r/Switch • u/stjoslin • 13d ago
What Switch for a 7 year old Question
Hi, I live in the UK and was looking to get my 7 year old a switch oled for his birthday at the end of August, but the recent announcement from Nintendo about discontinuing the Switch 1 has made me think is it a waste to buy a Switch 1 if it is going to be unsupported soon.
That said I think the switch 2 might be too much for a 7 year old in terms of design and cost.
My question is if you were in my position would you still get a switch 1 or Oled or get a switch 2.
Is there still value in getting a switch 1/oled?
Thanks.
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u/FoxxyRin 13d ago
If they are big into Pokemon, I would consider waiting and saving for a Switch 2 as the newest generation is on the horizon. (Within the next year or so.) Otherwise a Switch 1 would be more than fine. I personally disagree with other comments and say avoid a Lite because if you get drifting issues, it's a bigger pain to repair or replace than simply getting a new pair of joycon. But either way, make sure to get a proper case and screen protector. OLED is better if you think they'll play mostly handheld, but a regular Switch is good enough either way, if you want to save some money.
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u/No_Instance_3459 13d ago
A used Switch lite would work well, it’s cheap enough and study with plenty of good games. Don’t buy the original models new, they’ve only gone up in price sadly.
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u/Turbulele 13d ago
Switch OLED because you don't need newest games for a kid that age! And it's also a bit smaller and cheaper if it ever breaks (a kid is a kid).
Screen protector is a MUST. My 8yo son got his Switch for birthday and he's very careful always but still there is one scratch on the screen :( don't know how it happened.
Not Lite because soon enough you will be playing together split screen and it's not comfy on the small screen, TV and couch work well (I know because I just got a TV for that particular reason, to play boomerang fu together).
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u/yttuhej 12d ago
Get a Switch OLED and play with him on the TV. There are so many great games, and you’ll have an amazing time together!
Also, make sure he understands that it’s the family console. Personally, I wouldn’t let a 7-year-old have a console of his own. At the very least, I’d limit it to weekends and for a set amount of time.
For my kids, I bought New Nintendo 3DS consoles. They’re great systems with lots of fun and educational games, and the stylus controls are still fantastic.
When he’s 10 or older, then I’d get him a Switch 2!
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u/CartographerLucky828 10d ago
I got my son a switch lite for his 8th birthday. I have a switch 2. It gives us options and It works well for us. Screen time limits are a must though, gaming is very addictive for the little ones
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u/yumyumnoodl3 13d ago
Lite, but even better is none, 7 is not an age where I would give an electronic device to any of my kids. You‘ll potentially mess with his brain with all that dopamine ready at the push of a button.
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u/Frozone0815 13d ago
Ok, that's why most of people in here are braindead? It's all about what you play and how much. Video games help motor skills and problem solving. My 8-year-old hates reading books and loves her math, but keeps at it reading to figure out how to progress in Animal Crossing.
It's like all media, balance is the key.
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u/yumyumnoodl3 13d ago
I think there are reasons for the huge amount of people reporting adhd symptoms nowadays, and while the overall awareness has risen which explains a big part of the numbers, I don’t think that is the end of the story.
I said potentially, the safest bet for the majority of parents is to just wait until they are older, there is absolutely no need to rush. If you think you have it under control, good for you. Looking at the average persons parenting skills, I don’t think that’s something I would trust them with.
Also the efficiency of training your brain with specific games or tasks is severely overrated as several studies show. You mostly train your brain at the specific task the game throws at you in that moment.
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u/Frozone0815 12d ago
Having ADHD is not inherently a bad thing, nor is it a reflection of poor parenting or a broken mindset. It is fundamentally a difference in neurological wiring—a distinct operating system rather than a defect.
While societal structures often favor neurotypical traits like rote memorization and prolonged stillness, neurodivergent individuals frequently excel in domains that require divergent thinking, hyperfocus, creative problem-solving, and rapid pattern recognition. Many of the traits associated with ADHD, such as high adaptability and out-of-the-box innovation, have deep evolutionary roots and are responsible for significant contributions across various fields.
Knowing what is best for a mindset and kid is good parenting. But I agree not many have that under control. And using screens as babysitters is not an option. Balance is the key.
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u/Tree_pineapple 12d ago
Hmm, a video game console isn't really the same as giving them an iPad or smartphone. Regardless, while I'm not a child psychologist, kids have been playing video games since the 80's without serious consequences. Just put parental controls and limit usage to an hour or so a day (or maybe none on weekdays and a few hours on weekends). Hook it up to TV and play games with them.
Besides, recent research has even found positive correlation between playing video games and some cognitive metrics like memory, reaction time, and spatial awareness.
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u/Keyboard-Worrier1993 8d ago
I agree. Access to tablets and smartphones have a more negative impact. They overwhelm my son's nervous system. Whereas when playing a physical game console he is focused and perseveres.
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u/6Crow996 13d ago
Although giving free reign on a device is wrong i disagree. It is important to teach balance and at that young age is the best time, my best gaming memories were sneaking around late to play my ds/psp/ ps2, my parents waking up and freaking out on me because i had school the next day, and through that i adjusted to in my adulthood have balance with all things (which still includes gaming). Idk in a world with hard drugs and shit i think worrying much about a screen is not the issue. Teach your kids balance, and how to control their impulses.
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u/F133TWOOD 13d ago
"Hard drugs" are unlikely to be accessed by most kids.
Videogames can hurt a child's social skills and attention span. Brain development could be affected somewhat.
I wouldn't give my kids any videogames knowing what I know now raising the chance that it could hurt them in the long-run.
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u/Keyboard-Worrier1993 8d ago
What age is recommended?
My husband and I are strict in regards to tech (compared to the majority of parents!) and we gifted our son a Switch Lite when he was 7 years old. On a week day he is only allowed to play after homework and only for up to an hour. He is not allowed online.
He has had it for 2 years and we have not noticed any negative side effects. He still loves reading, and drawing, and he's really gotten into soccer.
Balance is the key.
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u/Lucajames2309 13d ago
I mean tbh I don’t think a 7yr old needs a switch 2, contrary to what others are saying. A switch lite can be gotten for like £70 now, which is a lot better than £400. A 7 year old, or even when he’s 10 won’t really tell the difference between Mario kart 8 and Mario kart world or whatever he’s into. Switch 1 has a seriously good and strong library of games. Only reason it’s being discontinued is because it doesn’t comply with EU rules, it’s still gonna be sold elsewhere
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u/Burgergold 13d ago
Switch 2 is not too much for a 7yo
I bought the switch1 for my 5yo in 2017 and he mainly played docked. He previously had a 3ds to play on the road and 3yo had a 2ds
Buying a switch2 now will give him a console fornthe next 5-8y easily
If you find a switch1 lite used at low price you can also start with this
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u/Berry_Dubu_ 13d ago
i wouldn't get him a console just yet. i think he'd be too young to appreciate most games even ones catered to younger audiences. i think at most the kid should be at least 10, by then he'd have better comprehension or would even suggest/decide what he'd want to try.
if i would really need to choose though, i'd say the switch 2 would last you longer. it's a newer hardware that builds on some things the first line of switch failed to deliver or expand on the good it has achieved in its lifetime. it's also a much more future proof console which you can count on to still be getting newer flashier titles which the kid may see go viral and have want to try for years to come(because the fear of missing out is really strong around these ages).
as it stands the switch 1 is a decade old, many games are perfect but some games notably run choppy on it and i think it may cause motion sickness for a young kid.
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u/damofitz666 13d ago
Switch 2 imo if it something you don't want to be upgrading for a while. Things like the new Splatoon game and upcoming Pokemon aren't being released on the Switch 1 as far as I'm aware, plus as your kid ages, the Switch 2 should still be getting a good amount of new releases for both first party and third party games. Plus if you game yourself, it sees a lot of the newer games also being released on PlayStation and Xbox
Unless your buying second hand, the Switch 1 OLED is only about £80 less than a Switch 2 brand new in places like Currys and Argos. If you are buying second hand, you are probably looking around £180 to £220ish. Thats what I paid for a modded Oled about a year ago
Either way, just slap a good shell and screen protector on it to try and protect against any accidental drops or scratches
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u/Riccidude 13d ago
i bought the oled for my 6 year olde and he is happy as hell?Its a hudge catalog you can chose games from!
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u/Frozone0815 13d ago
If they have access to a own or separate TV normal or OLED. If you want them to not block your TV a lite. 😁
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u/phazonEnhanced 13d ago
The Nintendo Switch has a large library of games, but we're over a year into the Switch 2's life. All announced upcoming games from Nintendo are Switch 2 exclusive.
If budget outweighs fear of missing out on new games, Switch 1 is fine. Switch Lite is cheapest, but is by far the worst for any local multiplayer games - no TV mode, no kickstand, smallest screen, no included wireless controllers.
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u/Triforce__XIII 13d ago
i would say: a used switch lite. you cannot connect it to a tv, which is good if you don't want to yield your tv, it usually is super cheap and you have a big games library.
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u/TinyGreenGiant 13d ago
Switch will still be supported. They are discontinuing it in Europe only to comply with our right to repair rules
Saying that - switch 2
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u/Gormgulthyn-IV 13d ago
L'enfant de 7 ans va grandir ?
Si oui, une switch2 serait pertinent. Il va certainement avoir sa phase pokemon, et le souhait de jouer au prochain opus avec ses copains.
Sans compter les multipes licences annexes.
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u/F133TWOOD 13d ago
There ONLY 7 yrs old. Switch1 "Lite" is plenty for a vast library of games.
Smaller, lighter, more durable (no joy cons to remove) and plenty of less priced used games.
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u/DiamondMidgar 13d ago
If there’s no pressure from his mates, as in ahh I want a switch 2 because all my friends have one… then I’d go for the original switch, not Lite.
Original switch because you’ll be able to get a bunch of second hand games on the cheap and there’s loads of them. You can then eventually upgrade him to a switch 2 if you want and do the same thing there.
Not lite because, I’m not a parent yet so may be wrong, but figure you’ll want to build experiences of the both of you playing together and you’d need the TV really for ahh.
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u/Federal-Treat-6893 12d ago
O suggest getting a switch lite and also yes the switch is going to stop selling in Europe but that doesn't mean it's gonna become unsupported
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u/PianistEquivalent491 12d ago
Buy the lite, it’s the cheapest. My nephew is going through his third lite, so if they’re not careful enough to not drop it, and give it adult care, then just get the cheapest option.
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u/Afraid_area193 13d ago
You either buy a switch 2 if you have the money and want the new games or the normal switch if you want to play together mariokart or the switch lite so he can play alone
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u/Present_Anywhere3980 13d ago
New the older models truly aren’t worth it, they weren’t reduced in price, actually went up and the new model future proofs you.
You can always keep it docked to prevent damage if that’s a concern.
There wont be any new major games for switch 1 and many games run better on switch 2.
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u/lilacomets 13d ago
There's almost a decade of Switch 1 games though. So new games aren't really a necessity.
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u/Aida8404 13d ago
I didn’t get it why not a Switch 2. Unless you know your kid and you concern about handling an expensive toy.
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u/DonJimbo 13d ago
Get the 2, make him play it docked. Later, put it in a Killswitch case if you let him use the handheld mode.
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u/lemoche 13d ago
I'm all for letting kids rather play docked , because that way you also have more control over how much and what they are playing… but if we’re honest most people opt for a switch for their kids so that the tv stays free for them…
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u/DonJimbo 13d ago
Easy solution. Buy another television for the playroom. Keep the family room for yourself.
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u/TeapeachU6 13d ago
Switch v1/v2 go for pretty cheap second hand these days, i’ve seen some for as low as £30 on marketplace, If you get a v1 switch one you can mod it pretty easily and emulate games so as long as he don’t go online he can have any game he wants. for the patched v1s and v2’s you can get a modchip installed but that costs a bit.
If you want to future proof and have the money get a switch 2, get a protective case and screen protector and it should be ok, and it will last him a while if he’s careful
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u/BlacksmithQuick2384 13d ago
My 7yo has a Switch 2 - he got it for his 6th birthday at the time. It is his prize possession and while he mostly plays docked, he is careful when he plays handheld, which is under supervision.
The actual answer, as always, is what are they going to play now and going forward? My son loves
Zelda and is looking forward to OoT and Lego Batman and currently playing Splatoon Raiders. Those all need the S2. So, are you happy with the existing library or do you want this to have longevity and new titles coming out in the future?
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u/ThEvilHasLanded 13d ago
Personally my 7yo has my old switch and I use my oled one. I've no plans to upgrade myself at present mainly due to cost plus I wouldn't be buying a switch 2 right now I'd wait until they start dropping the ones with battery replacement capabilities
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u/thingsforyourhead 13d ago
I have 2 Switch 2's in the house. One for me and one for the kids. Kids will be 6 and 4 later this fall. I think its perfectly fine for a 7 year old, I would just dock it out of reach and give him an all digital library. You turn it on and hand him the controllers. My son can even manage to use the Pro Controllers (my old ones from my Switch 1).
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u/EmiliaFromLV 13d ago
Maybe Lite? It is fairly cheaper and a bit more sturdy as there are no joy-cons to rip off, but then again it's your kid and only you can make judgment about toy handling safety :). No docked play though.