Which portable game system for our situation?

[bootleg89]

We recently gave my DD6 the choice of a DS or an IPOD touch, after trying both she choose the Ipod. It's slightly more expansive but cheaper in the long run, in my opinion. She's able to watch movies, listen to music, play games and surf the internet on it. Plus it is very small and easy to travel with. The apps run about $5 but it beats paying $15-30 for a game for the DS. We have had it for about 3 months and have yet to pay for a single app. SHe has a ton of games, flash cards and music on it. We go to freeappalertdotcom every day and downlowd the free app of the day.
We have a V-tech system from when she was little, that DD2 plays with occasinally. DD2 even prefers playing with the Ipod to the v-tech. She loves watching movies, coloring wiggles, licking lollipops and popping bubbles on it.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

Both of my kids have a DS lite. DS was 6 when he got his at Chirstmas and DD got hers on her 4th b day after grandma saw dd playing with my sons (she bought his, too).

I would get the 4 year old the DS for sure. They have games that are easy enough without reading. My DD even has a teacher learning game for hers.

They "connect" and play the mario games together, which is fun.

 

[3boymthr]

We have a ipod touch, ipod nano, 2 DS lites and a PSP. And for gaming for younger children I definitely recommend the DS over the ipod - it has a much longer battery life.

For movies, the touch or nano are a good choice but... for a combination of gaming and handheld movie viewing with a long batterylife the winner is the PSP.

Definitely not the most popular choice for most younger children and more expensive than a DS and about the same price as a touch once you add the memory card, but the choice of movies is really really good and the movies are inexpensive (many can be had for less than $10) and the video quality is amazing. The game selection for younger children is not as good but there are a lot of movies and it is a system that will carry your child thru her teens.

 

[monorailsilver]

My kids are 9, 6 & 4 & all have a ds (the 6 yo has a dsi). My 4 yo learned how to play when she was 2 thanks to my neice!!!

But they all picto chat together or can play a few games with each other.

My 9 yo also has a ipod touch (that is why she doesn't have the dsi) & all 3 play on that too. But the battery like the pp said doesn't last that long & on a flight there would be no way to charge it.

 

[solfan68]

My 9 yo also has a ipod touch (that is why she doesn't have the dsi) & all 3 play on that too. But the battery like the pp said doesn't last that long & on a flight there would be no way to charge it.

Seems like the latest OS update takes its toll on battery life. To extend, go into Settings and turn Airplane Mode on. It shuts off the wireless which is a real culprit on chewing up battery life.

 

[amsafko]

I think I've decided against Leapster at this point for my son - he'll get the nintendo ds (lite) - I think this will last us longer. For my oldest I'm going Ipod, just think that will cover more needs. Now the middle, I'm still torn. Can someone tell me - does the nano play movies? If it does, that might be our best bet for her. Thanks so much for the advice so far.

 

[3boymthr]

I think I've decided against Leapster at this point for my son - he'll get the nintendo ds (lite) - I think this will last us longer. For my oldest I'm going Ipod, just think that will cover more needs. Now the middle, I'm still torn. Can someone tell me - does the nano play movies? If it does, that might be our best bet for her. Thanks so much for the advice so far.

The nano will play movies, but not games. However; if you are buying it so she can watch movies she may or may not be happy as the screen is about 1 inch by 1.5 inches - in a word it's like watching a 19" TV from the neighbors house.

ETA - plus there is a storage issue. You can only download about 1 maybe 2 movies to it at a time plus no games. If you are going to go the ipod route I would go the extra and get her the touch.

 

[ChristusG]

I may be in the minority here, but I got each of my girls an iPod Touch last year for Christmas when they were 5 and 2 years old. I got them each a 16GB. I loaded them up with games (some free, some a dollar or two each), kid friendly music that they love to sing to, photos of our family and events hat are special to them (like their birthday parties or vacations), and movies/tv shows/home movies. It was a spectacular hit with both of them!! Its the only gift they still use nearly a year later. We bought durable cases from Speck.....these Touches have been dropped numerous times and have never taken a beating. Plus they have screen protectors on them. Both kids are pros at using them.....even my then-2-year old figured it out quickly. The Leapster and DS gather dust. We do have strict screen time rules in our household so IPod Touch viewing time is included in that. Never regretted getting Touches for kids this young....they are awesome.....they do everything!!

 

[ljcrochet]

I would skip the nano and get the touch. MY girls have DS's and nanos. They are always asking us to play on our iphones. I have a ton of educational games on the phone that were free that my girls love. They do have ton of movies on their nanos that i was able to convert from our DVDs using handbrake.

 

[monorailsilver]

Seems like the latest OS update takes its toll on battery life. To extend, go into Settings and turn Airplane Mode on. It shuts off the wireless which is a real culprit on chewing up battery life.

I will have to remember that when we fly again in 3 years...yes 3 years to Disney.

Right now it is OK because we use it at home/in the car/stores/kids games so I have the ability to charge it on the go.

 

[tigger813]

DD1 got her DSi last Christmas at the age of 10. DD2 will be getting one for her 6th b'day this year. She has a Leapster which she plays on long trips. We are actually going to sell it and most of the games to one of her friend's mom's in October. DD1 has an older Leapster that we will keep some of the newer games to use with. There are some VERY educational games out there for the Leapster for older kids. I'm not sure it it's available anymore but there is a Bratz game that does a lot of math and LA skills. It's great for 4th and 5th grade students. The Brain age games seem good for the DSi! I love the problem solving games like the Diabolical Box for the DSi.

Check out Dell.com as they occasionally have DSi's for around $129. It's usually only certain colors and for a very limited time. I check weekly! Got DD1s through there!