Anyone Know About Good Computer/video Game Systems for a 4-Year-old?

I agree with the Leapster recommendation. The kids can take it with them, which can be great in the car. There are games for a range of children. My son is 5, and he got his for Christmas when he was 3. He goes through phases where he won't play with it as much, but then he will get it out again and play with it nonstop. Out of all the toys he has gotten, it is probably one of the things he has gotten the most use out of. Oh yeah, he left it in the rain one time, and it still works!

Leapfrog is excellent! My daughter and son both had Leap Pads and my daughter is now 8, almost 9, and has had a Leapster game system since she was 4 and she still plays with it. She learned phonics thru this system! All the games are educational.

My four year old granddaughter loves several on-line sites that are free. We keep finding more, but here's a list of a few of them:

funbrain.com
disney.com
nick.com
nickjr.com
noggin.com
pbskids.com
everythinggirl.com (don't know if there's an "everythingboy.com)

We really like the Vtech V-smile. It has lots of educational games that children can figure out on their own plus it grows with their age for a long time (that way you don't have to buy a new system in a year!). We got one for my daughter when she turned 4 last year and she still enjoys it. It has lots of accessories you can get to go with it as well.

Get the Wii! It has so many wonderful games, and most of them require the user to get off the couch and move their body! I don't know if they actually make anything that is "educational"; but there is a lot to be learned in these games.

We loved the Leapfrog Leapster LMAX we got a few years ago when my son was 3 - he is 6 next week. It worked great for a few years and he used it sooo much. We've actually decided to get the Leapfrog Leapster 2 this year. The games are based on ages/grades so it can last as long as your kid doesn't just wear it out like we did! Let me know if you have more specific questions. It is all educational just with the characters they know.

V-tech and V-smile are very good and pretty chea, too - system was on sale at target for like $40 , and I'm pretty sure it comes with a game or 2, and if family or friends are looking to get something for your kids, they can buy games for the system - really inexpensive. My son got one when he was 4 and still plays with it at 6, my younger boy watches his brother play and has realy learned a lot from it. hope this helps you out. Also, lots of games are familiar characters, Shrek, Spongebob, etc.

The Jumpstarts (Jumpstart Kindergarten, etc.) were very popular with my sons at that age as were Builder Bob games. These were played on my regular desk computer. I think we got them at Target.
VickiS

I 2nd the Leapster! My daughter got one for Christmas 2 years ago and she loves it! She turned 6 a few months ago and she still plays with it pretty often. We've just gotten more advanced games as she's gotten older. The games are all educational too. I highly recommend it.

My kids have the V-Smile video game system. They loved it. I bought it about 3 years ago and I know it is very sturdy. I like it because even though the company comes out with new item, the games cartridges still work with them all. Not a lot of systems are like that. The games are all educational and age appropriate. Since you have a 2 and a 4 year old you would get a lot from this purchase because once your 4yr old grows out of it your 2 yr old will still be using it. I have a 9 and 7 yr old and now a 1 yr old. My 7 yr old still uses it and I know it will be around for my one year old. I highly recommend the V-Smile smartridge game system.

When My daughter was 3 and my stepson 7 we bought them the V-smile video game set. It is very educational. I don't think (and would seriously doubt)it has any games of a violent nature. We have also purchased for this Christmas a V-Smile laptop that works in conjunction with the base attached with the TV. It was definitely a great purchase. My daughter is now 5 and plays it all the time. My stepson's mom buys him the "real" video games (the violent ones) so he thinks the ones we have are boring now. Since he finds the educational ones boring and doesn't want to play them and I won't allow him to bring his (violent) video games here then he doesn't play video games when he is with us.
With all of the crime and horrible violence in our world today any parent that buys their child a violent video game needs their head examined.
Anyway I get on a roll about children and the "must have" video games of today.
I hope this suggestion helps.

We just purchased Cool School made by Fisher Price. It helps them learn numbers, letters and even write them out. It has a lot of fun games. We just got it a few days ago and can't wait to start using it. Take a look at toysrus website or Fisher Price's website. We did get $10 off at Toysrus so I am not sure if that sale is going on but you can check. Lots of good reviews. I was hooked the first time I saw the comercial. Good luck!

My boys loved the Leapster at that age. We had several other of the Leapfrog products, but the Leapster was the only thing they used.

My 13 yr old daughter grew up with the Jumpstart series starting at toddler through 4th grade and LOVED them. They are educational.

We got a Wii when they came out and we LOVE it. I can't say it is very educational but we as a family enjoy the time we spend together on the sports package, animal crossing, mario cart. She has other programs which are Sims, Harry Potter etc.

Enjoy!

Leapster, Leapster, Leapster!!!! We started with a V.smile, but it never worked quite right. My son loves the handheld leapster, but doesn't much like any of the kids consoles.

My son started reading just after he turned two, and most of it was leap frog products.

We got our twin boys (3yr 10mo) the Fisher Price iXL. It comes with a game, but you can buy more games to upload to it, with the character themes they love(scooby doo, toy story, batman, etc) it has alphabet, numbers, reading, games, music and pictures. You connect it to your home computer, and can upload their fav music and personal pics. We love it because they always wanted to play with our iPhones, but since they got their own 'computers' they can take with them anywhere they go (super compact) they haven't asked us even ONCE to play with our iPhone!! They are so happy with their own!!

My son LOVES the Jumpstart stuff. He played the Pre-Kindergarten one for a LONG time. The nice thing about it is that it somehow "tests" them and gauges what level they are on in the program. Then, it self adjusts to become more challenging for them when they need it. My son loved it (I think he was three when I got it for him and he played it well into four (and still plays it some now that he is 5)).

-L.