Video Game System for 6 Yr Old

Honestly, just yesterday I took all gaming systems out of our house. My son is 14, my other kids are grown, and it became a problem with not being able to stay on task. Two other systems were given to us when those people upgraded their systems and for some reason, my husband thought it would be a good idea to put one of the games in my son's room! When my girls were growing up, they were not allowed tv's, phones or computers in their rooms. DH set this up two weeks ago while I was out of town. He is out of town this weekend and we just boxed them up for storage.

If anything, a ds would be the only way I'd ever go again. It's small and easily taken away. They are simply too addicting! Just my 2 cents!

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I would choose the least convenient system to use. You will regret the day you bought it because they will want to play it all the time. I require that the kids system be put away each time they use it so that it isn't as easy thing to pop on and off of. I hate video games!

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We have a wii and my son has a DSi xl. He hardly ever plays the wii because he would rather play with his toys. As far as his DS we never leave home without it even if it's just to the store! They have some great games for both that kids would love. I wouldn't recommend the 3ds i played it at gamestop and it hurt my eyes in the 2 mins i played it And it has caused seizures in some people.

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I just bought my boys the dsi-I did have the ds for them for 2 years...the dsi seems to be the one to get! Everyone Ive talked to says the 3d hurts their eyes.

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I would actually go for the XBOX 360 Kinect. It uses motion capture (or something)...way more advanced than the Wii technology (which is what we used to have). The XBOX Kinect is more like you have Jedi powers... They have similar games as the Wii - sports ones where you run and jump and lots of other stuff, so you stay active. You can also play typical video games with it (just a video control) that doesn't require being active, for those times where you don't want to be so active.

We LOVE our Kinect. We are like you - limit it's usage. Actually they are only allowed to use it on the weekends. They homeschool, and I've found the video games are distracting to them. So, only on the weekends.

We can also live chat with people on our TV through it (video chatting). It's a lot of fun. I really would not buy a Wii unless you look into an XBOX Kinect first to make sure you don't want that instead. My hubby LOVED the Wii (same reasons you mentioned), and we bought a Kinect. It was on a great sale and we wanted some really good exercise games. We bought it and were blown away by it's technology in comparison. One of the exercise games we use (adults) it's actually puts us IN the game so we can watch ourselves. There is a personal trainer that helps you through it all and can even tell you when you're doing something wrong.

Anyway, enough of my rambling! Definitely look into the XBOX Kinect (there are different versions of the XBOX, so you want the Kinect one - it's the newest version).

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I would talk with someone at your local GameStop, you will get to know them very well anyway after your child has either since my kids want to browse that store all the time, even if we do not buy anything (I bring a book and wait in the car!). The latest DS platform is the 3DS where you can turn the 3D part off with a slider. They just reduced the price on it since sales were so low. I am told that all the new games will be developed for this platform but am not sure if I believe it. According to the same person in the store, the DSLite is discontinued but is still available from stock but no longer produced. The DSi and DSxl and the 3DS are still being produced. All three fit the regular DS games, but the 3Ds games will only fit int the 3DS. The 3DS has a joystick whereas the others just have buttons. ONLY the DSLite fits the very old style GameBoy games that are no longer made but are for sale at GameStop used for really cheap. Gamestop sells used systems and games. They even had a used 3DS since someone bought it and did not like it. There are a lot more games out for the older DSi and DSxl than for the 3DS, but I am told that all new development will be for the 3DS, so new games will only fit the 3DS, but I am not sure if I believe that since Nintendo would be ticking off a lot of older game system owners.
We just bought a 3DS since it fits all old DS games my daughter already owns, and it has the joystick, and it has cameras and other games already loaded plus you can download games from a website.

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We have a DS and a Wii. If you decide to go the route of the Wii I would recommend the Playstation move or the Xbox kinect instead. Most of the games DS has for the Wii he can sit on the couch and move his hands to play. With our Kinect you have to stand there to play. Those games give me a workout. My IL's have the Move and it is much cooler than the Wii and you have to stand to play as well.

I agree with the PPer, I don't like the 3DS either. We have DS lites for the kids.

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my d has kids ages 8-10 over. The nintendo goes anywhere and was easier for her. plus it is better to play alone and it doesn't use the tv.

the wi is not as fun. even with kids over, they have arguements and have trouble getting it to work right.

both systems are expensive and the games, even used, are too.

Wii does not really exercise a child because they can sit and do most things. also, the movements do NOT improve fine motor skills needed to write or type. I am ready to box them up and put them on craigslist and my child would not care. my husband is ADDICTED to hunting games.

We have the Wii. Some of the games make you move and some you can play sitting on the couch. I like the ones that make you move.

No one in my family has a DS (kids 7, 11, and 13). They take books whenever we go anywhere.

DS lite!!!! It will come with Super Mario Bros, which is the funnest and easiest game to play. The car games are good; Mario Kart, and Hot wheels. There are also "smart" games; Brain age, scribblenauts at both really cool games. Your DS will become a spelling tutor and brain builder for your daughter. You will love it.

I like the Wii because it does make them move and will help improve reflexes and hand eye coordination. You are right about the DS being great for going anywhere. It is a life saver on long car trips. I have a DS myself but I let my 6 year old play it too. He can work both with no problem also.

If you are just looking into video games I would look at Game Stop or a gaming store near you. They usually sell used games and systems with a guarantee. We hardly ever buy games new and have never had a problem with used ones.

Our 6 year old has a DS which she got for X-Mas last year. Her favorite game by far is the Zhu Zhu Pet game. LOVES it.

We have all the systems in the house (overkill?) because each is better for different things. The Wii we got before the XBox Kinect came out so it was bought to try to keep the kids active and because, at the time, it had the most kid friendly games. The XBox was for my BF and when the Kinect came out I LOVED not needing a controller to do the action games (definately better than the Wii). The PS3 has the Blue Ray player and a couple platform specific games my BF was missing from when we had the PS2 but their Move needs controlers also. The DS is great if you do lots of time in the car and plan on that being the majority of the time she would use it (we each have our own and can connect wirelessly and compete or use the chat feature which is typing or writing back and forth). If you go the DS rout I would probably get the 3DS as it is the newest and I have seen several games that I would like but they are only for the 3DS as they usually try to get people to upgrade by doing games that can only be played on the new system (the DSi and DSXL and DSlite all play the same cartridges and they can be played on the 3DS as well but the 3DS games cannot be played on the older versions). If you decide to get a system for the house I would go with the XBox Kinect, I find it forces you to move like I though the Wii would, it has games that will appeal to the whole family and it will "grow" with her better. As I said we have all the systems but our favorite (kids are 10 and 6) is the XBox Kinect by far.