Advice? I don't know ANYTHING about these. My 6 year old son and a game system?

[hillaryef]

We have leapsters and that's worked okay. He's enjoyed them. But he's out grown a lot of the games we've gotten and we were thinking it might be time to step up to another gaming system.

We do NOT have any game systems in our house. We are buying a Wii for the kids (we've got three 6...well he's 5 and will turn 6 five days after Christmas, 4.5 and 19 months). We've been told that's the best one to get for everyone.

I have NO idea really what's out there and what would be best given the fact we are starting from absolute scratch.

Advice??

Thanks!

[shelleyf]

We have a Wii we got a couple years ago. We don't have a lot of games for it though. It is expensive but great exercise. We got it at income tax time. That is the only way we were able to do so but the prices are dropping so cheap now from what I see. I can't believe you didn't have a game system with your husband in the house, lol Mine loves video games but usually plays on the computer mainly but will play the Wii occasionally. I am not a huge Wii fan but I am not good at any video game, lol but give me coupons and I am into that game.

[CouponQueen23]

I think the wii is great, I have 3 kids they all get a kick out of it My kids have the wii fit Nickelodeon game gets them up and moving they love it works really good for the younger 2 3 and 6. The oldest liked to play call of duty black ops he liked getting online any playing with others He has now bought his own PS3 and that is is his room. Most of the gaming systems you can stream net flix through them. We have even accessed the internet and checked the weather with the wii. I think the wii would be a good start. You can even put picture Sd card in an make a slide show, not sure if there is a way to create a picture cd, I am still learning some of the stuff these new things are capable of doing. We have so much fun playing the Super Mario game you can play four players at a time with that one. I used to be the Mario Champ here but my 6 year old has showed me up It is amazing how fast they catch on to things!

For our 6 year old last year when he was 5 I found a DSI off craigs list it was basically brand new the guy I bought it form apparently was Mr. Money Bags he just wanted a gadget to keep him occupied on a flight so he bought it and decided to sell after the trip. I paid much less and didn't even have to pay the tax at the store totally awesome deal. My son is not allowed online with his but on car rides him and his older brother can play games together seats away or pict~o~ chat which is sort of like texting but it is only between the two of them it has a short distance that it can communicate with another. It takes pictures and can be uploaded to the computer, kind of neat you can change the way the screen take photos too. Facing away to take a picture or facing you to take your own picture. They can also draw make designs they hold memory cards and can even play music. . They can also voice record my kids have just as much fun with the games out of it as they do if they have a game it them. I think it is a all in one kind of gaming system good for on the go and so many things to offer. The battery lasts for a long time too. I can't tell
you anything about the 3-D systems but I personally wouldn't buy one we are really happy with the DSI we have. I am not sure all the difference between the DSI and the DS lite other than the (I) in DSI is internet capable and that in it's self will be a good feature when my son is a little more age appropriate and I feel comfortable letting him get online. I know you mentioned about the wii and then mentioned upgrading form the leapster so I hope I haven't ramble a bunch of no good info to you. If you are looking for something for just the 6 year old this is a good start for a personal gaming system.. I learned the hard way not to let my son takes his to use on the school bus too. A older girl on the bus talked him into letting her use it and he did it was gone for about a week. I called the School, teacher and bus garage and thankfully they tracked the girl doen and we got it back. He is not allowed to take it to school anymore. Apparently the girl is known for taking things from younger kids and we were pretty lucky my son remembered ho she was and his name was etched in the screwed battery compartment ( she had no idea it was there) so there was no way for her to deny that it was his.

[momof2inohio]

We have a Wii. I think its great for the younger ones. Plenty of fun games for it. My kids played it all the time when we first got it but now it just sits there. But we got ours when my kids were a bit older and now that my DS has an xbox he prefers that to the Wii. My DD is not really into video games. I think the Wii would be the best system for a6 year old.

[Rene S]

Are you looking for a static system (like Wii) or a handheld system, like PSP or DS?

[CW&M Mom]

My kids love the wii!

You will need least 2 remotes and 2 numchucks

My kids are similar ages. They like playing golf, tennis,

My 9 year old daughter likes the cooking mama

Wii fit and Smart pants.

[Scrapping Mommy]

My son is 6, and prefers the Xbox or DS to the Wii, but the Wii is much better at getting everyone involved. I'm not sure if they make them for the Wii, but check out the Lego games. They have Batman, Pirates of the Carribean, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones. They are pretty entertaining, and easy to pick up. My son has been playing them since he was 3 or 4 with no problems (or anyone to tell him how to play. He just figured it out!) I highly recommend them!

ETA: I just check Amazon and they have them for the Wii.

[hillaryef]

Thank you guys so much for all of your help!!! All of this advice has been so, so, so helpful!!!

[PeachySteph]

we have a wii and my son has his own DS and I'm not sure if my daughter will want one. She doesn't seem to be into games much like he is. We also have an xbox360 which my son also plays, and a PS3 (but that's used mainly for bluray)

[rheavon]

I don't have kids, but I have found that the Wii is definitely a great system to get everyone involved. I'm sure there's a wealth of great games out there for youngsters- but it can also be great fun for adults. I've noticed that with other gaming systems, they tend to be more geared towards people 10-12+, so a Wii might be a better investment considering the ages in your family.