Help - interactive learning game & portable dvd ok, so I am not too "with it" as my 4 year old would remind me. My son and I are always fighting over my computer..he wants to play his cd roms & games. I want to buy a portable dvd to allow him to do this. Can I simply attach a mouse and he can use his inter-active learning game? Help - interactive learning game & portable dvd ok, so I am not too "with it" as my 4 year old would remind me. My son and I are always fighting over my computer..he wants to play... » Read More Help - interactive learning game & portable dvd ok, so I am not too "with it" as my 4 year old would remind me. My son and I are always fighting over my computer..he wants to play his cd roms & games. I want to buy a portable dvd to allow him to do this. Can I simply attach a mouse and he can use his inter-active learning game? « Show Less
941040
The portable DVD player you're looking at here is not a computer laptop. All it does is play DVDs and audio and video files from the iPod. If you're looking for DVDs that include interactive games I think the Walt Disney company or some other educational company might sell some DVDs like that. Otherwise it's just a player. Not a computer. What you're looking for is a laptop. And the Eee PC might be what you're looking for. It's $400, small and light.
879482
I agree with H. Sexton, Jr. I just got my 7 yr old a DS to replace his Leapster. It was awesome! It is all educational. I've only found 2 educational games for his level so far on DS. He reads on a 4th grade level and is in G&T; and I am having a hard time finding educational games. If you want ed- I'd go to the Leapster. Hope this helps!
1253033
You'd be amazed at what kids can do. Give them the tablet and they just take off like a rocket learning. With a few guided lessons and with just the right apps your child will certainly enjoy using and growing with the Leapfrog LeapPad Tablet. we've had ours since my son was 3 1/2 but my God daughter turned 3 this September and she sits down with it and taps away and watches videos, takes photos and tries playing games. great part is they don't grow out of it for a while when they are that long and its so durable that even if a child has the dropsy's its still safe to use. My son has thrown ours several times and it just amazes me that it still works I can't say the same for his other gaming counsel.
513205
Hi Flo, No, unfortunately this would not work for you. You must have at least a net book that can attach to a dvd drive. As it does take up memory, I would advise using only with a laptop or desktop. If you have a tablet Amazon and Google Play both have lots of great free games I have found. It makes a great substitute when traveling light. ;) Good Luck!
835672
Hi -I would recommend the V-tech tote'n'go laptops to just about anyone in the pre-reading stage of learning. It is not as glamorous as the leapfrog stuff, but it is great for letter recognition and other pre-literacy skills. That's in the twenty buck range. The Leapster 2 by leapfrog also does not need a home pc to set it up, though you can use one to access some of the advanced features it is completely unnecessary from a child's perspective to enjoy the system. Those retail for about seventy, but are regularly on sale for forty or fifty. The cartridge games are expensive, but do go on sale from time to time. My daughter loved her v-tech laptop and she loves her Leapster too. Hi -I would recommend the V-tech tote'n'go laptops to just about anyone in the pre-reading stage of learning. It is not as glamorous as the leapfrog stuff, but it is great for letter recognition and other pre-literacy skills. That's in the twenty buck range. The Leapster 2 by leapfrog also does not need a home pc to set it up, though you can use one to access some of the advanced features it is completely unnecessary from a child's perspective to enjoy the system. Those retail for about seventy, but are regularly on sale for forty or fifty. The cartridge games are expensive, but... » Read More Hi -I would recommend the V-tech tote'n'go laptops to just about anyone in the pre-reading stage of learning. It is not as glamorous as the leapfrog stuff, but it is great for letter recognition and other pre-literacy skills. That's in the twenty buck range. The Leapster 2 by leapfrog also does not need a home pc to set it up, though you can use one to access some of the advanced features it is completely unnecessary from a child's perspective to enjoy the system. Those retail for about seventy, but are regularly on sale for forty or fifty. The cartridge games are expensive, but do go on sale from time to time. My daughter loved her v-tech laptop and she loves her Leapster too. « Show Less
1853873
I bought it for a 6 year old. Her mom had just started University courses and was on the computer a lot, so I thought this might be fun for her "to work" with mommy. Since real computers have now entered many classrooms, I'd say for kids no older than 7 or 8 years old.
824360
It needs to be connected periodically so you can get the data from the games. It gives a mice overview of your child's abilities. Also, your child will get more rewards when connected. As often as you want the feedback.
646320
I believe your best approach would be to watch the video on demonstrations as suggested by JH. Don't exactly understand what your problem is but my 5 yr. old grandson was able to operate the game without difficulty.
333328
I bought this for my pre-schooler but the device comes with activates that if I had to say would be appropriate up to 3rd maybe up to 5th graders. ..my 1st grader, 2 nd grader, and 3rd grader play with it. Even though the graphics are more small kid focused I have even found fifth graders playing it, along with myself .lol.. Hope this helps.
879479
It depends on how responsible your child is as well. One drop on the hardwood floor and our 5 year olds DS now has a half blank screen. I also didn't find many educational games that he could play without his older brothers helping. We are going for a Leapster 2 this Christmas. He's a sponge with educational games and loves to learn.
1399685
yes, the box version has a CD-ROM which loads onto your computer. I have used the computer version on my PC a few times and there's little difference from the internet version other than appearance. However, you will not be able to chat online with other learners, or play games online with other learners. You can still play games on the computer version. My version SEEMS to suggest that I can load up to five learners on one version, but I haven't tried. Thus a learner would logon and the program would take the learner to where he/she left off. Each learner can proceed at their own pace (I think.) Four or five learners might replace the online chat feature. Good luck!
1294879
The Leapster is a good substitute. Both of our boys had Leapsters first and my oldest son still played with his until he got his DS on his 9th birthday (granted, he was getting a little old for it...). I have a 3 year old and she's still a little young for the Leapster, but she can use the drawing feature and will mess around with it. Definitely by age 4.
453943
My oldest likes to play on my youngest's LeapPad (she's 11), but she finds the games a bit slow, and knows all the "educational" things in the games...for an 8y/o it would depend on if he's ever had any other gaming system, but probably would get bored with it sooner then you'd want.
802181
yes my son has been playing since he was 4 with some assistance, its really a great family game, my older kids (7& 9) enjoy playing too
1294877
I'm having the same problem! I am so sick and tired of the fighting over the ds but I'm not buying him a ds lol. We have an older gameboy advance and he won't play that so I not sure about getting the leapster, scared of wasting my money if he won't use it! Did you buy your little one the leapster if so does he enjoy it? I'm trying to figure out if I should get the leapster for my son for his 3rd birthday which is in a few weeks.
1057611
I only have one game loaded on mine - we are older - 67 yrs. So games are not our forte, but the one we do play runs just fine. Sorry I was not of any more help than that.
1394005
Everything we've gotten has been from VTech. They said you should be able to download others, but when we tried, it didn't work. The VTech ebooks, games, and music apps have all been good, but the number of items currently the "rage" with children are limited. While our child has played some of them a few times and we use it for parts of home schooling, they haven't been something that he plays repeatedly as he has others on my husband's tablet.