Hand held game devices for kids

[QueenB]

So looking thru the sales papers yesterday and one of my girls points to the Hannah Montana PSP... (She is on a Hannah kick lately, so we thought that why she wanted it, when asked if it was because it was HM she said, No mom, I have been wanting one of these for forever). But with her and her sis being 6yrs old now, Dad and I think they are getting old enough to get a hand held game system. They already play the Wii with us and love it, but I have no clue what to get them. Any one system better than the other??? Any inputs good or bad is greatly appreciated!

 

[morningbell]

I have seen some kids playing with these things at age 3 but my son shows no interest, he is 7. We have PS2 and Wii but still he'd rather be outside, drawing, or reading. He will occasionally play the Wii when it's too rainy or cold to go out.

If she is careful about her things, not to leave them out, puts her things away and generally takes care of her toys then I say go for it. I mean, she has been wanting one of those things forever

 

[glhs837]

6 is a bit young for the PSP, really. For kids that young, Id look to the Nintendo handhelds. Nice thing is, they are pretty bulletproof, so used ones are common and reliable at either Gamestop or Play n Trade. So are games. And a lot more games for kids that age.

 

[muttdog]

PSP games lean more toward older kids, more fighting and sport based games. Nintendo games have alot more for younger kids, and games are a little more durable for younger kids. PSP has small discs that look like mini dvds with a plastic case.

 

[huntr1]

Nintendo DS all the way.

 

[QueenB]

Thanks for all the inputs!! I will do some more researching and give her alternatives to the PSP...Maybe push her towards the DS or Advance....

 

[huntr1]

Thanks for all the inputs!! I will do some more researching and give her alternatives to the PSP...Maybe push her towards the DS or Advance....

She's 6.
Is she buying it?
If the answer is no, then there is no "push". There is only "here dear daughter, I bought you a Nintendo DS. Enjoy."

 

[QueenB]

She is not buying it, but I am not going to buy her an expensive "toy" for it to sit on a shelf or somewhere because she didnt want it or liked it at first and got bored with it. I can also take her to the store and show her which console has what games to go with it, I have a feeling the games are gonna be her deciding factor. Her sis is the whatever you give me I'm cool with type of kid...

We let the kids decide for themselves most of the time within reason. Hell for their bday we took them shopping and let them pick most of their stuff out. But we still had a few surprise gifts for them at the party.

 

[jsouthan]

PSP games lean more toward older kids, more fighting and sport based games. Nintendo games have alot more for younger kids, and games are a little more durable for younger kids. PSP has small discs that look like mini dvds with a plastic case.

 

[poster]

So looking thru the sales papers yesterday and one of my girls points to the Hannah Montana PSP... (She is on a Hannah kick lately, so we thought that why she wanted it, when asked if it was because it was HM she said, No mom, I have been wanting one of these for forever). But with her and her sis being 6yrs old now, Dad and I think they are getting old enough to get a hand held game system. They already play the Wii with us and love it, but I have no clue what to get them. Any one system better than the other??? Any inputs good or bad is greatly appreciated!

Got ours a Nintendo DS for xmas at age 7.
4 units can play the same game together and write notes to each other if in the same room. This is kind of cool but you have to watch it in a public area like a restaurant, we had two little brats write nasty notes to our daughter once.

The games aren't too expensive especially if they're not new release. Older Nintendo games can play in it and they're pretty cheap.

About the Hannah thing, I'd buy a solid colored one and buy a skin for it.

 

[QueenB]

Got ours a Nintendo DS for xmas at age 7.
4 units can play the same game together and write notes to each other if in the same room. This is kind of cool but you have to watch it in a public area like a restaurant, we had two little brats write nasty notes to our daughter once.

The games aren't too expensive especially if they're not new release. Older Nintendo games can play in it and they're pretty cheap.

About the Hannah thing, I'd buy a solid colored one and buy a skin for it.

I was thinking if she didnt like the whole colored thing to look into that option or paint one (or stickers) in steelers colors and the other redskins...

 

[glhs837]

Well, over time, the various flavors or Nintendo handhelds, the DS, DS Lite, and DSi, have come in all flavors of the rainbow.

Amazon.com: Nintendo DS Consoles: Video Game Consoles


Unless its a b-day present, I kinda lean towards getting a used one, they usualy have tons of them, and the prices are reasonable.

 

[Imthemom]

I think you should go with the Nintendo DS. My daughter has a DS and a PSP and she NEVER plays with the PSP, because it's for older kids. It doesn't have games for younger kids. She his 7 and she likes the Disney games. PSP doesn't have disney games. I think the DS games are more appropriate for the younger kids.