Is a 4yr old too young for a DS lite?

[pyrxtc]

I have been debating this for my two boys , ages 7(almost 8) and 5, and decided I could do much better moneywise by getting them a Gameboy SP Advance. I'm buying one off Craigslist with 9 games, case, and chargers and stuff for $100.

You can get them cheap at GameStop used and the games are still out there new at the store. My boys don't care that it is not a DS or DS lite. I think the touch screen is too much for them at their age.

I just bought a Gameboy original for $1.50 at Salvation Army store and they are fighting over who gets to use it. And there is only one game for it !

The reading of how you can turn in your Gameboy to get the DS cheaper in another thread got me thinking. Now I just saved myself a bunch of money !

 

[mom2aredhead]

Honestly, I'm not a fan of the leapster either. A lot of people here recommended it - my son was bored with every game except animal genius.

I would say maybe get one for the little down the road if he shows an interest in the older one's. I wouldn't get one just because the older one is getting one. What are you going to do when they're older and one can stay out later than the other...or one drive and the other can't...or the older one leaves for college and the other one has to stay home.
It's perfectly OK to treat your children as 2 different individuals...not everything has to be the same all of the time.

 

[Clio]

I spend a lot of time in the elecronics department at work. Most of the parents buying ds's tell me that they've waited until the child was between 6 and 8 to buy one for him. It's not that the child couldn't play the games. it was because they wanted to make sure the child was old enough to take care of it properly. A leapstger sounds like good choice instead.
Liz

 

[Carlyzmom]

I have to agree with the Leapster crowd too. My kids LOVE their Leapsters and it is easy for non-readers to play.

 

[dijid]

4 is too young. My 11 year old is getting her FIRST and only DS next month. I guess she wasn't lying when she said she's the only one in the world without one.

4 year olds shouldn't get $130 handheld toys IMO (and I have a 4 year old, too.) I'd look into Leapster.

ITA! I read a book about video game addiction (it's real; someone has even died from it after going on a bender in which they did nothing but video games for days - no eating or sleeping) and the authors blasted the likes of Nintendo DS's for very young children. It's become the pacifier of the preschool child. They're young, their brains are still developing and they should be playing real games, using their imaginations, reading, etc. - not tied down to an electronic device IMO. I've refused to get my 7yo one because I still think he's too young.

I agree with a PP that said now is the perfect time to teach your child that they're not always going to get what everyone else has. Wait a few years, it'll be okay.

 

[drivencrazy]

My soon to be 4 year old (her birthday is the 21Dec.) is getting one for Christmas. As well as our soon to be 6 year old boy... our older girls have them and love them and the younger kids are always asking to play them, so we figured that it's time to get them each their own!

They all have Gameboy Advanced but the soon to be 4 year old would rather play the DS.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS got his GameBoy advance when he was 6. When the DS lites' came out, he then got one of those.

DD(3 at the time) always played DSs old GBA. She asked for her own pink DS lite last Christmas when she was 4. We bought her one. There are many games she can play and it can be a lifesaver when we have long waits or a long car trip or plane ride.

I wish she would take care of it a little better. She got it taken off of her a couple months ago because we thought she lost it. It turned up in the house butshe wasn't aloud to use it for a couple weeks. She is now more responsible.

We limit both kids on their video game usage since we also have a Wii and a PSII.

You know your kid. My DD likes her Leapfrog and plays with it too, but a Leapster is definetly no DS lite.

 

[DawnM]

I think it completely depends on the child. My current 10 year old (almost 11) wouldn't have been ready for one at age 4, but my current 4 year old is much more careful with things.

I plan to get the hard shell case for all 3 too.

Also, we have a Leapster and my 4 year old won't even pick it up anymore. He only plays gameboy.

Dawn

I spend a lot of time in the elecronics department at work. Most of the parents buying ds's tell me that they've waited until the child was between 6 and 8 to buy one for him. It's not that the child couldn't play the games. it was because they wanted to make sure the child was old enough to take care of it properly. A leapstger sounds like good choice instead.
Liz

 

[sherreis]

I vote for a Leapster. I have 2 boys and the younger one wanted a Gameboy when his older brother got one. I didn't want him playing those games yet and he was 5 yrs old. I wanted something for our car ride to Atlanta so we got him a Leapster and he loved it. It has a bigger screen for them to see and is a lot more durable when it is dropped. DS8 got his DS last year and even then still played with his Leapster sometimes - he loves the math Batman game.

 

[gfamof4]

Thanks for all of the input. Keep sending me your thoughts! Still havn't decided what to do!

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

It depends on the 4 year old. We gave my DD one when she was 4 and she adores it, but she has an older brother and I think sometimes that makes a difference in what interests her. Anyway, Cooking Mama is a great cartridge as is Kirby.

 

[jeepgirl30]

My DD8 and DS5 both got their DS lites from Santa last year. We bought DS the nerf cover and now just about all the kids at his daycare have them too! We got DD a hard shell one because she is a lot more careful with hers.

We love having the games in the car especially for long rides. We had them at the beach and it was so helpful while waiting for dinner. We most always made the kids put them away at the table however one night dinner wait was way long and ended up being really late. It took forever too so we let the kids pull them out when they were done eating. It could have been a really bad scene but instead we just got a few dirty looks!

You know your child. If you think they are ready, go for it!