Can You Recommend The Best Hand Held (Learning) Game?

[devotedchristian]

I have started Christmas shopping for DS(6). Initially I told DH "no more games" since DH insisted on buying him and SD(17) the XBox 360 last Christmas.

But if it is learning game and will help him with 1st grade this year, I would reconsider. And this will also be his Big Christmas present this year.

Can you advise?

Thank you!

 

[loydandmel]

I have a 1st grader and we have the leapster. He loves it but is to the point that he has out grown it. He will still play it but not as long as he did a year ago. We are going to get him a DSI for Christmas. There is the Digi that is for older kids but I don't know anyone that has it.

 

[brergnat]

Video games should not be used to help kids "do better" in school. They are for entertainment. Sure, some of them are "learning" games, but not so much that they should be considered solely for that.

If your child needs help in school, you should really reconsider the game thing. Perhaps he needs a break from games, and more time with activity workbooks and hands on learning toys, things of that sort...

Just my 2 cents. I have a very bright son who is in Kindergarten, and he has a Leapster and recently started playing with our Nintendo Wii. He is becoming hooked on the video games, and they really are making him more distracted overall, decreasing his attention span and focus, etc. I have started really restricting his access to the video games, even though they are ALL "educational".

If you DO choose a handheld, I'd go with the leapster. They have the best learning games available. Lots of math and reading focused ones. If your kid "outgrows" it, it's because he doesn't WANT to play learning games. The games are made for kids up to age 10...

 

[momof1princess]

my DD, who is now 12, loved her leapster and all the games that came with it, even the learning games. math baseball was a particular favorite. of course, she now has a nintendo DS and a gameboy advance, and we're considering getting a wii, but she will still occasionally play with the leapster for a few minutes-nostalgia, i guess, lol.

 

[MrsBanks]

My DS (7y/o) received the LeapFrog Didj for Christmas last year - he absolutely loves it. You can connect to your computer and see your child's progress and also to change the learning level. You can add their spelling lists from school onto the game as well.

The only thing I don't like about the game is that it needs batteries ALL THE TIME. When the game is being played on average about 40 mins a day, they go dead very quickly. There is no re-charging base available. You may be able to use rechargable batts with it but I never bought those.

 

[Britgirlus]

This might not be exactly what you are looking for, but I have an iPod Touch that my 6 year old just loves. You can download games (both fun and educational) from iTunes, as well as books, music, movies, apps etc. It's also nice and small, and rechargable