Didj or Nintendo DS?

Denine

I want to go on a cruise! I want to move to sunny
Joined
Apr 28, 2001
Messages
6,964
DD currently has a Leapster, but is outgrowing so many of the games. I want to get her another handheld game system, but I want it to be educational. Didj just doesn't seem to have many games available.
Does the DS have any educational games?
 
Our DS (6) loved his Didj, but like you said, there are very few games for it. We got him a DS for Christmas this year and while he does love to play it, he will still go back to the Didj on occasion. He's a very bright child and really likes that he has to solve the problems on the Didj in order to get to the actual games. (Heck, he still plays his VSmile from time to time because he likes to answer the questions!)

I don't really know if the DS has "educational" games, there definitely are games that make them think a little more than the other ones, but I don't think they are in the same vein as the Didj. Shame Leap Frog didn't focus on the Didj very much...it was a great idea, they just didn't follow through on it.
 
Not that many educational games for the DS.My 6 yr old also has the leapster and has outgrown it some, so we got her a DS.While she does love the DS , it is hard because her reading is still so so and you need to be able to read well for alot of the games.She goes back to her leapster alot
 
Thanks. I didn't think the DS had much in the way of educational games. Good to know that the kids do like the Didj, even though there aren't many games for it.
 

We have both and I agree the Diji just doesn't have that many games. We got my 2 oldest kids a DS for Christmas and they LOVE them. There aren't really educational games for it, but there are plenty of non-violent games.

I personally like the DS better because I feel there's more room to grow with it.
 
One pseudo-educational game for the DS is I Spy Funhouse. Simple but fun. I kind of like it myself, even though it's a kids game.:). I think there are a couple of Brain Quest games, not sure of the age on those.

My son is 7, and I still let him play leapster while traveling if he wants to--even if it's too easy. In general, he's not allowed to play a lot of DS type stuff, so any gaming time is a treat.

I know you were looking for handheld games, but if you're looking for a fun online educational/fun game experience, my son and I can highly recommend jumpstart. (It's around $7 a month--and we just buy the cards at TRU--that way if he goes through a jag of not playing, it's not money wasted.)
 
In my DD's scholastic flyer I saw some newer DS games called 'My Virtual Tutor: Reading' for various school ages. There's also a 'Learn Math' game but we haven't tried any of these yet so I can't comment on content. There really doesn't seem to be many learning games for either system unfortunately. :confused3

I know you were looking for handheld games, but if you're looking for a fun online educational/fun game experience, my son and I can highly recommend jumpstart. (It's around $7 a month--and we just buy the cards at TRU--that way if he goes through a jag of not playing, it's not money wasted.)

Could you explain more please? DD may have an almost 4 month summer break, and I'm looking for ideas to keep her interest in learning/reading up over the summer. Thanks!
 
/
Could you explain more please? DD may have an almost 4 month summer break, and I'm looking for ideas to keep her interest in learning/reading up over the summer. Thanks![/QUOTE]

Jumpstart is an online virtual world. Kids create a character that explores the "world", and they can do all sorts of different activities, some educational (different math and reading games) and some not (a gem hunt game, a racing one). They earn coins for doing these activities and can spend them on clothes for their characters, virtual pets, decorations for their virtual houses, etc. The educational stuff spans a wide age range, from pre school up to age 10 or so.

The url is simple, it's jumpstart.com--you can try some of the activities without paying, I believe.

Hope that helps!
 
no there are not a lot of educational games for the DS, but the diji is only going to last a short time untill he figures out it is "not cool". I would just go on and buy the DS because you likely will be soon.
 
Thanks again.

DD has been using the Jumpstart virtual world for a while now. We plan on getting her the 3rd grade version soon.

That's the thing, we need something for travel. She loves her Leapster. I just wish the Didj had more games to choose from. I homeschool DD, so she doesn't have a lot of influence as to what is cool or not cool.
Maybe if they come out with some educational games like the above poster mentioned, it would be worth spending the extra money for the DS.
 
Both my kids love their ds's dd(3) and Ds (7) Their aren't that may educational games but we have come across a few, Spelling Challenger,brain assist,math Blasterrs,smart kids and Scribblenauts are the ones I can think of right now. I do know they have a game that you can buy by grade level I just can't think of the name right now.
My DD(3) mostly plays her crayola game which is mostly coloring and puzzles. Most of the games require some reading although the Petz games only require minimal reading if this is a concern.
 
my kids love scribblenauts.

really, it will depend on what you consider educational. My oldest ds has age of mythology on both the computer (my old game) and the DS. It is highly educational because he's learned just about everything about mythology and a ton of military strategy, soldier types, etc..

Video games can be highly educational, even when they don't look like it because they require children to think logically and to do a lot of problem solving. For example, in the lego games (star wars, batman, iniana jones etc) the kids have to figure out what they have to do to clear each level. Many of these are small puzzle problems or a set of logical steps that must be taken in order (pull this here, push that there etc to open the next thing). Not educational in the sense that your learning facts nad figures, but it IS educational in that it is wiring my kids brains for problem solvingand logic. I know the regular indiana jones game we have also has similiar puzzle type things you have to solve.

We also have one of the mystery games where you have to find the objects hidden in the room which can be pretty tough (again not facts and figures educational but more brain wiring)
 
my kids love scribblenauts.

really, it will depend on what you consider educational. My oldest ds has age of mythology on both the computer (my old game) and the DS. It is highly educational because he's learned just about everything about mythology and a ton of military strategy, soldier types, etc..

Video games can be highly educational, even when they don't look like it because they require children to think logically and to do a lot of problem solving. For example, in the lego games (star wars, batman, iniana jones etc) the kids have to figure out what they have to do to clear each level. Many of these are small puzzle problems or a set of logical steps that must be taken in order (pull this here, push that there etc to open the next thing). Not educational in the sense that your learning facts nad figures, but it IS educational in that it is wiring my kids brains for problem solvingand logic. I know the regular indiana jones game we have also has similiar puzzle type things you have to solve.

We also have one of the mystery games where you have to find the objects hidden in the room which can be pretty tough (again not facts and figures educational but more brain wiring)

We LOVE the lego games in our house. I think you are right in that they require thinking skills. I don't honestly see what the big deal with "educational" video games is. They don't really teach a whole lot if we are honest. I think it is just a label that allows parents to feel better about handing their child a video game if you want my honest opinion. Leapster is not gonig to teach a child to read. It might ask him/her to use skills already learned, but it is NOT going to teach them new ones. I have no problem with DD playing games for enjoyment.
 
My 3 youngest kids all have a DS and LOVE it! We have never had a problem with any of them and they are very user friendly.
 
Hey, I just wanted to add that we got or DD7 a didj for christmas and she loves it! But I think it is going to be discontinued soon. You can find them really cheap (less than $30) at places like TJMaxx, Marshall's, even some online stores. I've found some games at TJMaxx too. $7.99 for the Hannah Montana game that is still $29.99 at target. :thumbsup2 My SIL found a couple for me at Big Lots.
SO, either know that you won't have much time to stock up and get clearance items with the Didj or just go for the DS. I mean you could just get a spelling and a math game and those are awesome and cheap. My DD uses that to study her spelling words all week and is ready for the test on Friday. I just think it's awesome that we can enter in her spelling words that she is working on in school and she can PLAY her way to knowing those words! So, even though it won't be something we can use forever, at the price. I LOVE IT!
 
I wanted to add that I don't think the Diji is going to be discontinued yet because I am looking at the leapfrog site and they have a new tinkerbelle game out for it.
 
I wanted to add that I don't think the Diji is going to be discontinued yet because I am looking at the leapfrog site and they have a new tinkerbelle game out for it.

It's been new for a really long while now. No actual new games in 2010. :confused3 There's been quite a bit of discussion about this on the LeapFrog Discussion board.
 

PixFuture Display Ad Tag












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE














DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top