Nintendo Switch or iPad?

[nysnet]

I want to do something special for my kids and get them either iPads or Nintendo switch's.

I've noticed Nintendo switch's have become popular lately and thought it might be better then getting iPads as my oldest (15) has a Phone that she can get apps on already. I also don't want my 6 year olds on the internet though I think I can block it? Only down side is the games for the switch would be more expensive then if I just downloaded apps for them.

Which do you think I should get?

Can you get them one of each? Will they share? I have both, they serve different purposes in my house.

As for the 6 year olds I don't think you can go wrong with the kids kindle, so much cheaper than the iPad, loads of free apps, learning tools, you can switch between Adult/kid mode easiliy?

Nintendo Switches are very difficult to get hold of - the official store is out of stock again at the moment, and Amazon has a couple of very overpriced options that have to be imported.

You may have been referring to the Switch Lite, which is the handheld-only version of the Switch; these are much easier to come by.

It depends whether you want them just to be able to do gaming - since that's obvs what the Switch is good at, and it is very good at it, I think it's a great console. If you think they'll want to do other things, like drawing and reading and watching films and TV, not to mention doing homework (ds does his Seneca Learning stuff and Hegarty Maths on his tablet) then I would go with that option.

iPad screen time controls are great. Mine use theirs for school work, making animations and drawing as well as games. Switch games are expensive but I love mine and the eldest has a switch lite as well as an iPad.

Kindle fires are really underpowered technology and a bit crap now. Mine had them when they were younger but I find the iPad so much better

Kindle fires are really underpowered technology and a bit crap now. Mine had them when they were younger but I find the iPad so much better

I agree, but for a fraction of the price for a 6 year old I'd much prefer them to have a kindle fire than an iPad for starters-

Mine (10&12) have switches and ipads. The stitches sit in the cupboard ignored for months and months on end, they are literally glued to their iPads.

I hesitantly got a Switch for DS because of the price and it's great. The RingFit Adventure game is brilliant for lockdown exercise although I think there are stock issues at the moment.

The RingFit Adventure game is brilliant for lockdown exercise although I think there are stock issues at the moment.

There definitely are, been after one for weeks!

We’ve got both but my kids (11,10 and 7) prefer their iPads. We’ve all played on the switch though. Really depends on your kids though. But switches are hard to get at the moment and games are at least £40

@Taddda I think I'd have them share iPads but not to sure about the switch. I'll look into the kindles, thank you!

@tribpot Yes, the Nintendo switch Lite

Also, would animal crossing be appropriate for a 6 year old? What games would you recommend for switch or apps for iPad?

My 6 year old struggles a bit with the switch lite controls (she's better with the main switch). The 7 year old loves Animal Crossing though, Pokemon (though she's dire at it) and is so ruthless at Two-Point Hospital I think she's going to be in the running for Health Secretary.

For iPad - the Cbeebies apps are wonderful (and some of the CBBC ones), plus mine tend to play the Playmobil ones a lot as well (quite sims-esque) and we have an Apple Arcade subscription and the pair of them are forever on Sneaky Sasquatch and Butter Royale.

@DominaShantotto Thank you!

(I love Animal Crossing...)

@Taddda have you found the MN animal crossing thread and WhatsApp group?

@DominaShantotto I've seen the thread but only got it last week- haven't been able to play much (toddlers) but Dd2 fell asleep on me the other night and I got engrossed!

Now got a house, Blathers is building the museum (Ready tomorrow), just collecting the Iron ore for the shop....!

It's my 'quiet time' escape! Great stuff!

Don't know if you got sorted but Animal Crossing is lived very much by my DS age 6. He is an only child and has spent the lockdown period designing his own island, he loves it! It's very sedate too, so isn't going to induce any anger!

We bought a Switch as we'd exhausted the suitable games for his age on the iPad. I was fed up of downloading games and him being bombarded with ads constantly, messages to upgrade, pay for extras. I work in the games development industry, so I am very careful, but even we have seen ads in 'kids games' for casinos, busty women, fighting games, even a 'cut the head off a cloth doll with a chainsaw!!!'

As a busy mum (like us all) I haven't got the time to be over his shoulder constantly seeing everything that pops up. For us the Switch has been perfect and it's so much safer.