Need advice - Nintendo DS vs LMax

[PrincessBelle39]

Hoping you can all give me some advice. I had bought my dd (5 1/2) a LMax for Christmas with 4 games. I think the games are Disney Princess, Dora, Nemo and I cant remember the other. They are all up in the cupboard ready to be packed in our suitcase. Her cousins (who are coming on holiday with us) are both getting a Nintendo DS. I'm wondering whether I should have got her the same thing. I liked the LMax because the games seemed more educational. But I'm wondering if she is getting a bit old for it. I could always give the LMax to my dd3 and get the DS for the older one. But then I also wonder if dd3 is too young for it.
Any suggestions? We leave on Tuesday and I would like to have all their presents organised and packed to take with us so I don't have to worry about Christmas shopping on holiday. Its really stressing me - silly I know but on top of all the rest of the holiday organisation its really bothering me.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I'd probably go with the DS for the 5 1/2 year old and the Lmax for the 3 year old. My DD4 has played with her sister's Leapster since she was three - she got her own for her fourth birthday. She likes it and the games are educational. Lately, she has been asking to play with her sister's old Gameboy Advance instead. She turns five just after Christmas and is getting a DS.

DD8 got her DS when she was five. She still uses it as much as I will let her. She does help her sister with the Leapster games and will sometimes have to be reminded to give it back to her sister - the games are fun and the Leapster is a quality product. I vote for the DS simply because I think your DD would get more years' use out of it. DD4 is getting the new Disney Princess DS game and the new Dora DS game with her DS - they should be at the right level for her.

Many kids still play with Leapsters at 8 or 9 years old, especially if they don't have a DS to play. Since the cousins are getting a DS, though, the DS would probably be more fun since they can try each other's games and play together on the trip.

Your DD3 might need a little help for a while, but she will pick it up quickly. The Leapster doesn't require any reading, although there is number and letter recognition. If she makes a wrong choice when searching for a letter, the game will correct her and encourage her to the right choice.

Have a great trip!

 

[Gillian]

I think you've got awkward ages because 3 is a little young for a leapster and 5 is a little young for a DS. But I'd go with the DS for the older one.

There are some Black Friday deals on the DS lite. There is a nintendogs bundle with a pink DS that looks cute.

I guess the DS lite is just popular because my son got one for his 7th birthday and his 3 friends got them for their 8th birthdays. That seems a good age because there's a lot of reading in the games.

Oh, and I don't know exactly which ones, but there are DS games that are multiplayer with only one cartridge required. Maybe you could look for one of those that the cousins could play together!

 

[WantToGoNow]

My ds6 got a Gameboy SP last year for Christmas and he has played it daily. The Gameboy DS costs more than the SP but the games are better - I bought that one last year for dd23 and I get to play it occassionally. I'm glad that I didn't get ds6 that one now though looking at the condition of his Gameboy -- it still plays fine but there are knicks in the plastic, teeth marks all over, scotch tape stuck to it, pencil marks in the casing and the rubber pieces that keep the pieces apart when it is closed has been eaten completely off. He may get the better one when he is older and can take of it better.

Ds got the Leapster for his 4th birthday and really liked it. He still gets it out and plays it but dd3 plays with it more. She is getting her own pink LMax for her 4th birthday on December 9.

The Leapster's are educational the Gameboy's are not -- it's all about what you would rather have her playing.

T.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Thanks for your advice guys. I went with the DS Lite, got a pink one last night with a Nintendogs game (the package Gillian mentioned). I was talking to a friend aswell who game her dd a L-Max when she was 3 and she coped with it well. My dd3 is quite bright so I will give this to her and we will enjoy playing it together until she can do it herself. I figured it was silly to get another L-Max when dd5 can play her sisters sometimes. (if she is allowed). I'd prefer there were more educational games but its not like she will be using it 24 hours a day. DD3 will get a couple more years use out of the L-Max than dd5 will. Thanks again everyone.