leapster or DS for 8 yr....what would you buy?

[sbpebbles]

So my mother and I have been out exploring and trying to figure out what to get the kids for Christmas..I recommended a hand held gaming system of some sort for DD8, due to it both being a learning AND fun thing..DD8 has some learning delays so we've looked at both the Leapfrog Leapster and the DS systems...both have games that cost roughly the same but DS seems to have a more wide variety of games..however the DS is more expensive..I thought I seen people say you can buy them from gamestop for cheaper so maybe that will help on the cost...which would you buy? after looking at all the games for the DS I'm tempted to buy myself one if I have the extra money lol....I was thinking about getting a Wii but my DS2 seems a little young so I want to wait longer so all of us can enjoy that...with both the Leapster and the DS I can give family members names of games she might be interested in so she could get her games that way..I appreciate all the help!

now to figure out what to buy DS2 who has enough cars, trucks, planes to fill the house lol

 

[Chelley00]

DS! Your son will very quickly outgrow the games for Leapster. They don't go much past 2nd-3rd grade. The DS caters games to children - adults.

Your DS2 is not too small for the Wii. My DS was 2 when we got ours as a Christmas present, and he loves to try and bowl and golf. All the kids love MarioKart!

 

[Desnik]

Buy the DS! My son is 7 and has had his since he was 5! He did have a Leapster but quickly outgrew it. This year he is asking for the DS XL. My DD is 12 and she still likes playing with her DS, so you can get a lot of years out of it. Both my kids also have the PSP Go and they play with the DS more often.

 

[foltzy]

DS for sure. My DD is 5 and loves her DS, she enjoys playing her brother's (3) leapster but she gets bored easily.

As for the wii, your 2 year old is not to young. My dd has been playing since she was 2 and would bowl against me when I was pregnant with ds. DS has been bowling, playing tennis, racing (He loves Mario Kart and a Cars Racing game he has) and even has been able to play, not really well but he loves it, Mario Bros Wii. He's been playing pretty much since he was really litte. Even at 1 DH and I would help him bowl and then by 2 he took over.

 

[abmitch01]

I agree, DS

 

[sbpebbles]

well so far it def sounds like DS is the way to go for DD...what's a good price to pay for one? I don't want to totally blow all the xmas money with just her purchase..

As far as the Wii, I should have mentioned that it's really not in the budget this year either..$200 plus accessories and games=far more than I can afford right now..

ETA: i just checked my local craiglists and most are going for $90-$120 USED, to me that seems high

 

[vicki_c]

DS prices just dropped. The DSi is now $149, DSi XL $169. I do not know the current prices for the older model DS Lite.

Agree with the rest though - my kids have long outgrown the Leapsters, but those were great when they were 5-7 but they both love their DS now.

 

[Happy Mom2]

DS! We bought my DD a DS for her 5th birthday, and my 2 year old can play some of the games. DH bought it on Craig's List for only $50 including some games. We just bought a new accessory pack and Nerf cover. She never knew it was used. And even if she did, she wouldn't care... She got a DS!

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Definitely go with a DS! Last Christmas, I decided to get a Leapster for my 4 1/2 year old. He lost interest quickly and only wanted to play with his siblings DS's. I sold the Leapster and purchased a used DS...never regretted the extra money for the upgrade.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Get the DS. A Leapster is too young for an 8 year old to be getting as a gift. You can select the "easier" DS games to match ability level, but it will look much more age appropriate to peers.

 

[DawnM]

DS!

My 6 year old stopped playing with the leapster at 5.

 

[3boymthr]

DS - definitely. My kids started using GBA at 4 and upgraded those to the DS this past year. I never really considered the Leapster because it's a short use gaming system - two or three years of use is not worth the money you have to invest in it to make it worth while for the kids.

PS - you asked about used ones at GameStop - you can get them there for a discount, but they are used. If you decide to go the used route - I would wait until closer to Christmas as their used systems only come with a 30 day warranty and that's from the date of sale with no Christmas extension. Truthfully you can probably do just as well with a good BF sale as you can with a used system. - ETA - BTW the systems at Gamestop are just used - there is no refurbishment involved. We had a friend buy a system there and to them it worked fine but I noticed his charge didn't last that long and after a few months the battery stopped working. So be wary when buying. You might be better off looking for a refurbished one somewhere.

 

[jftsmt]

DS!
We bouth the DS for our 5 yo - loves it. Does not play the Leapster so much anymore. Also keep in mind that stores do price match. For instance, if Target advertises the DS at $99 and you take the ad to Best Buy, they will honor it. That is how we purchased one (of course this was over a year ago).

 

[mjkacmom]

Definitely not a Leapster! Every now and then, my 7 year olds will dig it out, but they've had ds's for a couple of years now.

 

[figment3258]

Ds all the way my dd has had it since she was almost 6 and loves it.

 

[dzorn]

DS with a Nerf Case.

Denise in MI

 

[Ephany]

I'd go for a DSlite with a Nerf Case. DD will be 8 this christmas, and we're going to upgrade her DSlite to a DSi but she had to prove she was responsible enough first. The DSlite doesn't have access to the internet or the camera that the DSi does and you should be able to find a good BF or holiday price now that Nintendo's dropped the price on the DSi. I would be surprised if the DSlite wasn't below $100 during some sales.

 

[DebMcDonald]

Definitely DS, my now 9 year old and 7 year old both have DS's and have had them for several years.

 

[Leader of the Club]

My 5 y/o's Leapster stopped working. We have TONS of Leapster games, but I don't want to shell out $50 for another Leapster and I don't want to upgrade to the DS yet, since he was content with the Leapster and I have a couple of hundred dollars "invested" in games.

UGG!