Nintendo switch, and a 4yr old......?
Discussion
Is 4yrs old too young to be bought a games console/to start gaming?
I ask because my brother is a gamer, and he has the switch. Whenever we get together as a family at the weekend we fire up Mario Kart, and my 4yr old loves it, granted he doesn't really know what's happening, we switch on all the driver assists for him and he waves the controller around a bit whilst the rest of us play properly, but he does enjoy it. With this, I was considering getting a Switch. Yes there's the added benefit that I can play Zelda and the like, but that doesn't come into it.........
On the downside, does a 4yr old really need a games console? Plus, by the time you've bought the console, extra controllers, and a game, its around £400
I ask because my brother is a gamer, and he has the switch. Whenever we get together as a family at the weekend we fire up Mario Kart, and my 4yr old loves it, granted he doesn't really know what's happening, we switch on all the driver assists for him and he waves the controller around a bit whilst the rest of us play properly, but he does enjoy it. With this, I was considering getting a Switch. Yes there's the added benefit that I can play Zelda and the like, but that doesn't come into it.........
On the downside, does a 4yr old really need a games console? Plus, by the time you've bought the console, extra controllers, and a game, its around £400
My 4 year old plays on my PS4. He likes all the Lego games and knows how to play them better than I do. When we play together on it I sometimes have to ask him which character has the skills required to complete a task. Children seem to be able to pick up games quite easily, and if you look at the age rating for racing games they are 3+.
EagleMoto4-2 said:
and if you look at the age rating for racing games they are 3+.
Err, that's because they don't have any swearing / blood etc. - not because they are aimed at a 3 year old. A 3-year old is not going to tell you the best suspension and gearing setup for a Zonda round Silverstone. Everyone knows you need a 7-year old for that.Other than that, I agree about kids & games. Trying to stop them playing games is like trying to stop the tide coming in by standing on a beach and shouting at the sea. Might as well get them playing suitable games - Lego, Minecraft, Mario etc. Lots of these games you can play co-operative play on. The Wii U is excellent for this - in particular the Lego games.
Cheap, cheerful and rather good: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01J90O0N4/ref=gw_Tabl...
That way he can start to play games and perhaps even do other things.
That way he can start to play games and perhaps even do other things.
The wife was adamant he wasn't going to be allowed to play with gadgets too early, but at 2.5yrs old he started playing on grandads Ipad, and has been playing games on our phones and the tablet for the past year. We were going to buy him a Kindle Fire kids edition, so he had his own (I'm sick of coming in from work to find my tablet on 0% battery), but he seems to really enjoy the Switch.
For me as a parent too, on a tablet he'll likely sit on his own playing the games, on the Switch he'll be playing with myself/the wife/both of us, so it'll be more about sharing and playing with others, rather than "this is my tablet".
Reading back it just sounds like I'm trying to justify buying a Switch for myself
For me as a parent too, on a tablet he'll likely sit on his own playing the games, on the Switch he'll be playing with myself/the wife/both of us, so it'll be more about sharing and playing with others, rather than "this is my tablet".
Reading back it just sounds like I'm trying to justify buying a Switch for myself
boxst said:
Cheap, cheerful and rather good: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01J90O0N4/ref=gw_Tabl...
That way he can start to play games and perhaps even do other things.
No, No, No.That way he can start to play games and perhaps even do other things.
I would use something that involves a controller and a good distance from the actual screen i.e. console and a tv. You don't want young kids to be staring at a tablet cm's from their eyes for hours on end.
Ideally 2 player so it is interactive.
p.s. why is this question being asked in a lovely summer like we are having? Get kids outside! Save computer games for the winter.
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 4th July 23:05
hyphen said:
p.s. why is this question being asked in a lovely summer like we are having? Get kids outside! Save computer games for the winter.
Because it's actually his 4th birthday in a few weeks, don't think "you can have your birthday present in November" would go down well with a 4yr old Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 4th July 23:05
The Switch is great, my 6 year old has just completed Zelda (with a little help from me!). Lots of problem solving to do.
The 1-2 switch game is good too, my two year old loves shaking the controller on the wizard game.
Works on TV as well as handheld so you can restrict them to using however you want. I think it also has parental controls to limit the played but it's easy enough to limit time played without them.
The 1-2 switch game is good too, my two year old loves shaking the controller on the wizard game.
Works on TV as well as handheld so you can restrict them to using however you want. I think it also has parental controls to limit the played but it's easy enough to limit time played without them.
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