Think about who will be using the video game console to get a sense of the kinds of games available for that age group and your child's interests. Video game consoles are released every few years that are faster and have sharper video and other technological advancements since the earlier iteration. If you are purchasing your first system with younger children in mind, it may make sense to consider starting with the previous generation's console. Even if they are not the absolute latest technology, they will still have a tremendous amount of power to get the job done. Shoppers should also consider if it is important to be able to play the same game on the console and a mobile device. Certain consoles and games permit this kind of crossover while others don't, so consider your needs as you narrow down the criteria.  Finally, the temptation to play hour after hour of video games is real, particularly for children. Many gaming consoles come with mechanisms to set parental control timers to limit the amount of time each day and controls to manage the kind of content a child can access without permission.