Nintendo DS Nintendo Wii - Suitable for 6 and 3 year olds?

[QuintessentialShadows]

Ds1 is 6 1/2 and owns a ds lite already
Ds2 is 3 1/2 and my mum wants to get him a ds for Christmas.

We were thinking of getting them the Wii as a gift.

Do you think a 3 1/2 year old should have his own ds?

How about a Wii? Is it ok for boys of those ages to share one?

Can they play on the Wii at the same time? Ie multiplayer games on the same console?

I think 3 1/2/ is a bit young for a ds. What about a leapster? They can easily share the wii, make sure you get an extra controller.

hi, my little boy (23 months) plays on my ds and my wii, he loves it!x

I am sure the leapster would be fine, just like his Vtech laptop is fine, it is just that it is not a ds....

They bicker all the time about the ONE ds we have in the house, though...

3.6yo too young for a DS. Leapster fab though - DS1's had one since he was 4 and he adores it. DS2 (2.9yo) is desperate to get his hands on it, but tends just to turn it off whilst DS1's playing it (grr), then runs off laughing, so he can wait a bit for one!

Wii great - DS1 (4.6) v good on it. He especially likes golf and bowling on Wii Sports.

Well if he already uses one and they argue about it, then maybe just go for it then. It's a nightmare. I've got 2 ds's and the arguments are baaaad.

I think 3.5 is too young as is an expensive gift and easily damaged in a tantrum or carelessness. Also i dont think its fair on older child as the older child is imo older and therefore allowed more 'grown up' toys than younger one. However if you wanted to buy yourself one and let the little one play on it that is a way round it

But, I bet they would argue about playing the same game at the same time, and I just WONT buy two of every popular game....

Maybe just stick to getting the Wii.
But it is just that my mum so really badly very much want to get him his own ds....

Awen? Good to see you, been a while!

Ds2 is really stretching himself to be like his big brother, he desperately wants to play the same things, the same games, and sometimes get frustrated when it is above his skills levels. He wont just settle for nintendogs or supermario, he MUST play lego star wars. Ds1 has had his ds since february, and they have both been extremely careful with it. Ds2 even puts it down carefully before going into full tantrum mode...

good to see you too been busy with ds2 and moving house etc etc How are you?

I lol at your comment about ds2 putting nintendo carefully down before tantrum. lol

I am allright. We have moved back to Norway, so quite a change for us all. DH is starting a full time Norwegian course next month. Should be interesting...

Sounds like quite a change we only moved a few miles and feels like a lot more. So what have you decided on getting the boys then?

I have ordered wii for ds1 (games doing fab deals atm)

I dont' know much about the wii, but I think 3.5 is too young for a ds. Ds had to wait until he was 8 and with dd we are holding out until she is 7 (don't think we can make here wait till 8, the second dc does everything earlier somehow...)
Dd received a Leapster last year (she was just 5) and loves loves loves it. She loves the stylus thing - just like the ds her brother has - kept her happy!