Leapster 2 vs. Leapster L-Max vs. Didj for 5-year-old?

mom2juliarose · Nov 20, 2009

DD is tired of her V. Smile system (we have the console and the handheld). I'm thinking of getting her a Leapfrog system for Christmas. She just turned 5. I know the Leapster 2 connects to the internet, and the L-Max connects to the TV... I think I've narrowed it down to those 2 because the Didj games look too old for a 5-year-old.

Which of these would you recommend? What do you have?

joolsplus3 · Nov 20, 2009

Do they even make the L-Max anymore? Well, even if they do, my whole point of getting a handheld is so that my TV isn't taken up with games, so we went with the Leapster 2 and Leah plays with it plenty

mom2juliarose · Nov 20, 2009

joolsplus3 said:
Do they even make the L-Max anymore? Well, even if they do, my whole point of getting a handheld is so that my TV isn't taken up with games, so we went with the Leapster 2 and Leah plays with it plenty

They do but I think it might be discontinued... the L-Max is actually going to be $30 or $40 at Kohl's on Black Friday.

We have a TV in her room that has the V-Smile connected to it... so if she wanted to connect the L-Max to a TV it would be that one.

Is the stylus on the Leapster 2 still connected with a cord? I couldn't tell from the pictures I saw of it.

mommyof3tx · Nov 20, 2009

We have the Leapster 1, Leapster 2 and Didj...for a 5yr old I'd def say the Didj. We got it last year for my then 5 yr old and it's very challenging, but not so much so he doesn't enjoy playing with it. He plays with his brothers Leapster 2...who was 3 when we got it, now 4....and it's just all very easy for him, he still loves the thing but if that's the only one he had he really wouldn't be challenged at all with it.

mom2juliarose · Nov 20, 2009

mommyof3tx said:
We have the Leapster 1, Leapster 2 and Didj...for a 5yr old I'd def say the Didj. We got it last year for my then 5 yr old and it's very challenging, but not so much so he doesn't enjoy playing with it. He plays with his brothers Leapster 2...who was 3 when we got it, now 4....and it's just all very easy for him, he still loves the thing but if that's the only one he had he really wouldn't be challenged at all with it.

What sort of Didj games do you have?

veggiegirl228 · Nov 20, 2009

mom2juliarose said:
Is the stylus on the Leapster 2 still connected with a cord? I couldn't tell from the pictures I saw of it.

Yes it is.

bobandjess99 · Nov 20, 2009

have you gotten her any new or more challenging games for the v smile? Dd still loves hers, and honestly, is just now starting to get really get into some of the games....the 4-6 year old games are right abouther level..and the "mastermind" ones or whatever, the ones for 6-8 year olds, are still too hard, since they basically require 1-3rd grade reading ability, which she doesn't have yet.
We're getting the monsters versus aliens game and shrek game for xmas, and possibly also tinkey.....gotta love 1/2 price games....

mom2juliarose · Nov 20, 2009

bobandjess99 said:
have you gotten her any new or more challenging games for the v smile? Dd still loves hers, and honestly, is just now starting to get really get into some of the games....the 4-6 year old games are right abouther level..and the "mastermind" ones or whatever, the ones for 6-8 year olds, are still too hard, since they basically require 1-3rd grade reading ability, which she doesn't have yet.
We're getting the monsters versus aliens game and shrek game for xmas, and possibly also tinkey.....gotta love 1/2 price games....

I'm trying to think of the top of my head what she has... the Cranium one, Wall-E, Cars, & Kung Fu Panda... before that she had Dora, Bob the Builder & the one that came with it...

Where are the half-price games at? Maybe that's what we need to do--just get her different games. She's been eying the Up game.

bobandjess99 · Nov 20, 2009

those are mostly 3-5 games, and a couple 4-6 I think...I'm pretty awesome, but I don't have every single game memorized as to which level it is, LOL!!!!!

Meijer has half price on T-day, and walmart and TRU have them 1/2 price on BF, and I think kmart has them b1g1free, so essentially 1/2 price.

I would maybe try a 6-8 one, and the 4-6 should still be fun? I think UP is 4-6.....yep, so is tinkey.....spongebob and cinderella are 6-8.

Evolily · Nov 20, 2009

I'd get a didj or a real handheld with learning games. A leapster is fine for a 5 year old, but will be outgrown quicker so it'd be less bang for your buck, kwim?

mommyof3tx · Nov 20, 2009

mom2juliarose said:
What sort of Didj games do you have?

He has the star wars one which does math questions and he has another, now I'm not going to remember the name but it's a reading one. I plan to get him 1-2 more for Christmas this year

capeKO71 · Nov 23, 2009

Yeah - just going to throw it out there... you might want to look at a nintendo ds.

They have some great preschool age games... and honestly, its easier to play I think... the weird thing about the leapster is that age wise, it's great for a 5 year old... but I know my son at 6 doesn't want to play "cars" or "diego".... he's outgrown those shows...even though the math/spelling is appropriate.

steph_s · Nov 23, 2009

I have both. In the house my son gravitates towards the regular leapster. Granted he doesn't play it much, but he says it's easier. This may be because he doesn't use it as a hand held he puts it on his lap and it's a tad heavier and wider to fit across his legs. The L max is awesome in the car though! I can hook it to the dvd screen and it makes it so he can play without getting car sick. When he plays just on the leapster he gets sick.

For older kids, defiantly the DS! My 5yo has one, but he still tends to go for the leapster more. The 8yo and 10yo that are in my house regularly wouldn't touch the leapster, but will play the ds for hours! None of my kids liked the Didj, but my friends dd who is 4 likes it better. Then again we gave her ours after the kids didn't like it so she is use to it.

Leapster 2 vs. Leapster L-Max vs. Didj for 5-year-old?

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