Vtech - is this worth buying?

[Mummysurfer]

DS will soon be 5 and we are really struggling for a present

have you got one of these?
If you don't think much of these, have you any recommendations?
Thanks

DS (4yo) has one like that and he did ask for it the other day (it's packed away in our old house). But he does more, seems to learn more, on the big "real" computer, tbh.
Man, there is such a long list of things I could buy DS for his next birthday, can't imagine struggling on it.

Please Zebra - give me some ideas. Only want to spend about 30 quid.

Ds1 has a similar one - the VTech"Whiz Kid Progress". He adores it as he loves letters, numbers, logic puzzles etc. It's suitable for 5yrs+ and was £29.99 from Argos.

£30...
Do you want a single big gift or would several little ones do?
Have been looking at duplo stuff on Ebay -- lots of airplanes, tractors, that kind of thing. That would be £5-£25, depending what you got.

A BIG fire engine, well-made with bells and whistles (literally).

Anything airplanes or helicopters (DS has almost none).

DVDs: Long list, including Peter Pan, Finding Nemo, Wild Thornbury's, Bambi (DS really liked Bambi, honest!). Isn't Jungle Book out on VHS, but not DVD? I'd get that if we had a VHS player.

Age appropriate Computer games -- Nick Jr. sells a CD of games available on their website. So DS stops using the broadband to play games!! I don't know exactly which games are on which DVD, but the Dora The Explorer games ( probably here and here ) are really good.

Miscellaneous: Anything trains or diggers; A kiddy torch (we have one that changes colours and is pretty robust against being dropped, but its wiring has gone loose); Toy tanks (Tesco does some) with soldiers; Roller skates (not sure about price, though); Pirate ship (Argos do a combined Pirate ship and Castle with people, bits for £25-£30); A Pop Up Tent; DS has a concrete mixer lorry from the toy library that turns the concrete, has lights, rolls forwards and backwards. DH reckons DS is ready for starter-Scale-lectrics type stuff, but not sure on prices, there.

We are making a toy airport for DS, and the materials probably won't come to more than £15; just labour, really.

I have an even longer list for DD

Wow, thank Zebra. There are some good ideas for him here. He's not into TV so DVDs/videos are out but the rest maybe a winner.
Coppertop - I'm off to look in Argos catalogue now.

Thanks

Yes DH too is keen on the scale-lectric but I don't think he has DS in mind.

Coppertop
How old is you DS?
Does this one go beyond teaching letters/numbers?
we like the look of it.But just want to make sure there's plenty of mileage in it. Already need to go to Argos as DD would like the Babyliss hairbraider. It's her b/day at the end of the month.

My DS got a vtech leap-pad (age 4) for Xmas, which is great, we all love playing with it. He was 4 in nov and it is just right for him, they help teach them to read, and later you can buy extra books, ( good for grandparents to get...) which teach maths science etc...

The VTech Whiz Kid Progress is more designed for children who already know their letters and numbers. The games vary according to which level you choose (3 levels altogether). The games include memory games (a word is shown for a few seconds and then the child has to remember it and type it themselves), simple sums (addition & subtraction), counting games etc. There are also games like Noughts & Crosses, hangman etc.

Ds1 is 3yrs 8mths but has known his letters, numbers etc for about 18mths so a laptop designed for a 3yr old would have been way too easy for him. The one he has is designed for ages 5-7yrs.

I would definitely recommend the v-tech Fly and Learn Globe. I bought one for my ds (4yr old) for Christmas and both he and his brother (5 yr old) love playing with it.

Can't do a link but Toysrus have them for £24.99.