Can 3 year olds use the Leapster?

[s7714]

I've been thinking about getting my 5 year old DD a Leapster for our road trips this summer, and I know my 3 year old will be itching to lay her hands on one as well if her sister gets one. I don't have a problem buying a Leapster for my 3 year old if she could actually get something out of it, but I'm wondering if she would. I'd rather buy $50 worth of other road trip toys for her if the Leapster is only going to entertain (or frustrate) her for a few minutes, iykwim.

Does anyone have any experience with 3 year olds using the Leapster?

TIA!

[manda]

We bought one for our DD's 4th birthday last year. She loves it, but I almost think her brother (3 this June) loves it more. I don't know that he gets anything out of it, but he loves to play with it. He mostly uses it to draw. He also plays Memory with it. He has been begging for one for his birthday because big sister isn't sharing as much as he would like.

FWIW, we have a Dora cartridge and a Nemo cartridge. The Dora one has games on it like Memory or matching animals and sounds. The Nemo one tells the Finding Nemo story and has a few games.

[bubbaray]

DD#1 was 3.5 when we got her a Leapster. She was fine with it.

[missym]

Gwen did ok at 3, much better at 4, and totally "gets it" at 5. Mostly at 3 she used the simple drawing program that's included, and the matching game. At 4, I still had to help her with some of the games. HTH!

ETA: The Leapster is the first (and only) exposure she's had to video games. I'm sure a kid who had played video or computer games could pick up on it more quickly.

[cimberdog]

We got one for our oldest son when he was four, and for awhile he wasn't too interested. But since he turned five, he LOVES it. And, what's neat about that is my younger boy is 3 1/2 and is totally into it - probably from watching his brother :)

[DDowning]

Jen - Chloe has one and she does okay with the Pre-K ones. By far, her favorite though is Letters on the Loose. That one requires her to use the stylus alot and gives her practice with fine motor skills learning to draw letters.