Ok, moms - Leapster2, Leapster Explorer, or VTech MobiGo?? I'm considering one for my almost-4 and 5 year olds (I hope they'll be okay with sharing one, but that may be a mistake.) I've read good and bad about all of them! I tried to look at all three in Target today and the VTech wouldn't turn on, so I don't know what to think of it, the Explorer had a far superior screen as far as size and appearance goes but the negatives I read about it are a real turn off - I read that you're practically forced to listen to/watch commercials when you turn it on or push certain buttons. All this excessive marketing to kids is annoying.
I know that many of you will want to tell me that video games are bad, etc, etc, but I don't need to hear that. I have always been very much against video games - most particularly the stupid ones that don't have any educational value. I plan to limit the use of whatever I end up buying and I am only considering these because of their educational value...also because my daughters both take ballet class but not together because of age and the one that has to wait with me while the other is in class gets very bored, so i figure this would be a good distraction while there...
Update in response to comment below: Both my 3 and 5 year old have their own library card and we check books out of the library all the time. They were brought up with books and they love them. My oldest just started kindergarten and she's the best reader in her class as she learned to read in her VPK class - so, no, I'm not worried that one of these systems will ruin her.
I bought the Vtech Motion for my 2.5 and 4 yr old because it had games that went up to the oldest level and it hooks to the TV like a regular video game console. It also has wirless remotes where 2 players play at the same time.
As far as a portable one- I got the ABC Text and Go. it was only $12 at Target and it teaches numbers, letters, spelling, logic, and a robot texts the kids and they text back.
My son LOVES his Leapster 2! Cannot say enough good things about it...he has dropped it plenty of times, and no issues! The games are AMAZING, and he can honest to goodness play it for hours if we are traveling in the car. I can say nothing bad about it!!!
hands down leapster. i got it for my kids when they were 2. they got into it at age 3. now at six, even though they have their nintendos, they still choose the leapster games.
a game i recommend: draw and write for that age.
Hands down Leapster Explorer.
I've never heard you have to watch commercials when you turn it on. It may have a demo mode.
We are upgrading to an Explorer from the Leapster 2 this christmas when they come out with the camera/video camera package.
How about a library card? Big plus they don't have to share, and they can start being well read- what many will be missing.
best, k
My dd loves her leapster. We have the older one, but she can still play the new games (the leapster 2 can do more with the games). My dh and I love that they are educational games and lots of choices. She has asked for a ds, but I think that is mainly because one of her friends has one and she only asks after playing the other little girl's game.
We usually keep the video games in the car for her to play as we go from place to place and in restaurants. She rarely brings it in the house unless it needs new batteries. Definitely worth the money!
My son, who was 5 at the time, got a Didg by Leapfrog. It's a bit sleeker than the Leapster. It's educational, has bigger buttons for him to push and he loves it. The down side is that there are not as many games for the Didg vs. the Leapster. The games it does have are cool, great graphics and easy for him to play.
We had a leapster and loved it, and then moved on to simply the computer. Ironically, we paid more for the Leapster, since the laptop was a free handmedown.
I got mine a Leapster 2 when she was 4 and she loved it. We got it mostly for long drives and trips. She is 6 now and still enjoys it. I also highly recommend the tag reader and books as well. Perhaps if you can get on of each they can take turns and still play at the same time.
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I got mine a Leapster 2 when she was 4 and she loved it. We got it mostly for long drives and trips. She is 6 now and still enjoys it. I also highly recommend the tag reader and books as well. Perhaps if you can get on of each they can take turns and still play at the same time.
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I got mine a Leapster 2 when she was 4 and she loved it. We got it mostly for long drives and trips. She is 6 now and still enjoys it. I also highly recommend the tag reader and books as well. Perhaps if you can get on of each they can take turns and still play at the same time.
I bought my then 4 year old, now 5, the Leapster because she was seeing kids with DS games and we just weren't willing to take that step. She LOVES her Leapster. Being a girl I got her the pink/purple one and she noticed and loves the colors. There are lots of games to choose from and all educational! I love it for her. Most of the time I keep it put away, but when we need her quietly entertained for a while, it works wonders. :)
I don't think you realize why video games are bad. Children's vision is still developing till 9 years old. When you make them fixate their eyes in one spot for long periods of time, they are damaging their visual processing skills, not enhancing them. A two D game will never be like a game of hopscotch, leapfrog, catch, blocks, legos, when things are 3D and using their bodies and coordination to understand their bodies and vision so they can always do well in school, not just the first few years in school until they develop visual/auditory processing issues. This is a REAL problem with kids today. I work with these kids and it is not fun for them to have challenges when they might have been avoided. I never allowed games in my home. My children are 21/16. Just because you can buy them, doesn't mean you should. Think twice and talk with a developmental optometrist.
