Leapster ar Vsmile pocket

[figment41]

Does anyone have one of these. My DD loves to play on my computer especially the disney games. She is too young to know what she is doing but loves to push the buttons I tell her to and watch what happens. I was thinking that one of these may be good for the airplane.

Do either of them have any video type abilities or are they both just games. Which has better games for younger ones but can be expanded for older children.

Do the batteries last long or only an hour or two.

I have a DS for myself and I know she won't be able to use this as it is too small and difficult for her little fingers so that won't work.

So Ia mjust looking at these 2 nas choices thanks for your opinions in advance

 

[WantToGoNow]

How old is your child? My ds8 has had a Leapster since he was 4 - he doesn't play with it anymore because he has a Gameboy but he got a lot of use out of it. My dd5 got a Vsmile Pocket for her 4th birthday and hardly ever touches it - she likes the Leapster better. I do catch ds playing with it occassionally though (even though it's pink). I think the graphics are better on the Leapster but I like the games better on the Vsmile. We also have the Vsmile system for home so the games are interchangeable. I think the Leapster games are somewhat easier than the Vsmile.

 

[minnie1012]

My daughter is 5 1/2 and still loves her Leapster. In fact today she asked for a new game for her birthday. It has actually taught her alot that she has used in school this year. I have never showed her how to play any of the games, she picked up on them all by herself. I think she has had it since she was around 3? It has a battery compartent of regular batteries then a charger thing to charge the whole unit (that may have been extra I can't remember). We don't really use the regular batteries we charge the whole unit and it lasts for quite along time. The games say from Prek-K and then maybe grade 1 or 2? I can't quite remember and I don't have any of the boxes they came in anymore. Sorry I don't know anyone that has the other one you mentioned.

 

[Faldred]

DS4 has a Leapster 2 (bought for the trip in March, and he's been using it ever since). Batteries last for a little while... I'd say maybe 15-20 hours of use. He loves it, especially his "Cars" cartridge game. And according to the on-line "learning path" summary of what he's doing, he's working on skills up to 2nd grade level already!

 

[mcqueen n' sally]

both ds4 and dd2.5 got leapsters for Christmas and they both enjoy them alot! ds actually understands the games, but even dd can play most of hers at least enough not to be frustrated... she likes pet pals and the disney princess game the best... and her brother's cars and wall-e games too!

i'm hoping they will use them on the plane this trip (their first flight)... the batteries last a pretty long time and they sell a recharging unit/battery i think too... i've heard that using headphones is useful on the plane so they can hear over the plane noise and so the other passengers don't have to hear those games!

 

[meghanlea]

My DD5 got a leapster last year when we went to disney. She was 4 at the time and was not allowed to play it till the car ride, so it would be new and exciting. She LOVED it and still plays with is even though she got a DS for Christmas this year. My DS2 plays with it, even though he doesn't "understand" it he still trys and he has gotten his own Cars game for it. Both kids love it, very well worth it IMO.

Now our friends have 2 girls, same ages as mine, and they have vsmiles and DS's. They never play the vsmiles and she recently sold them on ebay to get rid of them.

 

[zigfam4]

My DD got a Leapster 2 for Christmas and her sister, 3 1/2 plays with it all the time. Their favorite (and pretty easy) game is Pet Pals. Pick out a pet, groom it, feed it, enter it into contests, win points to buy it clothes, etc. It's not the most educational of the games but they have fun with it. My niece had a V Smile and she ended up getting a Leapster the following year - she likes the Leapster better. The picture is better, too. If you're concerned about the battery life, the Leapster 2 sells a charger port for $35.00 which is well worth the money. However, I was impressed with how long the first set of batteries lasted.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

DS5 has had a Leapster for about 3 years. He still plays with it. You can buy games geared towards your childs age. I'm sure once she uses it she'll catch on quick.

I have not heard great things about the VSmile, we have the regular VSmile console and DS rarely uses it. It locks up and sometimes it doesn't even start up, and he barely has used it. Go with the Leapster.

 

[WAHMto5]

We bought our 4 years old a V-Smile pocket for Chrsitmas and we are on our 3rd one! For some reason, they stop working The company has been great in replacing them, though this last one just broke again and I am at my wits end having to send it back and waiting for a new one to arrive. The other kids all have Nintendo DS's and we have never had a problem with any of them and she now plays with it all the time. I think we will just get her one of them.