Is she too young? Is t too old for her?

**trouble** · 13-07-2009 21:28

Im really havng a hard time with this idea, and Im wondering if it is the right thing,

We have a 4 year old, turning 5 years soon, and I have to say, she is a really good kid, no problem at all, easy going, not a tanty thrower, really a bt of a nerd, she reads books a lot, writes and does really well with flash cards,

we have friends who have older children and some of them have nintendo ds, anyways for the past few months, since christmas, she has asked repeatedly for a ds, and this is the first thing she has ever asked for, she never asks for anything, and we are deciding to get her one for her birthday or not.

I was really quite amazed at how well she can play it, considering she never has played video games or computer games before,

Im just wondering your opinions, and why?

At the moment im leaning towards getting it, as we can always monitor her use and all that.

**rynosmum** · 13-07-2009 21:37

My DS has just turned 5 and like your little one, is a bit of a nerd. He loves activity books, knows all of his letters, is starting to read, can count to 120 (so he showed me yesterday

) etc.

He also has a few older friends and has been nagging for a DS. He can also play it amazingly well considering he has never played one before. We had a situation a couple of weeks ago where we were lucky to go out for dinner as a family on two occasions. After each dinner, he was bored, started to get over-excited (as kids do) and I noticed some other kids in the first restaurant playing a DS and Mum and Dad having a lovely chat.

So, I bought one for him last week. It's the Lite version which is the older one but it still plays the same games and KMart have them with a free game, case and other extras for $170. We let him play around with it for the first couple of days but he now knows that it is not an everyday toy but for special times only - if we go to dinner or to a neighbour's for dinner or in a Dr's waiting room sort of thing. I want to get him some educational games for it too which I think he'll really enjoy.

So far, so good.

**trouble** · 13-07-2009 21:45

Thanks for that, boy they sound the same, I noticed last week she can say the alphabet backwards faster than I can say it forwards.

that really made me feel dumb.

But I see what you mean, we just had a range of birthday dinners to go to and it would have kept her still and quiet.

are there many educational games for them, im sure there would be, but all we have herd from her is "dogs"

**Mum2Bug** · 13-07-2009 21:46

Originally Posted by trouble

Thanks for that, boy they sound the same, I noticed last week she can say the alphabet backwards faster than I can say it forwards.

that really made me feel dumb.

She isnt alone hun, i can do it to

**BabelFish** · 13-07-2009 21:54

I think it's too young. But I don't have a five-year-old asking for one every hour!

With supervision, in moderation, like anything - its just a toy. So if you think she's mature enough to handle it well, why not?

**Areca** · 13-07-2009 22:00

Dh and I were having this discussion the other day - only about computers and what age we should let DD1 play on the computer.
The whole portable dvd player/portable game thing seems to be a new found hit for keeping kids quiet when you're going to be sitting for a while. I refuse to partake in it because I don't personally like the idea of it (call me old fashioned if you will!) so when we get to Nintendo territory it will be a plug in to your tv one...I don't know what age I'll succumb to buying one though...will hold out on it as long as possible.

**trouble** · 13-07-2009 22:00

Originally Posted by Mum2Bug

She isnt alone hun, i can do it to

Wow, now I feel even dumber!!!! could you do it at 3 years old??

I dont know if I want the answer to that!!!

Im just amazed, I was never that smart, no one taught her either, and we dont even have alphabet place mats or posters, and I did.

**3Princesses** · 13-07-2009 22:02

This is what DD1 did to us.
She sounds just like your DD and from the age of 4 was asking for one. We decided to wait until she was 6 and if she was still asking for one then we'd get it.

Well she turn 6 last week and suprise suprise she got a ds lite for her b'day.

We didn't want to get her one before now because she tends to have a fansination with something then get it and loose interest not long after but we though after 2 years of asking the interest was going to be long term.

Most of the games I have looked at have some sort of education basis. It may not be blatantly obvious but they do.

**trouble** · 13-07-2009 22:15

Originally Posted by 3Princesses

We didn't want to get her one before now because she tends to have a fansination with something then get it and loose interest not long after but we though after 2 years of asking the interest was going to be long term.
.

see this is what I was worried about too, cause we have been careful about this, my friends little boys, each time you see him he has a facination about something new, and all that money you spent last birthday was a week long trend. and I was worried about this,
But dd1 has never asked for anything, she has never said she wants anything, all birthdays and christmas I ask and she shruggs,

She has never come out and said, can I have a ds, but she always talks about it, and she keeps telling me they are "so cool"

I asked her what she wants for her birthday and she said dinner at grandma and grandads place.

**3Princesses** · 13-07-2009 22:32

I would maybe wait til Christmas then if you're worried or even next birthday.
Between the age of 4 and 6 every b'day and Christmas DD1 was asked what she would like and the answer was always a ds but when she opened her pressies she never mentioned the fact that she didn't get one.
Except this year, the squeal of absolute delight was priceless when she finally got her ds.