Gaming for a 3.5 year old

Pho3nix

Pho3nix

The Legend
Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
32,885
Reaction score
3,057
Location
On the toilet
Hello all!

With the large amount of Switch’s flooding the market I’m considering a Switch or Switch lite for the minion. Anyone tried this before?

They do not have a tablet at the moment and apparently Nintendos parental controls are decent and I know they have a decent catalog.

I would like to play some games eventually with them but open to them focusing on the Switch while I’m on Xbox or PS.

Game recommendations would also be appreciated
 
In handheld mode it will be a disaster for obvious reasons.

In the single Joycon mode I can see how you think it would be a good idea, but the problem will rather be games being too complex (everything Nintendo is text on screen with almost no voice acting ever) and then the games are ludicrously expensive.

It’s also an oddly complicated console for kids to operate with setting up controllers etc for some reason

With all three consoles in my house the kids always gravitated to the Xbox both from a controller comfort point of view but also just finding games they wanted to play.

Sure the Lego games…likely the best start is available on them all but the Switch is simply too expensive just for that.

Also sure the likes of Switch Sports is accessible but also the fastest way to get a controller through your TV.

The Joycons are also notoriously **** and prone to breaking.

Xbox also has the best Parental Controls. PlayStation the shittest, Nintendo somewhere in between.
 
SauRoNZA said:
In handheld mode it will be a disaster for obvious reasons.

In the single Joycon mode I can see how you think it would be a good idea, but the problem will rather be games being too complex (everything Nintendo is text on screen with almost no voice acting ever) and then the games are ludicrously expensive.

It’s also an oddly complicated console for kids to operate with setting up controllers etc for some reason

With all three consoles in my house the kids always gravitated to the Xbox both from a controller comfort point of view but also just finding games they wanted to play.

Sure the Lego games…likely the best start is available on them all but the Switch is simply too expensive just for that.

Also sure the likes of Switch Sports is accessible but also the fastest way to get a controller through your TV.

The Joycons are also notoriously **** and prone to breaking.

Xbox also has the best Parental Controls. PlayStation the shittest, Nintendo somewhere in between.
Click to expand...
Xbox is the most expensive now. Might be able to find a second hand series S for a decent price.
 
Lupus said:
Xbox is the most expensive now. Might be able to find a second hand series S for a decent price.
Click to expand...

He already has one.

Also Switch games are the most expensive by far and almost never see discounts on first party titles so it’s the most expensive one to actually own.

Not to mention replacing controllers and so on.

But even brand new an Xbox Series S is still about the same price as a Switch.

Regardless sounded like he wanted to pick up a second hand Switch bargain but even so will end up costing a fortune in the long run, unless you can also score physical games second hand cheap cheap.
 
SauRoNZA said:
He already has one.

Also Switch games are the most expensive by far and almost never see discounts on first party titles so it’s the most expensive one to actually own.

Not to mention replacing controllers and so on.

But even brand new an Xbox Series S is still about the same price as a Switch.

Regardless sounded like he wanted to pick up a second hand Switch bargain but even so will end up costing a fortune in the long run, unless you can also score physical games second hand cheap cheap.
Click to expand...
Ah right saw that now, yeah let them play on the Xbox. Nintendo is hectically pricey on games.
 
Also don’t discount how quickly kids can pick up this stuff, the biggest barrier is just reading and even that can be very quickly accelerated with incredibly vocabularies through things like Minecraft once they get there.

My daughter started playing Halo with me at 6 if I recall correctly.

Finished Horizon Zero Dawn with very little assistance by 8.
 
PCWARITM said:
Switch lite with:
Animal Crossing

Best place to start.
Click to expand...
Still a lot of reading if they want to get the hang of it. Was a steep learning curve for our six year old, and he quickly got too impatient.
 
Too young for most games. If you already have a console, there's a Paw Patrol driving game where the cars pretty much drive themselves, so the kid doesn't get too frustrated. You'll be wasting money on a switch at this age. At around 5 yo their hand eye coordination is a lot better.

There's far more age appropriate games if you just get a tablet. And they'll need it at some point for school anyway...
 
PCWARITM said:
My kids started at 2 years old with a PC. Took them a month to learn to find their games and play. They were mostly living books series. They couldn’t read but they learned to click and enjoy the interaction. It’s entirely up to the individual IMO.

Sure they will need a bit of coaching but animal crossing is a “play at your own pace” game so easy. No dying. No game overs.
Click to expand...
Maybe my kid is just a few greased palms short of a government tender.
 
now05ster said:
Still a lot of reading if they want to get the hang of it. Was a steep learning curve for our six year old, and he quickly got too impatient.
Click to expand...
Cant speak for 3.5 year old kid, but Animal Crossing and reading motivation with ~6 year olds work like a charm. It was tough and frustrating at first ('what're they saying! Read for me!'), but soon enough they were writing letters to villagers even.

Nintendo gaming is premium gaming. Even 2nd hand game prices are still expensive (for me), but bargains can be had.

If you're buying:
- Check if Switch is modded. Some Switches might be black-listed by Nintendo due to this
- Joycon drift is a thing. Ask for videos of proof of no drift.
- Some people experience payment issues on the E-Shop. I could only buy stuff after struggling 4-5 years with my bank card. Other Switches in the house had no issue.
- Switch is great when load-shedding hits/going on trips/when you want to selfishly watch TV.
- Ask about battery-life.
- Not too sure about this, but I think battery life improved from V1 -> V2 -> OLED Switch.
- You'll have to supervise, unless money is of no concern. Kids break things/let things fall/etc by accident.
- Check out your Cash Crusaders. Their stuff comes with a (6 month?) warranty.
 
Honestly I wouldnt recommend but Fisher Price Little People and the Dibo cartoons from youtube. Then basic games like angry birds or so_Otherwise Robtop or Mario Kart. Plants vs Zombies maybe too.

But honestly I will give them more books etc. Because once they get onto gaming, you can honestly forget about getting them to do schoolwork one day.
 
Pho3nix said:
Hello all!

With the large amount of Switch’s flooding the market I’m considering a Switch or Switch lite for the minion. Anyone tried this before?

They do not have a tablet at the moment and apparently Nintendos parental controls are decent and I know they have a decent catalog.

I would like to play some games eventually with them but open to them focusing on the Switch while I’m on Xbox or PS.

Game recommendations would also be appreciated
Click to expand...

As a parent with an absolutely wrecked switch - I recommend you hold back for a year or two.

My first kid got started on the WII and its actually a way better starter console (for that age), on the plus side games are cheap and many are intuitive for small kids. You can pick up a second hand switch for next to nothing with a tonne of games.
 
it is highly recommended to limit screen time for children under 6 years. Even more. Some research says no screen time. During the age between 0-6 they need to interact with texture, shapes etc. Rather buy your kid real toys and puzzles.

Also, there is also an increase in eye problems in kids due to screens and screen distance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X