Little Guy Handheld Game Selection

I bought my 3 year old son the Mobigo for Christmas. I like it because it has a touch screen and a keyboard. My brother was going to buy my 4 year old nephew the ixl but after I read some reviews he is going with the Mobigo as well. My nephew is left handed and the reviews said it was more laid out for a right handed child. I checked reviews on Walmart.com and a couple of other store websites (remember to look at the boy & girl colors for added reviews).

Our son, age 7, has the Leapster 2 and really enjoys it. I get the impression that the Explorer is the next version/replacement for it. We are planning on getting him a DSi XL for Christmas.

When we got him the Leapster 2, we were also looking at the VTech one (forget the name). He played with the demos in the store and really seemed to like the Leapster2 the best (and I also found a really good deal on it!!!)

I was thinking of the Fisher Price ixl for our 2.5 y/o daughter but I don't know if she will get everything out of it - she will probably get her brother's Leapster2 after Christmas ;-) The ixl seems to have a lot of neat features that a 4 y/o might enjoy but I don't have any personal experience with it.

You may want to take him with you to a toys'r'us or target and let him play with the demos if you can and get a feel for which one he likes.

Good Luck!

My son will be 4 in January and we got him the Explorer for Christmas. It is my understanding that the Explorer is the newest version of the Leapster and Leapster 2. The Explorer is suppose to have better graphics than the Leapster 2 and the age range goes a little older than the Leapster 2 (so hopefully he will even get more use out of it). I have a daughter that is 2 so I figure in 2 years I will be looking for a system for her. Since the Explorer is new, I figured I had a better chance of it still being around than the Leapster 2. That way I can buy her a system and they can share the games. The games are not compatible between the Leapster 2 and the Explorer. I looked at the ixl but didn't do much research. I have had success with the Leap Frog products in the past so I thought I would stick with them.

My son got the Leapster when he was 2. He is 5 and although he has a DS, he still plays with the Leapster at times. He learned his letters and numbers using the Leapster - I almost hate to say that - I'm not a big video game person (didn't buy the Leapster or DS for him). But - in the end, the Leapster was a great toy/learning tool.

Leapster.
We have the 1st version... it is good.
It is fun, it is educational... it is GREAT!
My son and daughter, have used theirs since 2 years old.
They are now 4 and 8 years old.

We have the Leapster 2 and my son LOVES it and has for years! What I love is that the games are educational and still entertaining for him. He and his friends trade games, too. I'm trying to hold off on things like a DS as long as possible. The explorer might be great, too. It's just a matter of age and games that you like.

My son and daughter just got the Leapster Explorer for early birthday presents last week from their great grandparents. They will be 3 and 5 in December. I did some research and went to couple different stores to check them out. I found the Leapster Explorer has more games than the IXL and the screen on the IXL seems so small. I watched a couple kids come in the store and play with both the Leapster Explorer and IXL they all seemed to like to Explorer better. My kids have had it for a week and they love it. They take it to the grocery store, in the car, every where with them!