Best hand held game system for 4 year old?

[wlwilliams9]

My DD is turning 4 in July and I want to get her a hand held game system (Leapster, Digi). Which do you prefer for a 4 year old? She is very familiar with video games already. We have a Wii, xbox 360 and she plays computer games online at Playhouse Disney, PBSkids, Nick jr etc...

TIA

 

[Swimalie]

My son just turned 5 last week and my parents got him a Leapster 2 for this past Christmas. I really like it for him. The Didj is a bit too much for him (from playing at the store) and their games seem to be a little less about learning than the Leapster.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I would go with a Leapster, Leapster 2, v.Smile Pocket, or v.Smile Cyber Pocket for a 4 year old.

 

[Kris74]

We bought our DS a Leapster for his 4th Bday last year and he LOVES it!! I don't mind him playing as he's actually learning a bit as well

 

[PinkRhombus]

If your child can already play those other gaming systems...don't discount a Nintendo DS Lite. You can find used ones at Game Stop for $90 or so. So many more games available. When my youngest was about to turn 4, she received one as a Christmas gift. Her older sister had one, too. They've been able to play several games (ie, Littlest Petshop, Mario Party, Mario Kart) that link the two of their systems together.

They have lots of Dora games. Tinkerbell. Barbie. Educational ones, too.

 

[birdie757]

My dd is 4 1/2 and loves her V smile! Lots of games that are themed to characters she likes and most of them have something educational to them. You can also often find bogo sales on the games at target or toyrus.

 

[Sgstuckey]

When my daughter was four, we got her a Leapster. She loved it! There are lots of games available appropriate for that age. (The Letter Factory was always her favorite!)

She turned six this Christmas and had been bugging us about getting a DS. She is very happy with it as well. We have found that some games are too difficult for her. For example, the Princess and the Frog game requires a great deal of reading. My daughter reads well above grade level, and it is still too difficult. That being said, she has plenty of other games she can play.

Good luck in deciding!

 

[ljcrochet]

My dd got a DS for their 4th birthday. They had a vsmile for te tv and always wanted to play the wii or my old gameboy advance. I figured this will last them a long time just with different games.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

I'd go the DS lite aswell. My elder dd got one when she was 5. My younger one who was 3 got the Leapster at the same time. I wish I had just got her the DS from the beginning. She just wanted to play her sisters. We ended up getting one for her for her 5th birthday. She does pull the Leapster out from time to time but plays with the DS more often.

 

[disfan07]

I would say go with a DS only because of my expereince with my 3 year old cousin. She can play super mario bros. on my DS lite already and she just turned 3 at the end of feb.

But she was also an experienced wii bowler at 2 so it might just be her.

 

[pad406]

Definetly the DS lite, fantastic little thing and they will have no problem using it. My two even use 'games' like learning spanish, maths etc.

 

[RMulieri]

At that age we got my daughter a leapster2 and she loved it, still does even though she now has a DS

 

[pandv_2000]

Definitely the DS. It will last longer than a leapster as it will grow with your child. Our DS, 6 has had one since he was very small (well his daddy had one and he borrowed it) and he loves it. He takes it everywhere with him. Also a lot of kids have the DS and they can play multi-player with friends. With some games all players have to have the game but for some games just a second console is needed.