For many parents, saying "no" to video games for preschoolers is a knee-jerk reaction (it was for me anyway). But as handheld game systems become more and more popular for younger children, so do games with a purpose -- educational cartridges that can teach kids early math and reading, as well as other important developmental skills.
Such is the case with My Virtual Tutor (compare prices), a game for the Nintendo DS geared especially for kids in preschool through second grade (there are different titles available depending on the age of the child).
Developed as part of a university study at the University of Colorado, My Virtual Tutor is an interactive game that helps kids work on things like phonics and comprehension. They hold the DS like a book, while a "teacher" leads them through different games and books.
Does your preschooler play video games?
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Image: Mentor InterActive