One of the reasons I most wanted to get a Wii was having a much wider variety of games to choose from for my kids. The Xbox just didn’t have that many games for kids 12 and under, and none at all for preschoolers. Well, the Nintendo Wii is sure picking up on that untapped market by releasing just a ton of games meant for younger players. There are games for Bratz, Build-A-Bear Workshop (review coming soon!), Rubik’s Cube, Hasbro Family Game night, and this one that we reviewed this weekend, Littlest Pet Shop, which we received from Parent Bloggers Network.

You start the game by naming your first three pets, which are a dog, a kitty, and a bunny. Kaitlyn named the dog “Elvis” (our dog’s name), the kitty “Kaitlyn”, and the bunny “Bunny”. That’s what you get when you let a three year old pick the names! You start by controlling the dog, and the game shows how to move the controller to move the dog over to the Pet Store where you buy a pair of sunglasses. Then you are prompted to move over to the Pet Salon and shown how to open the accessories menu. You can choose from about a dozen different pairs of sunglasses, capes or collars, and hats or headbands. It’s fun to dress up the pet

The game does a good job of explaining how to switch between controlling the different pets, and you are prompted to take each of them to the Salon for outfits. You also pick up coins along the pathway as well, which earn you more items in the Pet Store. You unlock games for each pet as well, like keeping the pet on top of a moving ball, and one where you blow bubbles to bounce coins in the air.

I tried to show Kaitlyn how to use the remote and play the game, but her hands are just too small and she really doesn’t get how to point it at the screen. I would say that this game is really best for children ages five and up who have learned to use the remote. I must confess, I kept playing even after she ran off to do something else. I changed the pets’ outfits a few times, and I even earned enough coins to unlock a new pet! This part is cute- you have to buy a train ticket, then the pet arrives on the train, and the graphics are really cute for that part. I unlocked a Polar Bear, which Kaitlyn named…Pants. Yes, Pants, because that is her new favorite word that she thinks is the funniest word ever.

This is a wonderful game for Littlest Pet Shop fans or just as a fun game for younger kids (and Moms too). It really brings the Littlest Pet Shop world to life, and the best part is, no tiny little plastic accessories to lose. I’m hoping that once Kaitlyn is a little bigger and can work the Wii remote, she’ll have as much fun playing Littlest Pet Shop as I do!