Little Leaps, are there any FUN games for children anymore?

Question

I made a HUGE mistake... I wanted my son to have a video game to play. He's 1 year old and can already figure out how to work a Playstation, but the games are too complex, and the controller is too easy for him to damage.

I bought him a "Little Leaps" system. MISTAKE! The games don't do anything... it's just a boring video that plays and after my son loses interest it tells him to "press a button." It's pretty much just a childrens video that occasionally pauses and asks him to "Press a Button" to continue.

My boy already gets more than enough education time, outdoor play time, and his mother is a stay at home mom and daycare provider. Is there anything out there that is a video game he can just move around in and isn't something he can break?

Anyone have any DvD games that will work with "Little Leaps?"

It's Ironic that the same people who are obsessed with children being constantly educated seem to also think children are stupid.

Childhood time for fun??

My son doesn't spend much time doing anything other than Educational Activites... as his mother runs a Daycare and such activites are mandated. If in fact it does damage eyesight, you should provide some links that give facts... I think you're just being rude and spouting nonsense.

My 1 Year old is involved in KinderMusic and Gymnastics. He plays with other children all day long and spends plenty of time with his Mommy and Daddy.

If you can't Answer the Question, please don't reply with your deranged opinions.

Answer 1

My three year old has a gameboy, if you're worried about the hinge breaking on the SP version, go to a used videogame store and buy the old gameboy advance. that's what my younger boys have, and I know what you mean, my 1 year old loves to 'play' on the gamecube, we play supermonkeyball and piglets big adventure. Okay, we play, she pushes buttons randomly. Here's something from my blog about the benefits of videogames...

My husband asked me what exactly kids can learn from video games. Do I have to make a list? Can you just trust that kids are doing what they need to do to keep learning? Well, based on my kids needs and off the top of my head, here is a short list of why video games have been beneficial in our family.

1. visual tracking (um, yeah, you try keeping up with it)
2. spatial reasoning
3. auditory tracking (there's a lot of verbal instructions as well)
4. reading (instructions, maps)
5. math (adding points, stealing coins)
6. geography (well, concepts anyway, north/south, west/east, peninsula's etc)
7. memorization (try to remember which route on MarioKart is the best!)
8. spatial reasoning
9. planning (just which route is fastest to get to the star?)
10. problem solving (if I want to play Boo, and Sam wants him too, what kind of compromise can we work out?)
11. hand-eye coordination (when it's a race to the finish based on button acuity, you learn fast!)
12. springboard to discussions on history, culture, morals,
13. social skills, turn-taking (ya gotta talk about what's going on!)
14. increases self-esteem (as they master games)
15. an extension, sportsmanship, good winning and good losing as well
16. family bonding (yea, you betcha, dh and I play too!)
17. compassion (you haven't lived til you've seen someone pause the game to explain to a hysterical sibling the rules of the game)
18. time management (if mom says that we have 30 minutes til bedtime, and I need to take a shower, how quickly can I shower get pj's on, and play? How much time will I have left? can I talk mom into some extra time if we're in a vital spot?)

Just so you know, I haven't always been a big vg proponent. I had my share of parenting spent limiting television, much less video games. I find now, however, that I've removed those arbitrary limitations based on my fears and societal expectations, my kids spend much less time focused on when they can play and for how long. Here are some more links, I really suggest the sandradodd one, there are a variety of links from there!

http://www.lessontutor.com/kd3.html
http://sandradodd.com/game/nintendogold

Answer 2

It would be one where I was unsure of things, because I haven't discovered things yet, yet it would be full of a sense of beauty and connection. I would understand my life, to a degree where I could-- not 'anticipate' what will happen, but sort of trust whatever happens will be a good thing... I would like to have the sort of life where I can see, if it would be more pleasant to hate who I am or not. Just now, my Dad calls me. See, somehow I don't respond to him-- I'm in a different room. I type some more. Here, I have a sense of shame for myself for not responding. I know there is the choice.... But I also don't really want to answer, because it's my Dad, he probably wants something of me, our relationship is strained, I have issues with my voice and being responsive. (When I'm annoyed or angered or irritated with someone, sometimes-- kay most times, I do not answer... this is frustrating to me--from this itty thing I feel lost). I guess what I want is the consolation from somewhere. That would be included in my perfect life... the awareness of something that exists. I would like to be given the direction, if that is all I would require... preferrably I'd want the direction to have a sort of enlightenment about it, feeling good and pleasant and just. That doesn't come that much. I hope I'm thinking the right way, in that I think that possibility exists...

Answer 3

Giving a 1 year old a video game is not a good idea. Any video game at this age is not a good idea. Won't it be wonderful when by 4 or 5 you can't get the child out from in front of a screen. It won't do much for his intellectual development either. A set of wooden blocks would do much more to help the child become creative and smarter in the long run.

Answer 4

first of all i dont understand how u can be so ignorant as to let a 1yr old kid play a vedio game.
at this age its important for him to play with games like building blocks or something more innovative
for facts:
1. he might develope a serious eye problem very early

2. using tv and vedio games as pacifiers for kids may lead to hyperactivity problems by the time he's 4 or 5(this is still under research and its being proved.its got to do with the rapid color change on screen that decreases the blink rate of the kid and also affects him mentally)

3.dont take away his childhood. remember the old days when we spent more time with our mummies as a kid.