v smile or other console for 3 year old?

Janepig

Why should children only do things they NEED to do?

Jxx

*Louise*

I don't think it's just the 'need to use a computer mouse' - it's all about manual dexterity and hand/eye co-ordination.

onlyroz

I can also vouch for "I did it mum" on the Nintendo DS - my 3-year-old loves it, and it teaches stylus control as well. For the Wii, with a bit of help a 3-year-old can handle "Mario Kart", and there's also a kids game called "Cosmic Family", but that one has limited value.

We've also got a VTech "Whiz Kid", which can either be used on its own or connected to a PC. He's getting more into that, although some of the games are a bit advanced for a non-reader.

The leap pad system is quite good - we got the one designed for 6 months+, but it really is a bit advanced for a 6 month baby, and becomes more interesting from about 18 months.

jellyhead

Thanks for all your input

I'll look at the poissonrouge website, 'I did it mum', v smile and leapster. We have mario kart for the wii, he likes that.

I'll also ask his nursery teacher for her opinion, and websites she recommends.

I've been told that his fine motor skills are poor, and while I think it's just that he is the youngest and there's a world of difference between a just-3 and an almost-4 child, anything that helps fine motor control will be good.

I have already bought his christmas present, so from a financial point of view it's probably best to buy a game for something like the wii/ds/ps that we already own.

jellyhead

Robin - thanks for your opinion. I'd have said the same 6 months ago, and have done. Now he's at nursery my opinion is changing, and I'm seeing that it's the 'norm' to play with technology at his age - I used to think it was just lazy parenting

I'm not intending to cause him any 'misery' - I want it to be fun, and he won't be spending much time gaming.

robin_banks

The time thing is the key issue. and the same applies to TV, I'm not saying these thing musn't ever be done they need to be rationed, prolonged starting at a screen flickering 50 times a second (be that a monitor or a TV) will damage a child's eyesight, there is little doubt abouit that. Plenty of research out there, use google.

Mrs_Pepperpot_2

robin_banks wrote: »

The time thing is the key issue. and the same applies to TV, I'm not saying these thing musn't ever be done they need to be rationed, prolonged starting at a screen flickering 50 times a second (be that a monitor or a TV) will damage a child's eyesight, there is little doubt abouit that. Plenty of research out there, use google.

I can use google to prove that TV is good for you/bad for you/ helps with autism/damages eyesight/doesn't damage eyesight or turns you into a rabbit (probably!)

Google is just a collection of people opinions - very dangerous to believe everything you read on google.

T.V watching/computer viewing is an issue which parents need to think about for themselves and their children.

I have stopped judging anyone elses parenting decisions since I had children of my own!:o

Hope you find something suitable - I can't imagine my 2 and a half year old every being able to concentrate on anything for longer than 5 seconds!

liney

robin_banks wrote: »

My point is that nurseries aren't schools, (the staff aren't teachers) and of no obvious educational benefit whatsoever , a child of 3 does not NEED to be able to control a PC, they'll have enough of that misery for years after that.

Actually, my son's Teacher at Preschool, is a qualified primary school teacher. Discuss...

Chocolate is not an essential part of a child's diet. TV is not essential, and neither is my washing machine, but when used appropriately they are not damaging in any way shape or form.

jellyhead

Mrs pepperpot - at age 2 and a half my boy had the attention span of a flea lol! it's got better as he's got older, but he is still more fidgety than other children (he loves books though, will always sit still for a book). When mine was the age of yours I would never have thought about games or consoles, and nor would he.

galvanizersbaby

jellyhead wrote: »

They probably get tested on it the moment they start school :rolleyes: He has to take SATS at age 6, an age where half the kids in the class weren't even reading back in the days of the dinosaurs when I went to school.

My son's just turned 6 and I haven't heard anything about SATS yet! :eek: so if anyone has any further info be grateful x
We are in England btw

I brought one of those Leapster tv consoles that plug in to the tv for DS last xmas (he was 5) - I would recommend the Leapster stuff for a 3 year old
He quite enjoyed playing the games but the graphics were pretty bad

He now has a DS lite so I am buying him the clever tricks educational games which he seems to like