v smile or other console for 3 year old?

jellyhead

My 3 year old wants to join in gaming with older children but their games aren't suitable for him. He likes the ad for the 'go diego' game for v-smile, diego is his favourite programme. He's tried online games but he can't work the mouse and gets frustrated - I wondered if something else might be easier for him in the meantime, because I would rather he played games for 3 year olds than the games for older children.

Does anyone have a v smile? would you recommend it? Is it easy enough for a child who's just 3?

Are there any games suitable for such a young child for other consoles like DS/wii/playstation?

It would have to be easy, he's only just started nursery and can't read yet (obviously I would be with him when he plays, but he'll want to be able to do some of it for himself).

He will only play for occasional short periods, so don't assume he'll be gazing at a screen all day and tell me off, I just want advice about what's easiest because everyone else at nursery seems able to use the computer and they all have consoles at home, but when you talk to other mums they don't say what's easy - they just show off about what a genius child they have compared to mine :rolleyes:

skylight

I bought a V-Tech smile for my 4yo for Xmas (off Ebay, never used, still in box and a third of the new price... wot??? No gloats about genius kids, so I had to get a gloat in somewhere - LOL!!!!)

I bought it because I think its perfect for her. She plays games on the PC and can read but I bought it so that its something that can be played together with other family members and is easy enough for her to play with on her own. I got the Dora one - she still loves Dora.

stmatt

Hi

My ds got 1 last xmas when he was 3 and 1 month. He found it really easy to master and has had hours of fun on it. He found the games for older children (4-6) were too difficult but plays Diego, Dora, Thomas and Bob. His is the pocket version which we use with rechargable batteries.

He does play other console games as well. DH has a Nintendo ds and a Wii but he needs help with these games (mainly because his favourite are the lego games which really aren't suitable for him).

Have you seen the leapster 2. This looks much the same type of thing. I've only seen adverts and was half-tempted to get one except we really don't need it.

hth

Karen

cazscoob

i would advise the leappad leapster my little girl was 3 in aug and was trying to steal her brother and sisters ds this is her own personal computer and we find it fantastic she can take it with her in the car etc. she has no trouble using it and you can pick them up easily on ebay or carboot sales. we got ours at car boot sale for £5 with 3 games:D

jellyhead

Ooooh I can't decide now lol! leapster looks more like a DS, and v-smile more like a playstation I suppose. He doesn't show much interest in the DS, his favourite is the PS3.

My husband thinks he's too young, and that the games will all involve addition, subtraction, spelling etc. but I thought it would be worth asking parents who've bought them. My boy is one of the youngest at nursery, and the friendly mums who don't gloat all have kids who are 9 months or more older than my boy, so what they find easy would not necessarily be easy for my boy.

gairlochgal

Yes I second the suggestion of the leapster. Think my daughter was about 3 when she got it. We just gave it away to a friend's 3 year old and she apparently is doing fine with it.

Slapps

I brought my 3 year old the v-tech smile second hand from ebay last xmas when he was just coming upto 3 (born in feb), I also got his Grandad to buy him the art studio which is great fun as he can draw and paint on the tv without all the mess and cleaning up afterward lol.
I think all the consoles aimed at 3 year olds are good so really I doubt you could go wrong.
hth

mspig

We have a v-smile which my two younger kids use (3 and 5) they love it, they like it so much that for christmas i have bought my 5 year old the v-smile pocket cyber.
I do have to make sure though that the youngest one is playing the games from 3 years old as some of the others are too hard for him.

I also have bought some of the games of the v-tec website for around £4.99 with free postage, but i think they only have noddy at the moment.

RoxieW

my ds wasnt interested - but each child is different so you can only try him and see.

*Louise*

I bought one for DS2 (3) last year, but it has only been used once, he never took to it cos he won't sit still for 5 minutes to pla it. Bit of a waste of money for us tbh.

This year I am going to buy him a game called 'I did it mum' for the DS which is designed for young children, and it's something we can do together. Mind you, he still might not sit, but it's worth a try.

I have also bought him the Leappad word pen, so he can read stories even on his own.

Peakma

My daughter is 5 now but she has been enjoying this site for a while now ,maybe since she was about 2.5,but shes always been a bit of a gadget girl,due to having two older brothers1
Anyway this is a great site for kids,it is a french site,but has areas in french and english.I'ts great for helping little ones learn mouse control,and much more bearable than the cbeebies website1
http://www.poissonrouge.com/