Help DD wants a Game boy?!

[budbeerlady]

DD (5) decieded this am that Santa needs to bring her a game boy?!? Isnt she too young for one, where can I get a good price and what do I need to buy with it? I dont see anything like the old ones I am familar with the block type. Any help would be appreciated!!!!!! I am clueless when it comes to these things.

 

[ahappydisneymommy]

I would get the Gameboy SP for her. It comes with an adapter and you will need to buy the games separatly. Sometimes you can find what's called a "bundle" where you can get the Gameboy and one game. The games run anywhere from $10 to $40, but look for sales especially right now. Also places like EB Games and Gamestop have used games at much lower prices. My kids started playing video games at around 4 and 5 so I don't think she is too young.

 

[shades]

I don't think she is too young. My daughter has owned electronic games since she was 3.

 

[JediMaster]

I personally wouldnt get a GB SP for a 5 yo. The flip screen is VERY easy to break ,as is the screen to crack. You can search Toys R us online for Leapster L max. Its More for her age ,and has more educational games.

 

[JustineMarie]

My 4 yr old DD just told me this past week that she wanted a Gameboy like her sister's. I think she's too young for me to spend that much money for a new one so I went to GameStop and got her a used one for 19.99$. It's in great condition and she'll never know it was used. Plus they had used games there starting at 4.99$ so i got her a few of them to go with it. We got her the gameboy advance bc it was cheaper than the SP( around 40$ cheaper than a used SP) and that's what her sister has. We got her a light for it for .99. Definitely worth it in my opinion.

 

[jennz]

We got DD a Game Boy Advance when she was 5 and she didn't have any problems with it. We thought she'd be too young but then we ended up having to limit her time on it! A very good "first game" is Dora and the Pirate Pig's Treasure or something like that. No fighting, you don't get killed and have to start over, and no time limits...

 

[luvmy2sams]

DD6 got her first gameboy at age 3 and is currently begging for whatever the new Ninetendo one is called. DS2 has confiscated her Gameboy SP and loves playing it. We thought he was just messing around, but the kid actually pushes the correct buttons and can play Kim Possible better than his big sister can.

WalMart online recently had the Gameboy SP for about $75. They've got some pretty good deals on a few Disney games, too.

~Angela, who is donning her flame suit since I'm probably damaging DS's brain by letting him play video games at such a young age

 

[turnlisa]

DD6 got her first gameboy at age 3 and is currently begging for whatever the new Ninetendo one is called. DS2 has confiscated her Gameboy SP and loves playing it. We thought he was just messing around, but the kid actually pushes the correct buttons and can play Kim Possible better than his big sister can.

WalMart online recently had the Gameboy SP for about $75. They've got some pretty good deals on a few Disney games, too.

~Angela, who is donning her flame suit since I'm probably damaging DS's brain by letting him play video games at such a young age

I guess I will put on my flame suit, too then. My youngest got his first GB at age 3. We made the mistake of having the Easter Bunny bring my oldest DS one when he was 6. So he told the youngest that the Easter Bunny would bring him one if he asked for it! Funny how that bunny has more money now than when I was a kid! My youngest DS is now 4 and loves his Gameboy. They are great for road trips and for places where the kids have to wait patiently. There are some games that your DD would enjoy. There is a princess game, the Dora ones already mentioned and Tarzan, etc.

 

[robinb]

I bought a Gamboy SP for my 6 year old DD for her birthday. I had a very, very hard time trying to find a game that did not involve reading and there is no "voice" card on the SP, just regular game sound. I bought it on eBay used so I wasn't out too much money ... I spent more on useless games. I hope she'll play with it more once she can read better.

 

[shades]

I forgot to mention - even when dd couldn't read - I never sat down and explained how to play the games. She figured them all out on her own. I probably would have complicated the game if I tried to figure it out;o)

 

[robinb]

I forgot to mention - even when dd couldn't read - I never sat down and explained how to play the games. She figured them all out on her own. I probably would have complicated the game if I tried to figure it out;o)

The problem is when the games ASK you something in a message bubble and the kids need to respond to it.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I don't think 5 is too young. There are less game choices, but my niece got her first GB at 5 and she loved it and still plays with it!

Definitely check out GameStop or EB Games for a used GB, I got one for a friend's little boy for $45 and it looked almost brand new and worked great. They are also guaranteed I think for 90 days.

There are some good games for 5 year olds. There is a Winnie Pooh that is really good and Dora the Explorer and a couple others. The older Barbie games are good too. The newer Barbie games like Princess and the Pauper and Magic Pegasus are harder. You can get the games used at Gamestop or EB too. Ask the sales people, I have found they are almost always very knowledgeable about games. They have given me some excellent recommendations and have even told me what games not to buy.

 

[jennz]

The problem is when the games ASK you something in a message bubble and the kids need to respond to it.

Oh I forgot about that - it used to drive me nuts! The font is very small and hard for them to read even if they can read already. DD had the Dora Treasure game and Disney Princess game from around ages 5 - 6 and she only played the Dora, lots of reading at the beginning of that darn game. She did not like the princess game, time limits and you get killed. We kept KP away from her until she got it for her 6th birthday from a friend - she liked it alot about 6 months later. All kids are different.

 

[kilee]

Since I didn't get the GBA on BF-- I have been watching the deals. Basically there have been none. So, I just bought the GBA sp yesterday at EB Games for $79.99 which is what it's running everywhere. Now, if you want the GBA sp used- it goes for the mid $50 range at EB Games and Gamestop.

 

[SharkBait05]

I would get a used one. In a few years she will want whatever other one is released that year. I've spend way too much on new systems when they came out, only to see them drop in price in a year or two. I think gamestop has some sort of warranty policy too. Used games have never given me a problem either.

Good Luck

 

[pweyl36]

Have You Ever Thought About Getting Lepster? My 8yr Loves Her
Lepster.

 

[Nicolepa]

My kids have a leapster and they are great my kids love playing with it, BUT dh wants them to have something that they can just play for fun. So my dad is getting them each a GBA for Christmas. (I got the Target bundles on black Friday.)

Now I just need to figure out some age appropriate games for a 3.5 & 5.5 year old.

 

[DisneyArk]

I bought a Gamboy SP for my 6 year old DD for her birthday. I had a very, very hard time trying to find a game that did not involve reading and there is no "voice" card on the SP, just regular game sound. I bought it on eBay used so I wasn't out too much money ... I spent more on useless games. I hope she'll play with it more once she can read better.

I agree about it being hard to find games that don't require them to read!! My DS5 does not play with his GB SP very often. I really struggle to find easy games that do not require DS to read. My DS7 is a great reader and even he gets bored with his GB.

My DS 5 and 7 prefer PS2 because it gives them verbal instructions!
We've bought a Leapster L-Max for DS5 for Christmas! I'm hoping he likes that better than GB.

 

[LynnTH]

I too am getting my DD4 a gameboy for Christmas. Her 6 year old brother already has one and they can share games. Another thing they sell instead of games is movies and cartoons for the gameboy. This is the main reason I am getting it for her. It will be great for the plane ride and for long car rides. TRU had a deal a few weeks ago that their videos were buy one get one free - so, I got 6 of them for $5 each ( Dora, Nicktoon, Disney). They also just came out with full length movies for the Gameboys. I bought as a joint gift for both of them Shrek 1 and 2 and Shark Tales. These are a bit more spendy but another option for the gameboys.

 

[jennz]

I just got DD a new game for Christmas it's Dogz, similar to nintendogs...fyi! It looks very cute.