS. He can operate it independently, can set it up for downloading with his siblings and can use pictochat. The best games we have found are ones like supermario brothers - not too wordy.

However, he is our youngest child and only expressed an interest in a DS because his big brother had one.

He's had it for nearly a year now and hasn't lost it/broken it etc.

Anchovy · 10/09/2008 10:01

This is interesting. DS is about to turn 7 and we are probably going to get him one for his birthday, knowing that if we do it is the beginning of a long and slippery slope (although not necessarily a bad one, so to speak).

He does computer club at school and is allowed about 2 sets of 20-30 minutes computer time a week at home to play games - mostly Marble Blast and stuff from the lego website.

In his class at school (Y2) I would say about 1/4 have DS's. They seem to fall into 2 clear categories: children who have every other toy under the sun; and more frequently, children with older siblings.

I think TeslaGirl's post was very good. DH and I had already spoken about how we need to engage with the games and learn how to do it as well. You are right - it is mad to monitor the computer, ration Ben10 when he starts getting nightmares and then make no check at all on computer games or their effects because we don't understand them.

Neither DH not I are particularly into computer games (we both have jobs in front of screens all day - not really what we want all night!) but DH has "nobly" agreed to "become" interested to work with DS on this.

MrsDanversApron · 10/09/2008 10:08

Anchovy - I am a mean mummy and use a filter so that only pre-approved gaming sites are accessible!!!

Anchovy · 10/09/2008 10:16

Is that for DS or DH?!

tigi · 10/09/2008 10:17

my 3 boys - 13,8 and 6 have one, and all love them - good in cars, or when dragged to tesco against their will etc.
eldest son's also broke the hinge - i moaned and got a repalcement.
so if you do buy one, take the accidental damage cover too- 2 years i think, and only £5 -which will cover a broken hinge - that was from gamestation - i always go there as cheapest packages, and more flexible.

lizziemun · 10/09/2008 10:58

It depends on the child my dh neices both have DS from about 4 (5 & 10) and play on them all the time.

My MIL bought dd1 a leapster for christmas last year (dd1 was nearly 4) and i can honestly say she probaly hasn't used more then once a month for a hour at time because she not interested in them.

My mum bought her this and uses it a lot more as we can play together and as it attaches to the TV it easier to show her what to do. The cartridges also can be used in this.

muggglewump · 10/09/2008 11:06

Teslagirl, I have a Gameboy, I haven't played with it for ages but I completed three of the Pokemon games and even bought the books to help!
DD and I play simple games together on the PC too so I do know how they work and will be getting involved.

The problem I have now is that she wants a Wii. No way am I prepared to pay for one, even if I could afford it and I'm reluctant to buy a DS now incase she's disappointed.
I may have just escaped another year without either

LindzDelirium · 10/09/2008 11:20

We boought DD a DS for her 6th birthday (she'd been asking for 2 years) and although I sometimes have to peel her off of it it has been good so far. Me and DH love the Brain Training when she has gone to bed and last weekend she learned about syllables from the BT game. She also loves the Nintendogs game and has for the main part stopped the "Mum can I have a dog?" whinging that was going on daily!

snice · 10/09/2008 13:14

You could get a [http://www.amazon.co.uk/VTech-V-Smile-Pink-Bundled-Explorer/dp/B000SQGDCA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=toys &qid=1221048700&sr=8-5 V Smile]] for her instead. My 4 year old plays happily on his sister's old one as she now has a DS-there are loads of games aimed at different ages but the junior ones don't require much reading -more letter and number recognition.

snice · 10/09/2008 13:15

V Smile

Joanie · 10/09/2008 13:26

Got DD (aged 6)one (pink) at xmas & she enjoyed playing mycatsndogs & pony for a few months, but not too excess. Now I think she has realised that they are a bit repetitive. These games better for 4yr olds in terms of gameplay, but, you do need to read!!

A word of warning, my DS (age 5)got marioworld and is totally addicted! Over the hols he played a lot when it was raining (ie all the time!). He even plays it whilst watching tv, he asks for it when he gets up etc, we were quite shocked. He much prefers it to tv. We have taken to hiding it in different places each day!!!

Joanie · 10/09/2008 13:30

A lot of games say 3+, but I think that is in relation to violence levels not that it is good for them to play. Kids seem v good at picking up controls etc, but a lot of games require reading skills.

We have brain training,maths training and big brain, but they can only do some of the things on these, so can get frustrated. B careful, these games all sy 3+, but you need to read & write for them. Does anyone know any good educational type ones like these specifically for primary age kids on DS?

ps even for adults, I'm not sure these really train your brain to do anything other than solving these puzzles - ie its a trick or a skill rather than improving your intelligence (hope I'm making sense here). Having said that, I am practising my basic addition and times table on the maths training & it is helping my mental arithmatic through repetition and kids could do 2x tables etc, so would recommend that rather than the brain ones perhaps.

ps I spend too long on this don't I

Nemoandthefishes · 10/09/2008 13:33

I have got ds a second hand NDS for his 5th birthday next month. He has been asking for over a year and plays on mine occasionally but I only have brain training games so have got him one with a couple of kids racing games and sonic on.

Nemoandthefishes · 10/09/2008 13:33

Meant to add have only paid for the games as DS was my mums which she has used about 4 times..lol

slalomsuki · 10/09/2008 13:50

Mine are 7 and 5 and no DS in our house. They have asked but I always say"what would you do with one?" and they are lost there.

Let them play games on the computer either on the BBC or Nick Junior sites or Education City. the computer skills and mose control will stand them in good stead for later

muggglewump · 10/09/2008 14:06

Nemo, How much did you pay for it second hand if you don't mind me asking?
I had planned to get DD a second hand one and then buy an R4 card to keep costs down.

As I said in pp though I'm not sure whether to buy one at all.

Nemoandthefishes · 10/09/2008 14:29

we didnt have to pay for ours because it was my mums..however I did watch them on ebay and you can pick one up between £40 and £60