Nintendo 3DS or a tablet for 6yo dd1?

[comeandgo]

I was thinking of getting dd1 a tablet for christmas as it can be eduacational as well as fun.

Dh has now mentioned getting her a 3DS instead. I am worried this is just a handheld gaming console and not at all educational.

Am I missing something?

Which one would you choose?

I would go for the tablet as it's far cheaper to get games and there's far more choice out there.

So unless she's likely to get into playing 1 or 2 particular games for a long time then the 3ds is likely to be a short-lived novelty.

Also, the 3d is not very good for young kids' eyes.

My kids (9 and 7) rarely play with their DSs, preferring the computer, Wii or ipad.

DS is 11, ASD and has both.

The 3DS hasn't seen the light of day in months.

He uses iPads at school, they suggest homework he can do on it and he has some of his favourite games on it too.

I think I use the 3DS more for Mario Kart than he ever has!!

They are both so different.

If you want educational, you'll probably have to go for the tablet.

We have tablets/iPads already, and two of my children are hankering after a 3DS. They have DSi consoles, but the new games won't play on them.

They want the 3DS because of the longer, more detailed games, Pokémon, Super Mario, the Lego games etc. They buy loads of the DS games second hand for pennies, so it's not too bad.

You really can't compare the two though, so if your child has no preference, I'd go for a tablet.

I don't know about educational, but I think there's a safe age limit for using the 3D function, so it would be pointless buying a 3DS for DD if she can't use one of its main functions.

Why is your husband keen to buy it, over a tablet?

I suspect your DH might want a 3DS for Christmas!

You can get educational games for the 3ds but I'm not a fan of the 3d aspect. It can also be bad for your eyes. You can turn the 3d off but that defeats the point.

I'd either get a tablet (my 5yo dd loves hers) which also has more games which are cheaper or free, or I'd get a preowned DSi or the new 2DS that's just come out, but again the games are expensive.

A tablet would probably get more use as there are thousands of games, some fun and some educational but fun. There's also the Internet option while supervised, our school has and online password controlled resource for DCs geared towards their class and an online reading site, again passwords controlled. My DD1 uses a her tablet for these so I have the laptop free for my work.

2ds :)

I don't know why he suddenly wants a 3DS, he said it was a 'brainstorm' when he mentioned it on the phone

i would go with the tablet.. purely becasue i dont think the 3dds is safe, there has been quite a few reports on it, you can only play on it for a short time which in itself isnt a bad a thing but i dont think 30 m in or you start to feel ill/have a headach is such a good thing.

you can t urn it of but it kind off makes it pointless,

I was going to get dd the new 2DS - its durable and easy to use. I didn't want her to have a tablet because of all the shit that can be downloaded.

What tablet were you thinking of?

The Hudl kissmyheathenass

If it's a case of one or the other then I'd got for the hudl.

I've got 5 year old DS a 2DS which is the 3DS without the 3D function but we already have a family tablet.

I wouldn't bother with a 3DS, the 3D isn't recommended for her age (but it's crap anyway TBH, my teen DSDs have them but leave the 3D turned off as it hurts their eyes)

Hmm, this has got me thinking. Hudls are getting great reviews and dd loves my nexus (I normally retrieve it when its lost from under her pillow).

The problem I have with the ds is the cost of the games. There are loads of free ones on my nexus and as soon as the dcs are bored, they download another one. I'm just a bit concerned that dd will easily stumble across porn and other crap.

Is the 3DS really rubbish? Dd, 9, has asked from one of those and I thought they were a but £££.

Oohh, The Hudl comes in purple. Tis lovely.

The 2DS is £99 in Argos at the mo. It uses games from the old DS and 3DS so you can pick up games pretty cheaply on eBay and in game shops if you're not too fussy about having the latest ones.

Educational? No they use the games . Try books