Whiz Kid Pc by Vtech or Other Computer Games for 3 Year Olds.

I really liked the VTech system, although to be fair I like the Little Laptop PC from leap fromg as well. My son was also three when he received the VTech system and played with it frequently until about 6 months ago when it just wasn't interesting to him anymore, (and that he realized his little sister was now closer to three than hin LOL). He will be six in November. It was tricky for him at first, but then once he got the hang of it...he did better than the grown ups. The leap frog lap top a client gave to me when my son was two and was much more basic and easy for him. He got different things from it at different points in his development. Now obviously my two year old uses it more than he does now, but he still enjoys playing with it after all of these years at times. The other thing I liked for him was the exercise bike/video game system from fisher price. He just got too physically big for it by 5, but it is rreccomended for kids ages 3-6...gonna bust it out this winter again for my daughter.

When my older son was 4, we bought him the handheld Leapster & the VTech VSmile for the TV. We limited the time that he got to play it so when he did play it he loved it. He seemed to play the Leapster more though. When he turned 6, he earned a DS, so the Leapster went to my little guy who was 3 at the time. He loves it to this day, especially because they keep coming out withe games that he loves, like Star Wars & Wall-E and they are still compatible with the old Leapster. It's great for when my older one has practice or games because it keeps him occupied. Again, other than those times he doesn't get to play it so it is a treat for him. But I could seem him getting bored with it if he played it all the time.

Good luck!

At the risk of sounding preachy, I'd suggest avoiding them all together. I have a 4 and almost 3 year old myself and I'm so not for video games (or tv in the daily routine). I work with kids for a living and have seen over the years the correlation between screen time and attention span...the more screen time (tv, computer, video games, etc), the lower the attention span later on. Studies also back up the lowered attention span and increased impulsivity as I looked it up after noticing the correlations! According to the studies, screen time actually causes the brain to physically develop in a different way that inhibits attention span and increases impulsiveness. Supposedly, these connections and patterns in the brain that are formed in early childhood set a pattern in a permanant way so connections that become skewed cause attention span and such to remain an ongoing struggle then as they grow up. The screen activities are not necessary for learning. It works to teach information quickly, yet fails to teach them how to learn, which is what you really want to teach for the long term! It's not the advertised concept, but really who cares if they learn their ABCs, etc. extra early if they later have trouble in school because they have trouble focusing. So I'm really sorry if this offends anyone, and yet wanted to mention it in light of all the advertisements that promote tv and video games as learning tools with the risks only known if you search for them... so it's such a common misconception as the marketers are of course trying to grind into our heads that these are learning tools.
Things I prefer to gravitate toward instead just for ideas are outside play toys, sensory toys, building toys, and things that get them moving like the kid's indoor trampoline from Toys R Us. Leap frog makes some great things like Fridge Phonics that is a great educational manipulative toy, but the videos and video games are really unnecessary (and I believe detrimental for the long term). Hope this helps and isn't taken in a negative way at all, as it's intended to be an informative caution from an early childhood perspective as opposed to too soapboxish! :)

You may want to try some things out at the store with him to see what he will actually like---and you can get your moneys worth. My children have picked so many things up and dropped them so quick. Really, I would be very cautious about any video game, even if it involves learning at this age. Learning by interacting with others and support from you, social interaction and imaginative play is very important at this age. Advice from a former Montessori School Director and mother of 6. Best of luck.

The "Jump Start" CD-Rom series is excellent!

We bought the Vtech V smile system when my son turned 3 and he loved it. He learned so much from those "games". They really are excellent for preschoolers. They teach all of the things they need to know, but in fun ways. He is now 5 and we bought him the cyber pocket system for him to play while we are out. He still loves playing the Vtech, but we have had to move to the 5-7 year old games and they are challenging for him. I need to help him at times because they are learning to read ones and they really aren't meant to teach you to read. It's only meant to supplement. So, I loved the preschool ones and feel it is totally worth the money. The older ones, the jury is still out.

last christmas when my oldest son was 4, we gave him the leapster. he loved it! hours of entertainment! we chose not to get one intially for my younger son at the time 3, because i thought he was probably to young for it. however the day after christmas we had to go and purchase another leapster because he loved playing it so much! and he actually was/is pretty good at it! so for us at 3 he was ready for a leapster. they still play it almost everyday!

We bought our first daughter a Leapster the Christmas after she turned 3. She LOVED it! It was great, fun but mostly educational and all the games are age appropriate (Prek-K, 1st-2nd grade) you advance the level as they get older. I believe it taught her how to spell, one day she started sounding out small words (and sad to say I didn't teach them to her) the games Letter Factory and Word Factory goes over phonics and she learned it from there. She is now 7 and it has since gone to our 4 year old but she occasionally will pick it up and play some games. Great for long car rides too! If you get it I also suggest buying the charger adapter so you save on batteries!

Hey MomK ~

Check out your local library - some have the units that you can use there - or you can 'rent' them out for a week at a time. ELGIN has A GREAT library and computer rental program!! It is a drive - but we make a full 'field trip' out of it, with a picnic and everything and spend the whole day!! Well worth it esp. with cold weather setting in. GOOD LUCK.

I have a three year old, and he just Loves his Leapster! It will grow with him too!

We had really good luck with anything by VTech. They were kid friendly, and educational, and fun. I'd feel comfortable buying anything they made. Just go for things in the appropriate age group and you won't go wrong.

As far as computer programs for kids, yes, we've tried tons. My son LOVES computer games, and has since he was old enough to climb in my computer chair. We liked the Jump Start series, the Dr. Seuss Series, and Clifford the Big Red Dog (really good for reading!). Another thing he liked was Freddie the Fish. (That was a game, but had educational elements, and his preschool teacher let him play on her computer. I had to buy it for him after that, he enjoyed it so much.)

I would steer away from "hot and latest thing" kinds of programs. They are a lot more expensive, and weren't as interesting. Never felt they were worth the extra bucks, and my son was only interested in them for a flash, and then it faded to nothing. Look for the stuff that's been around for a while. Ask your son's preschool, too, if they recommend anything. Some preschools have computers, and will share what interests the kids.