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[StereoVsn]

What I meant to say is precisely what you pointed out - these are for my kids, so I don't want to spend and I don't think they care about latest and greatest like some people are recommending with Switch 2 or Switch OLED. Kids don't care, I don't plan to use these at all. That's why I think they will be fine with Lites even so close to Switch 2 release.


See what I meant?

One thing you underestimate is that kids love doing stuff in local MP, both amongst themselves and when their friends come over. Mario Kart, Just Dance, Mario Party and other games work really well in that regard.

Which is why I suggested regular switch (can get cheaper used, not OLED) and a Lite. At least this has been my experience with my own kids and bunch of my friends.

But Lite works well otherwise. Stuff like Pokémon, Monster Hunter 2 and Animal Crossing would be pretty great stuff to have. And of course Minecraft.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

But Lite works well otherwise. Stuff like Pokémon, Monster Hunter 2 and Animal Crossing would be pretty great stuff to have. And of course Minecraft.

God, I want to hook them up on Minecraft so badly.

 

[Banjo64]

I don’t think kids should have screens.

At all?

 

[StereoVsn]

God, I want to hook them up on Minecraft so badly.

You could setup a server or just have them play iOS/Android versions (or Switch) to start. Get the oldest to start playing and creating and youngest will want that too.

One thing could draw them in is buying cheap themed minor two line Harry Potter, Dragons, etc.

 

[Shifty1897]

My kid is almost 4 and I let him play my Switch and PS5 once every few weeks under supervision. He really only asks when he sees me playing and I don't usually play things while he's awake (because I dont play many games appropriate for his age). When he starts asking to play games more, I'll probably give him my old Switch and get a Switch 2. Most of my games are physical so we can share them, and he needs his own hardware so he won't fucking destroy mine.

I don't have a problem with giving kids some screen time as long as it's not excessive or inappropriate.

 

[chakadave]

oohhh ok, I understand you better. You mean in general, that makes sense. I get it for phones, tablets etc as I don't have kids, but when I do I don't want them to be always on their phones, so maybe I'll do what them Silicon Valley parents be doing and have no screen times or something like this.

That’s exactly it. There have been books and plenty of research. It isn’t good for a developing brain.

The “social” dilemma aspect of it is a lie.

I’d say the best argument is for safety and I know plenty of parents who don’t give their kids phones but get to ‘em a decdicated communication watch or something similar.

An Apple Watch can call text and locate a kid.

Great for giving them a bit of freedom.

 

[tr1p1ex]

Did someone ran through such a scenario already? How did it go?

are you asking permission to buy a toy for each kid? I give you permission.

 

[ReBurn]

Last summer I was going to buy Switch Lite to my 10 years boy (his first console), but before buying we had the conversation:

- Hey, what game do you want? Zelda? Mario?
- GTA 5.
- It's not available on Switch.
- Ok, then Roblox?
- It's not available either.
- Call of Duty?
- No.
- Fortnite?
- Yeah... The worst version though...

I was confused and asked myself: isn't Series S a much better choice for him?
I bought Series S.

How long did it take him to hit up the strip club in GTA V?

 

[Fbh]

For younger kids it seems perfectly fine. If anything, shelling out $1000+ to get them the latest hardware would seem like a waste of money.
I have friends who are still rocking the the OG Wii for their kids to play, and they have a blast with it (though I can't help getting nervous when I see them waving those Wiimotes around their nice OLED tv lol)

 

[AJUMP23]

You should get a switch too.

 

[Moses85]

4,5 years young and a own Switch?

Imo to young. But only my personal point of view. We have 4 children (0,2,6,10) not the 6 year old girl neither the 10 year old boy own their own console, we are sharing. Starting age was 6.

 

[kevboard]

Because if you aren't hooking it up to a TV (which no one should be), anything more than a Lite is a waste of money.

the Lite can not replace the controllers, and the built in sticks are, without exaggeration, the worst sticks ever built into a console.

give it a year and they'll drift, and then you gotta open up the system and replace the stick.

the simple fact alone that you're stuck with the built in sticks makes the system not worth even considering IMO.

I haven't used an original Joycon for years for a good reason

 

[OGM_Madness]

As a fellow parent: raise your kids for the world they’ll live in, not the one you lived in.

It’s OK if they prefer YouTube to a 20-year old video game. Don’t be ashamed to raise dragon slayers in the times of dragons.

THAT SAID: I bought my oldest a Lite because it was Pink. In retrospect, I regret it, would had gotten the Animal Crossing Switch instead (it still has Pastel colors, but it’s a regular Switch, not Lite). Today, I have 3 PS5s in my house, hoping to grab a 4th soon. They play Fortnite, Astro Bot, Roblox, YouTube, etc. They also loved It Takes Two.

I have the console connected to Computer monitors and it works well for them. It’s comfortable. I much rather they have the PS5 than the phone or tablet or switch, because they don’t know how to disconnect and they bring the device over to the table for dinner, etc. a proper “space” for gaming fits my family better. But to each their own.

The joystick drift is real, and it is not easy to fix. Most likely you’ll have to find a shop nearby and pay to get it fixed if/when it happens.

Consider a Switch Lite Vs. an Android tablet Vs. a Cheap Android 100-in-1 portable console. Hacked console like the PSP works well too.

 

[Kokoloko85]

Why not? The old school NES and SNES games look great on my OLED.

Iv barely played switch handheld. Tv feels way better

Me on handheld

 

[Tajaz2426]

Do not buy them anything or they will stay around just like animals when you feed them. My advice is to offload them as soon as possible on the black market where you can get the best bang for the buck for your kids. Then with them out of the picture, invest the money, buy a new truck and get the license plate to say “Thanks kids”.

No thanks necessary, just looking out for my fellow man. Good day, sir.

 

[Edgelord79]

Lots of parenting advice in this thread.

As for the actual question, I believe an iPad is better than a Switch.

1) There are games on it as well.
2) It serves as a useful device outside of games as well.

If you want your kids to play video games because that’s the hobby you like and want them to get into it then the best course of action imo is to have a centralized console and location where everyone plays. We’ve done the Switch Lite thing and they are pretty crappy devices with cheap joysticks that will drift very very quickly. I do not recommend the Lites.

 

[//DEVIL//]

Because I don't plan to hook it to the TV and the OG Switch form factor is absolutely terrible. Kids at this age will enjoy smaller console.

This.

No.

Can't this be fixed rather easily?

Not hooking it up to the TV. As for PSP - I didn't touch it for 10 years, I don't care for things I don't use, which is why I'm selling the PS5 as well. I understand why people may think differently - my mother is a hoarder that refuses to sell any shit she bought 30-40 years ago. She probably has a few million EUR in the stuff she has.

It's a non-issue, chance are when they will be old enough to care about the newest hardware they will probably ask for the newest iPhone before they ask for a game console.

No it can’t be fixed easily . Not on a lite switch where you have to open the whole thing. And you have to find original oem parts otherwise will feel like shit. It’s a hassle really and shipping it is annoying

 

[CrustyBritches]

I did this back in 2019. Got a couple Switch Lites for $175 new for each of my boys who were 8 and 10 at the time. They didn't share very well back then so this was a better solution for me than a $300 normal Switch and multiple controllers. Especially considering we do digital libraries. So it was $350 vs $600 with largely the same outcome of them gaming in portable mode. My older son dropped his Lite coming down the stairs too fast and it shattered into pieces on the wood floor. Thus, proving this approach superior to a either 1 or 2 expensive consoles. They're much more responsible now. Just upgraded them to Switch OLED and Switch V2 and they still only play in portable mode.

There's 2 downsides:
1. Stick drift isn't as easy to address as on normal Switch.
2. If you ever want to have the "family gathered around the console doing 4-player MK9 or SSBU" moment you can't.

P.S.- I'd recommend doing a screen protector and soft shell case with the bumps on the back. For protection, but also because all Switch models are hell to play in handheld because of the shitty ergonomics of the Joy-con.

 

[Daniel Thomas MacInnes]

Not a bad idea. In fact, I bought a Nintendo 2DS and loaded it with software for my four-year-old. Her mother doesn’t approve, so I’l be holding onto that for now, but she’ll have it eventually. We already bought a Switch five years ago, and that gets played every now and then, usually Just Dance & Mario Kart.

There’s no reason to buy the newest toy when current or slightly older tech is just as good. The vast Switch library makes it very easy to buy a used Switch Lite. I might still do that myself later this year, depending on how Switch 2 looks at launch.

 

[Calico345]

Because if you aren't hooking it up to a TV (which no one should be), anything more than a Lite is a waste of money.

I exclusively play my Nintendo Switch in docked mode.

 

[fart town usa]

You messed up OP.

Should have bought two PS5s and two Portals.

Or better yet, two Wii Us.

 

[March Climber]

I will not be getting Switch 2, at least not for 2-3 years

So I was thinking - why not get them 2x Switch Lite

It's less about waiting for the Switch 2 for the Switch 2, and more about waiting for the Switch 2 release so that the Switch 1's price will be cut in half or lower.

 

[64bitmodels]

go for it OP!!! Switch Lite is the switch I owned before selling, it's a great handheld. Thumbsticks never drifted when I used mine. I'm married to my deck now however, lol

It's less about waiting for the Switch 2 for the Switch 2, and more about waiting for the Switch 2 release so that the Switch 1's price will be cut in half or lower.

Ya need the switch lite price to be cut in half when it's already selling for <140???

 

[cireza]

Switch Lite is the only current handheld console that works for kids anyway. Otherwise you can try find 2DS consoles (games on cartridges).

 

[March Climber]

Ya need the switch lite price to be cut in half when it's already selling for <140???

Why settle for cheap when you can go even cheaper?

 

[64bitmodels]

Why settle for cheap when you can go even cheaper?

you definitely know the handshake.

 

[March Climber]

you definitely know the handshake.

Perfect time to get a PS2 was when the PS3 was out. Tons of games, 19.99 and below.

 

[64bitmodels]

Perfect time to get a PS2 was when the PS3 was out. Tons of games, 19.99 and below.

this is how it became the best selling console of all time