Kids Computer Games Recommendations

Growing up in NYC I was lucky enough to have the Bronx Zoo accessible to me. It is one of the best zoos in the US and offers plenty of space for the animals . I remember going to the Central Park Zoo before it was renovated and the animals pacing their cages and how sad they looked. Luckily the Central Park Zoo was remodeled and is now much better for the animals. When I went to High School at the Bronx High School of Science I had an Animal Behavior class that had me at the Bronx Zoo every week studying “my animal” that I would report on.

So all this time in zoos and animals definitely had me interested in the game Zoo Tycoon where you set up your own Zoo. The first Zoo Tycoon was amazing but definitely…

Ages 3-5
My old favorite to teach was Thinking Things 1. These games are not the traditional learning games. The ages are 4-6 although my daughter started playing at 3 and had fun with it. The games include one where the kids can create their own musical and shape collage, my favorite where you own a “fribble” (cute cuddly puffballs) shop and have to get the customer the kind they want; be it curly haired, glasses, color etc. which is great for young ones to learn sorting and colors. All the games are cute my only warning would be that some may have trouble getting this older game to work on Windows XP. It worked on my daughter’s computer no problem but when I tried to install it on another it just wouldn’t work…..

Dr. Suess’s Preschool Learning is a GREAT game. There…

My favorite genre of games is adventure games for kids and for adults. They teach how to solve logical problems, are usually filled with tons of humor and when the kids can finally solve them by themselves they feel a real sense of accomplishment. These usually require some adult help at first but you will have fun while doing so.

A shout HAS to go out the company Humongous Entertainment for creating such great adventure games for many different ages. In all of them there are GREAT animations, songs, inventory items to pick up and use and wonderful characters.

—- Putt Putt is for kids ages 3-6 and is a car traveling with his dog sidekick. My favorites are Putt Putt Saves the Zoo and Putt Putt Joins The Circus. Although some of the others are easier for first time adventurers.

—- Freddi Fish is a girl fish…

My children were born with parents that LOVE computer and video games. In fact when my husband and I met we both talked of hoping to develop children’s software someday and my husband had already developed a math game for kids. In our house we use computer and video games as a way to bond with our children — not separate us from them.

There was a study done recently that states that computer games helps parents bond with kids. The study was done by and the article written by Clement James, vnunet.com 29 Aug 2007 and states: “Computer games can help parents and grandparents bond with their children and grandchildren, according to new research”. The study commissioned by games developer PopCap Games claims that 92 per cent of casual gaming parents and grandparents say such games provide an opportunity for them to bond…

Sim games have been around for quite a while now. From the Sim People, to Sim Pets to Sim City’s there is no shortage of designing your own — well anything. Whatever part of the world you feel you want to design….you choose what parts you have fun constructing. I started years ago with the original “The Sims”. It was amazing to me how you could design a house, the people, the careers, the family, the town…. Truly a way to lose some hours and then just sit back and watch your new world unfold…..

For the teens through adults there are: The Sims Complete Collection which includes:

Online Gaming for Kids — Webkinz — Age 4 - teenager

Today is my son’s 8th birthday and for it he and his sister both received a Webkinz stuffed animal. Webkinz are little stuffed animals that you buy for $10 or under. (My kids have a black stallion and a monkey but there are different breeds of dogs, cats, any animal imaginable to purchase) With the Webkinz comes a code that you enter into http://www.webkinz.com for your specific animal and to start your account.

Both my kids are members of Club Penguin and Nicktropolis but I have to say the Webkinz Community blows them both away. There are no additional costs other than the stuffed animal you have bought. It has the same premise, you name your animal and design its clothes and room with objects you buy after you earn money from playing games and doing activities.…