Leapster for 6 yr. old

[castleview]

Hi,

I'm considering getting the Leapster for my daughter for Christmas. She just turned six and is in Kindergarten. She's never asked for electronics (thank goodness) and I'm not that eager for her to start video games either. However, this is educational and she likes her little sister's Leap Pad.

If anyone thinks this is a good, efficient toy - please tell me so or not. Any ideas for this age would be welcome.

 

[Blondy876]

My dd got one last Christmas (she was 5) it is the best gift she has every received. Almost a year later she is still using it daily. She loves it. There are so many games to play. One of the first sentences she ever read was on the Leapster. I would highly recommend it.

 

[laurie31]

My just-turned-7 year old is getting one for Christmas. We also are not big on video games, but she has a friend with one and she's been begging for it since June. She also does have a Leap Pad, so I think this will be a good next step

Laurie

 

[castleview]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad I'm not the only one not big on video games. A few years back, my 4 yr. old nephew got Nintendo. I was appalled especially since he was the first child. Maybe I'm a prude on this matter, but I'm trying to keep them out of my house as long as possible.

 

[kejoda]

Leapster are great for kids. Even my 12 year likes to play with them.


And don't knock gameboys, they are life savers in the car. Don't get stuck in traffic without one.

 

[massielovesdisney]

I got my 4 yr old son one for christmas last year. HE LOVES IT! I will not buy him a playstation he does want one. If he has a game system he may not use his leapster and he has learned do much over the last year I just spent $200.00 on new games for this christmas. He uses it in the car for road trips and if were watching a tv show he is not interested in he plays his leapster. I've had meetings at my older sons school and my DS played his leapster with head phones and did not interupt the meeting the whole hour. It's nice that some companies are still interested in learning electronics and I have to say the leapster is a quality educational toy and durable as well. I've seen some game system games my teenagers and nephews have them and I cannot believe the sex, drugs and crime that are in these games that companies know end up in the hands of children then people wonder what is wrong with society today it all starts with the children. Leapster all the way.

 

[mcoolman]

For my 5 yr old, and we got the 6 yr old a gameboy. They play with both of them, but the Leapster is so much more educational! I like the games! WE also have Leap Pads, which don't seem to get played with very often... . Man, kids have great stuff to play with anymore......

 

[BettyCv]

So sorry to hijack this thread, but can anyone explain the difference between plain old "Leapster" and "Leapster Multimedia Learning System?" I don't know which to get for my six year olds....

Bett

 

[castleview]

So sorry to hijack this thread, but can anyone explain the difference between plain old "Leapster" and "Leapster Multimedia Learning System?" I don't know which to get for my six year olds....

Bett

Bumping up

 

[massielovesdisney]

The new leapster can be hooked op to your TV so if your child is pushing for a game system this might be a nice feature also other children can also view what the child playing is doing. The games for both are compatable with each other which is rare most companies make older games obsolete. I'm actually thinking about upgrading that way we will have two so there is no fighting when friends come over to play. The newer system games are running about $30.00 per game. The standard leapster games between $15.-$25. I just ordered several games for my DS last week from target for about $18.00 each.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Not sure on the difference between those. My son had a My First Leappad when he was 2 1/2 and played it until he was 4 1/2. Just wore the dang thing out. We got him a Leappad for Christmas this year. I know he'll love it since he loved the other one.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hi, I don't mean to hijack this thread either... but yesterday I bought DGS Leapster for 49 something at Target. Unfortunately, Toys R Us has it for $5 more and it comes with the adaptor. Oh well. Our Leapster is lime green, but the one at Toys R Us is silver. I don't know if that means ours is an older model or newer, or not. ToysRUs did have a small Leapster backpack that was kind of cute, but I decided on the smaller carrying case as it seemed more sturdy for travel. This game is for DGS to play in the airport and on the plane.

DGS just turned 7, is a smart kid, and is also a baseball nut. I have checked 3 places so far and no one has the baseball game. I'll keep trying.

My questions:
1. I'd like to know from anyone that has the baseball game, how their children like it.
2. Also, has anyone tried out the I Spy game? If so, how do you like that game?

Thanks a bunch, Tink

 

[EthansMom]

1. I'd like to know from anyone that has the baseball game, how their children like it.

DS4 just got the Math Baseball game. It's at least a year too old for him. Also, it is one of the worst Leapster games, IMO.

Basically, the child can choose to "count, add, subtract, multiply, divide, or solve equations with multple functions". The game sets up a baseball game scenario where the child can design a baseball team (limited choices about team mascot, color of uniforms, team name) and then the teams performance at batting, throwing the baseball, etc. is based on the child answering math problems correctly and quickly. For each math problem, the child is given two answers to choose between.

Unlike other Leapster games that have different subgames, all Math Baseball has is this one game (solve the equation and your batter/pitcher/etc. does well). For us, Math Baseball was a waste of money.

At the same time, we got the First Grade game and DS is enjoying it. I bought the I Spy game, but am holding off on giving it to DS (maybe Christmas).

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

DS4 just got the Math Baseball game. It's at least a year too old for him. Also, it is one of the worst Leapster games, IMO.

Unlike other Leapster games that have different subgames, all Math Baseball has is this one game (solve the equation and your batter/pitcher/etc. does well). For us, Math Baseball was a waste of money.

At the same time, we got the First Grade game and DS is enjoying it. I bought the I Spy game, but am holding off on giving it to DS (maybe Christmas).

Thanks so much for the helpful post about the baseball game, Ethan and Molly's Mom I really appreciate your comments. I am wondering if the baseball game is being discontinued for those very reasons. I am not saying it IS being discontinued, I just found it odd that it is so hard to find. It isn't available on amazon, nor in any of the stores I looked in. Hmmmm. Sounds like no great loss. I'll definetly check out the first grade game and the I Spy game. Thanks again, Tink

 

[dreaming of BCV]

My son(5 1/2) loves his Leapster, however it just started to not work when he uses the "pen." When you touch your answer with the pen nothing happens. I've replaced batteries and it still doesn't work. The arrow keys do work. Has anyone had this problem? I don't think he is too hard on it either.

I sent an email to Leapfrog, but haven't heard back from them yet.

Thanks!

 

[EthansMom]

Thanks so much for the helpful post about the baseball game, Ethan and Molly's Mom I really appreciate your comments. I am wondering if the baseball game is being discontinued for those very reasons. I am not saying it IS being discontinued, I just found it odd that it is so hard to find.

I'm glad I could help. I think Math Baseball is being discontinued, which is why I bought it from Amazon even though it's ahead of DS's ability. At the time, Amazon was the only place I could find Math Baseball. It does seem to have been "replaced" with Math Missions, which you may want to take a look at. There are also "The Incredibles" and "Spiderman" games for Leapster that would be age-appropriate for a 7 year-old and get good reviews on Amazon.

Enjoy the Leapster and stock up on rechargeable batteries (we have 8 rechargeables so we have 4 batteries charged at all times)!

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter has math baseball and that is the one game she has that she does not like at all. She has about 16 games right now for hers, She is getting ISpy for Christmas. She got it for her 4th birthday and has been playing with it all the time for the past 2 years. She also got a playstation2 from the Easter bunny for her 4th Easter but she doesn't play with that anywhere near as much as the leapster. She got a computer last Christmas and she does have I Spy games for the computer that she loves.

 

[PattnFmly]

I too want to get my DS 6 1/2 a Leapster L Max for Christmas. He loves his LeapPad and has been using it for a couple years. We have a PS2, but that is primarily DH's! The kids have one Pooh game for it, but DH plays it daily! At least with the Leapster my DS will be able to play educational games! And if DH ever gets off the tv, it can be hooked up there. Ah, boys and their toys ....

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for the helpful advice about the Leapster games. I feel like you saved me from buying the baseball game on Ebay. And I was pretty darn close to doing that two days ago.

Tink