I have a three year old who loves the computer games found at McDonalds. I was around when pong for TV came out and when Mario Brothers for TV came out, but haven't kept up with what kids are using today.

I would like to get a TV gaming device or a handheld gaming device for my 3 year old boy, something fun, educational and cheap and will be used for at least a few years and can eventually be used by my 1 year old daughter when she is old enough.

What are kids playing now-a-days on the TV or do they all just use those hand held devices? The last one I remember using was Mattel football handheld game http://www.peterhirschberg.com/cgi/images/football_thumb.jpg , so any help you can give me would be great!

When my nephew turned 3 my boyfriend and I gave him a GameBoy Advance(about $60-80, cheaper used at game stores like Eb Games or gameStop). He was a little young for most of the games, but he loved the VideoNow "games" that are available (each one contains 2-4 episodes of a cartoon- Spongebob, Fairly Odd Parents, etc.) The first real game he got for the GameBoy was one that had three classic board games on it- Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, and Connect Four. After that he moved on to simple games like Lights, Camera, Pants (a Spongebob game) and a Power Rangers SPD game(games or VideoNows run from $15 to $40, again cheaper if purchsed used). I highly recommend the GameBoy since it's sturdy, has a wide variety of entertainment available for it (not just games!), is rechargable, and if he grows tired of it (which I doubt lol) it can be passed down to a younger sibling when he becomes old enough for a more advanced system.

As for a TV game console, Nintendo's GameCube (about $99) would probably be best for someone his age. It has more titles available that are geared for the preschool set (each game can range from under $20 to $40-50, much cheaper if you buy used at places like Blockbuster or EB Game). Another option is one of several "plug and play" games that are out now (about $20). It's a joystick (much like the Atari ones of old) that you connect to a TV, turn your TV to the video channel, and Bam! you've got a game. Each unit contains a set of games that you choose from a main menu. We have one at home that has Galaga, PacMan, and some other classic arcade games. Another has 5 or 6 Disney games one it like Alladin. These are super user friendly and don't require as much of a cost commitment as a regular console would.

That was probably more than you really wanted to know lol but that's what happens when you get a gamer going. :fez:

I wish I was more help on this topic but my two sons don't play video games at all. If you're looking for something educational, how about a Leap Pad or the Leapster? If you have a Toys R Us near by you can check out their Leap Frog and VTech section for some really great educational electronics. Good luck on whatever you decide on!!!

My sons have every game console and gameboy on the market, and my 5 year old is a wiz at them all. But if you want a beginning tool, do the leapster, my son loves his and the educational things on it is fun and teaches kids counting etc.
Now my 5 year old will do all the games all day if you let him, he is limited to an hour because He will play them all day and night if I let him. I will not, as there is more to life then video games and tv. Now with that said a game boy was and is my sons favorite. We take it every where and if he plays it, thats his game time for the day. He goes to work with me, so he has his there , if not on the way some where, or at home. He is a master game player so I have to be sure to get child rated games for him and ones that are safe with out violence. I do allow super mario, yoshi, and all those kinds, and donky kong, sponge bob, and all the crtoon carector ones to He has a lot! He has been doing nintendo, regular,64 and super for 2 years, and game cube for 2 and game boy 1 year ( its an expensive thing and I waited til he was able to learn how to care for it, and put it away when he was done. He has a nice case with it and game holders.
I would do leapster first, so he can learn how to play, then when he is older a game boy. those come in handy.

Am I the only one concerned about a three year old having his own video game console? I guess I'm just an old geezer. Whatever happened to toy blocks? :confused:

I suppose such a thing is fine in moderation. But, is that possible with a three year old?

Am I the only one concerned about a three year old having his own video game console? I guess I'm just an old geezer. Whatever happened to toy blocks? :confused:

I suppose such a thing is fine in moderation. But, is that possible with a three year old?

I hate to be another old geezer, but I agree. How about a coloring book and some crayons?

Am I the only one concerned about a three year old having his own video game console? I guess I'm just an old geezer. Whatever happened to toy blocks? :confused:

I suppose such a thing is fine in moderation. But, is that possible with a three year old?
No Klutch, you're not alone. My kids are 4 1/2 and 6 and have never played a video game.

But this parent knows their kid best and if they can keep some balance with it, then it's their choice.

No Klutch, you're not alone. My kids are 4 1/2 and 6 and have never played a video game.

But this parent knows their kid best and if they can keep some balance with it, then it's their choice.

You're absolutely correct. Please understand my concern comes not from being mean, but from having a heart for children.

Also, I recall the many hours of joy I got from my wooden blocks as a child. I just can't imagine any electronic device topping that. :D

You're absolutely correct. Please understand my concern comes not from being mean, but from having a heart for children.

Also, I recall the many hours of joy I got from my wooden blocks as a child. I just can't imagine any electronic device topping that. :D
my son loves his blocks, he has thousands of lego;s and makes the most awsome things, hence the reason we do not allow him to play to long on the video games. but again leapster is a hand held with learing soft ware and its awsome. my kids learned to add with it, and just by counting the objects . the math is awsome in these things!
If you balance out your childs activities, he/ she will be well rounded.
yesterday they did arts and crafts, for 2 hours making posters with everything under the sink. noodles, felt, pictures,clay, popsycle sticks. you name it!
your three year old can do the hand helds, you just have to set limits.

Wooden blocks and coloring books don't fare as well in the car, which is where my nephew does most of his game playing. I absolutely agree that game time needs it's limits, but I also thing video games are under rated as learning tools.

Wooden blocks and coloring books don't fare as well in the car, which is where my nephew does most of his game playing. I absolutely agree that game time needs it's limits, but I also thing video games are under rated as learning tools.
Coloring books dont work well in the car? Since when? (Just use colored pencils instead, though, as wax from melted crayons can be a mess.) While I ask with some humor, my daughter would go through tons of coloring books while driving.

At the same time, I think the opposite about videogames as learning tools - I think they are overrated as such. While I agree that a child can learn from video-based games, I dont think there are many of them that are really educational. I would go for a Leap Pad, Leapster or other Leap-branded devices which are really great at being educational and entertaining at the same time.