Xbos vs Wii for 2 and 5 Yr Old Boys

Updated on December 05, 2012
A.R. asks from Danbury, CT
16 answers

I was all set to get an Xbox for our family Xmas gift this year.
But recently my boys (2 and just turned 5) have visited 2 households with both Xbox and Wii, and my 5 yr old has much prefered the Wii games to the Xbox games.
I'm not sure if it's because the families had older kids and had newer, more mature games for their newer Xbox system than their Wii.
Or if it's because younger kids do better with all the hand-held Wii attachments.
Anyone have advice on which system works better for younger kids.

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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

Wii is much better for younger kids. The games are more age appropriate (by far). Have a Merry Christmas!!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Reno on

We have all of the game systems (ugh) and all my kids (4, 9 and 13) prefer the Wii over the XBox. However, I have to say that the Playstation gets used quite a lot, as well. The Wii Sports is a lot of fun and little ones can learn how to play with very little trouble.

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

Wii is the best route for your kids ages. There are many more kid games. Xbox is for teenagers/adults. The Wii was on sale at Walmart online for $89. I told my friend about the deal and she now has one under her tree. You can pick up some great games for 1$10-$20 too.

1 mom found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Wii ... overall theXbox is more for teenagers and the controllers are HUGE, as an adult woman with man sized hands I find them difficult to hold and play with. Now with the Kinnect there are games available for youner kids that are hands free, but as an overall I think the Wii is the way to go.

Oh and you can even purchase controllers for the Wii that are smaller for little kids - they are off brand but work just as well.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from Wichita Falls on

The Wii is for 'fun' gaming instead of serious gaming. It has a lot of family friendly games, kids games, and puzzle games. That is because the lack of HiDef graphics turned off a lot of the third party developers. The Wii U is supposed to fix that. But the whole aim of Nintendo lately has been to push for more healthy gaming and it's selection shows it.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.H.

answers from New York on

Who are you buying the game console for? If you are buying it for your little ones, then Wii wins hands down. My family is big on Nintendo. It has a lot of versatitility people don't realize. The Wii also has a lot more games to choose from and you can even use the old GameCube games on it. It's also the only console you can play Mario and Luigi games on, since they are Ninentdo characters. The Mario and Luigi parties are great and contain lots of mini games. There are a lot more games for the younger set, but there are adult games too. How many adult/teen games do you really need?

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

A wii for those ages. My boys are 10 and 11 and we're getting an Xbox 360 Kinect this year. We've had the Wii for 4 years and have very much enjoyed it.

Merry Christmas!

C. Lee

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I'll be able to let you know after Christmas. We have the Wii right now and my whole family loves it. My 5 year old can kick all of our tails in any game we play he's so good at it.

The Xbox Kinnect is under the tree already for my hubby. The kids went absolutely bonkers over it when I bought it - so they will each get a game for it.

So I'm not sure what they will like better. I think the Kinnect part might make them like that better.

My sister and her fiance hav the Kinnect and their 3 year old LOVES to play games on it, but she has no idea how to use the Wii.

C.B.

answers from Reno on

We have the WII and the kids really love it. They struggle on the PS3 that my hubby has. Have a great Christmas

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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

Just be aware of what you're getting into. :) Hooking kids as young as 2 and 5 on video games is a road down a path you have to be willing to travel. I see my son's glassy-eyed friends who cannot be without something electronic. My son plays with action figures instead. He makes video games out of paper and "plays them." I am just not willing to ever get real video games. I don't want to enforce when he can play (which would not be a lot) and fight that battle. It's easier not to have one!

He can play Wii at aftercare. It's a limited time and enforced. That works for us. In the home, I'd go nuts! :)

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S.G.

answers from Jacksonville on

IMO a Wii would be better geared towards kids that age. There are more age appropriate games (learning and fun) for them than xbox. Xboxs are for serious gamers that do football games or gun fight type games where you want the good graphics.

S.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I have an 11y boy and 6y girl.
We have the Wii and the XBox w/ Kinect. They both like Wii games. The 6y can play on the Wii better than the Xbox. The Kinect is cool, but because of where it is located, the 6y is almost too short for it to work right and it keeps freezing on her.

I agree with going with the Wii.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Wii is what Children's Hospitals use for their bedbound patients... because it only requires one hand and minimal wrist movements mean that nearly everyone can do them.

As in, the EXACT OPPOSITE of the "intent" of Wii.

My sister had one as well. After $1700 (all the extra boards, mats, wands, etc.) she came out to visit us... sold her Wii when she got home for $1000, spent $300 on an xBox 360 & Kinnect and went on a clothes shopping spree.

All you EVER need for xBox & Kinnect are... the xBox & Kinnect. One upfront cost. There's no "cheating" (wrist flicks only), no mats to buy, etc.

Now... if one of your kids is wheelchair or bedbound... the Kinnect isn't the best bet. But if not, I'd hands down go with an xBox & Kinnect

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K.D.

answers from New York on

I would absolutely go with a Wii for the little ones.....XBox will be a good gift several years down the line when they are older! We've had several years of fun with our Wii and my son got an XBox last year for Christmas at age 13.

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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

The Wii is great for the young ones, although it's doubtful the 2yo will get much out of it. Our 5yo loves it. Our just turned 3yo can't do much on it.

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A.M.

answers from New York on

I think a wii for sure. Last year my son (who was 4 at the time) got an Xbox from a family member. I had a really hard time finding games he enjoyed and it resulted in him not playing it very often- if ever. For his 5th birthday we got him a wii and he loves it. He can play jut about any of the games with out a problem at all. And I have found wii has a lot more kid/Disney type games. I think you will much better off getting the wii vs Xbox. And as for the glossy-eyed look someone made reference to, simple solution is to limit the time spent on the wii. We haven't had to do that really because my son will play it do a little while every few days and then be done. It's not like he wants to sit and play it all day every day. But if he did, we would just restrict the time he was allowed to play. Easy as that.

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