VSmile, Leapster L-Max, Smart Cycle, ClickSmart

[umsami]

So, I'd like to buy my four year old an "educational" gaming system this year for Eid (right before Christmas).

My first choice would be the Smart Cycle--as it combines physical activity with learning... but we really don't have the space.

So now it's down to the VSmile, Click Smart, and Leapster L-Max. Do any of you have any experience with them? It seems that the L-Max and VSmile have the most cartridges--but they've been out longer. I like the keyboard skills learned with the Click Smart--as DS1 and 2 are always trying to play with my laptop. I like the ability to write (practice writing) with the VSmile and L-Max... as DS1 is very interested in spelling and writing right now.

Any and all advice/opinions welcome.

[newmommy]

I don't have any experience with any of them but I am definetly purchasing the Click Start computer for DS.

[umsami]

Originally Posted by newmommy

I don't have any experience with any of them but I am definetly purchasing the Click Start computer for DS.

I hope you enjoy it. One thing I've read is that it eats batteries... so to buy some rechargeable batteries.

[Phantaja]

My boys had a V-Smile at 4 and 5 and they out grew it very quickly. They were done with the simplicity of the titles in less than a year. Have you considered a V-Flash?

[umsami]

Originally Posted by Phantaja

My boys had a V-Smile at 4 and 5 and they out grew it very quickly. They were done with the simplicity of the titles in less than a year. Have you considered a V-Flash?

That's one thing that appeals to me re: the Leapster L-Max. It's very expensive... but seems as it would be usable for some time.

I didn't even know about the V-Flash. Do you like it??

[Phantaja]

We love it. The games are fun, and they have varying levels from basic counting to pre algebra on some of the math games (that's where our focus is right now) in addition to lots of world geography. The games are about 30.00 each, and they hold my boys attention for a while, even at 8 and 9.


I don't know if you have a boy or a girl, but my boys love Spiderman and their are a lot of popular cartoon based games available (at least there are for boys. I haven't looked into any games marketed to girls).

Don't get me wrong, the V-Smile was fun while it lasted, but less than a year for two kids a year apart just wasn't cost effective enough for me.

[umsami]

Thanks Phantaja. I have two boys who are 4 and 2.. and would be the main users right now. My daughter is 5 months... and if the boys have their way.. .she's going to love Thomas the Tank Engine, Spiderman, and all the rest. (Of course, they love Dora too.)

[tinasquirrel]

Have you considered a Leapster instead of a L-Max ($60 vs. $80-90). We have two Leapsters for the boys (3 and 5yo). Older DS got one when he turned 4 and younger DS got one when he turned 3. They both love them. The games are all interchangeable, no matter which handheld you have (LMax or Leapster). The Leapsters are just a lot cheaper, and the only benefit that I can see to the L-Max is that you can hook it up to the TV. However, I did not want a game system that hooked to the TV which is why I went with the Leapsters. They mostly play their Leapsters in the car, on errands, etc. Sometimes they play them at home. I don't limit their playing time, but they are pretty good about it themselves. They enjoy playing at the same time (different games of course) and they talk to each other and help each other out. It's quite cute actually.

With the whole hook to the TV thing, it's my understanding that it only works on the L-Max specific games (which are usually $30 as opposed to $25). And then, it's only one additional game that is only available to L-Max users. We have several L-Max games and have no issues playing them on the Leapster machines. There's just one additional game that the boys don't know exists. I've also heard negative reviews about the quality of the graphics when played on the TV.

Both of my boys have easily mastered playing games on the computer with a real keyboard and mouse. So I'm not sure about purchasing something specifically for that.

We love our Leapsters and I highly recommend them. In general, we prefer the games that are not character based (like Dora, Cars, Backyardigans, etc.). Our favorites are Sonic the Hedgehog, Counting on Zero, Letters on the Loose and Scholastic Animal Genius.

[umsami]

That's a good idea Tinasquirrel. My only issue is that I think by attaching the L-Max to the TV, I can entertain my younger son (2-1/4) while his brother plays with it. If it's just a handheld, than I foresee more fighting. But, I could be wrong.

[Keeping up]

My mom gave my two older kiddos (then 5 and 3.5 ... and now 6 months later) Leapster L-Max (or whatever they are called - hooked to the tv capability).

I am really not that fond of them. They are neat - the kids do like them, but I honestly don't see the benefit other than quiet time and thus, inactivity. My daughter, the older one, does some drawing and does pick it up often - but I think I could easily distract her otherwise with more active or education activities. My now almost four year old gets it - but I don't learns anything from it.

I am far from crunchy, my kids do watch tv blah blah blah - actually fairly mainstream as per many at MDC and I would prefer my kids did other things.

I think buying another small computer (a real one) and teaching them computer skills would be a better investment. [i.e. we have two L-Max and six cartridges - so that is $80x2+25*6 = $310+ ... more expensive in CAnada!]

Just a different perspective.

[tinasquirrel]

I agree with Ann that a child can probably learn the same things from a regular PC game. I do like the Leapsters for their portability. They have been great on the long car trips that we have made in the past, on vacations, etc. My older DS has learned a lot from his Leapster games. He was never interested in learning his letters until he got it, and then he learned them all in about a month. It just piqued his interest, I guess. Letters on the Loose has a writing feature after it does a game for each letter. So they get a lot of practice on writing their letters correctly (upper and lowercase). Counting on Zero does the same thing with numbers. They have learned a lot of animal facts from the Scholastic Animal Genius game. Could they have learned these things elsewhere? I'm sure, but it engaged them, and made them want to learn, so I count that as a good thing. I'm sure it just depends on your child's personality.

We got our first Leapster when DS was 4 and his younger brother was 2-1/4. Younger DS actually picked up on how to play the thing very quickly. So, until his third birthday when he got one, they just both played with it. They would take turns. One would play for 10 minutes, and then it was the other one's turn. We actually do that a lot in our house, and while it was hard at first, now it's almost a given and it sure does make my life a lot easier when they are taking turns instead of fighting! Of course, I would have to use a timer, etc to make sure they switched off when they were supposed to. We do the same thing with PC time. The boys have their own computer to use (my old one) but I have to put a timer on so that they take turns. (Also helps to police me and make sure I don't let them play too long.)

[butterflykisses4]

My only adivce is get the NEW V/Smile. i have the old one and it STINKS! it eats though batteries and the cord that you can buy to adapt to the outlet is SOOOO finiky it has to be half in and half out to wrk! Such a pain in the butt!! I know almost all the moms in my moms gorup here hjave the same prob with the old one. So dont craigs list or freecycle this toy! Get the new one! =)

[theretohere]

Oh, keep the good leapster game suggestions coming!

[tinasquirrel]

Originally Posted by theretohere

Oh, keep the good leapster game suggestions coming!

I was just going to ask if anyone could recommend a good Leapster game about Reading. Not letter recognition or phonics, but turning letters into words. We have Letters on the Loose and it's great, but my kids are getting beyond it now. We also have Kindergarten which the kids really like. Actually, hmmm...I got them 1st grade for Christmas. It probably has that type of stuff on it. I'll have to check out the description.

Anyone have "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends"? I've never heard of it, but it is supposed to be about spelling. For 5-8yo.

The Leapfrog website is having a sale right now, 25% off all their games. And free shipping over $50, and $5 shipping under $50.

[avakitty]

I just bought my 4.5 yr old ds the leapster for xmas and am also looking for recommendations on the games. I got him the Kindergarten one so far...
I have a friend who bought her dd a leapster last year and she learned all her letter sounds from it.

[Lesley77]

Originally Posted by butterflykisses4

My only adivce is get the NEW V/Smile. i have the old one and it STINKS! it eats though batteries and the cord that you can buy to adapt to the outlet is SOOOO finiky it has to be half in and half out to wrk! Such a pain in the butt!! I know almost all the moms in my moms gorup here hjave the same prob with the old one. So dont craigs list or freecycle this toy! Get the new one! =)

Man I wish I had seen this before last week. I bought the old style because it was cheaper to just get that and 1 of the new joysticks than buy the new one itself. Grrr. I hope my adaptor works.

[mommy68]

My DD has the leapster and takes it in the car with her sometimes. It's not one of her favorite things to do but it's great for long trips.

[onelilguysmommy]

my 9yo brother has had the vsmile and l max. he liked them both but the lmax went through batteries like crazy.
he can cheat on a lot of games on both, though...

[kokonutmama]

I just hooked up a clickstart for ds today and here's what I think:

It's crazy that it doesn't come with an AC adapter, nuts. It has a jack, though, so I'm going to just have to find a 5V .5A out transformer.

The quality of the programs (at least the ones it comes with) is low. The educational value is allright, but the actual audio and visual and creative whatnot isn't what I expected.

He's spent maybe 15min on it with me and maybe 5min on it himself while I was excersizing, and already he's picked up some letter and number name awareness which he'd not had before (ds is almost 3yo, just under the bottom of the age range) and some mousing skill which is exciting for him and goes along with...

It hooks to the TV, NOT the computer which is all I really need. I'm not going to buy him his own computer... yet... but he sees Mommy on one a lot and isn't alowed to touch it most of the time which is really frustrating for both of us. now he can "work" while I work and we can (I hope and imagine) have a little more harmony and happiness in out house.

HTH.