Kids Computer Games Recommendations

Civiballs 2: Empire Bounce and Roll is a wonderful new puzzle game from Shockwave.  You can play online or download a full version and it definitely is NOT just for kids. This is puzzling at its best.

The goal – to get the balls in their correct containers by cutting them.  Sounds easy, right?   As you can see by the second image – the puzzles get harder.  What’s nice is there is no time pressure and the problem solving allows you to use trial and error to come up with a working solution for each puzzle.  The graphics are cute and the music pleasant.

Shockwave offers MANY free online games for kids.  Shockwave is also now affiliated with Nickelodeon Arcade now so ensure a safe site experience.  There are links on the site but they are for other child friendly games.

My 6 year old…

It is THAT time of year – the commercials have begun and if your kids are anything like mine they already have their lists going for all the things they are hoping Santa will bring.  My son is ten and I have still been able to keep him AND my 6 year old daughter AWAY from violent computer games and sites.  Luckily there are MANY top choices for non violent computer games for kids that they will thoroughly enjoy. I have written Holiday recommendations in 2008 for PC Games/Sites and for Nintendo Wii and DS Products and those still stand true.  In this day and age there are many options for buying a game for the family or children – you can buy a console or hand-held game, buy a full version of a game online, get a gift card for IPhone or…

Moshi Monsters takes a very different spin on kid’s computer games and the recent inundation of interactive social networking sites for children. The games are educational and the environment silly, entertaining, safe and fun at the same time.  For parents, they have a thorough description of their site and their commitment to education and safety of children on their site. This is a QUALITY networking site for children to play games and learn.  As you might have guessed by the name – it is about monsters… but not scary ones – very cute ones that you adopt when you join.  There are free and paid membership options and my children have been very pleased with all you ARE allowed to do with the free membership. You need permission from a parent to join — another way they ensure safety.  It is a…

It has been ages since I reviewed any of the FREE wonderful Kid’s computer games at Discovery Kids! Their site is voluminous and offers many educational games for all ages.  I had recommended Discovery Kids for Pre-schoolers but in the last two years it has become so much more.  Whizz Ball is a prime example of a superb thinking game with a similar feel of one of my all time favorites, “The Incredible Machine“.

Whizz Ball comes with many options and for the beginner and children under 10 — I highly recommend clicking on the “How To Play” and watching the tutorial.  My son who is 10 took quickly to this game and began with “Build Your Own Puzzle”.  This is also a good way (especially for older kids) to explore learning how the pieces interact with each other.

When you “Click to Play” you…

In the last 2 months my family has discovered all new kids computer games.  We have turned MAC.  We had an IPOD we loved for years and recently have gotten a Mac Laptop,  my husband and I switched to IPhones and my son received an ITouch for his birthday. There are so many wonderful Applications (Apps) for these products but it is good to know which ones are safe and educational before you download.  Here are a few of my favorite games/apps to make you/your child think and have fun. They ALL have free (LITE) versions to try out and if you find yourself needing more levels – you can always purchase the full version. Open ITunes then click the ITunes links provided to find out more. Enjoy!

Genesis

Genesis is an awesome game much like Auditorium, which  I recently reviewed. A…

Although Tropix says it for ages 10 and up I feel any child that can read would have an amazing time with it.  Tropix is a game with many mini games, goals and beautiful graphics.  My 6 year old daughter has not been THIS fond of a game in a LONG time and my 9 year old son enjoys it as well.  This game is available for the PC, for The Nintendo DS or online through Shockwave.

In Tropix your character is a monkey.  You begin on one island where you need to buy food as well as items for comfort and fun.  You get sand dollars by playing games. When you have filled your food, fun and comfort to their fullest capacity (while designing your island for your monkey) you are given a scroll which enables you to unlock a new game. …

Auditorium is MUCH more than a kid’s computer game.  It is a game adults will love as well.  It is good for all ages and the music and graphics are simple gorgeous.  It is no wonder this game has won so many awards and I consider it a gift to have found it. It has a very zen like feel to it and I was hooked and went back to it a FEW times yesterday.  I also told everyone around me about it.  I have only played nine free levels online and I did not want to stop.  For $10.99 you get over 70 levels of game play spread across 15 acts.

The premise – simple — move the circles so that the energy flow fills the audio containers. As you do you will hear different soothing melodies.  The music and…

The puzzle genre is one of my favorites as far as computer games for kids.  Mosaic – Tomb of Mystery is no exception although it certainly isn’t JUST for children. The graphics and music are beautiful and you are working your brain, your hand-eye coordination and ability to think fast and plan ahead.  Seems like a simple premise….get all the pieces to fit into the image.  But as the pieces continue to fall and you are still debating where and how the last piece will fit – you realize this is more challenging than it may have first appeared.

I love the Play First site because it allows you to do just that. You can play Mosaic – Tomb of Mystery free online and try it as you go through the many levels they include for free.  If you decide you like it…

Fantastic Contraption is a wonderful physics based game children and adults will have fun playing.  It is a free game online to try (many levels) and if you enjoy it and want more it is only $10 for the full version.  Both of my children (ages 6 and 9) REALLY enjoyed playing this although my 6 year old did get a bit stumped and it was my pleasure to help her.

I recommend doing the tutorial so your child (and you) understand how the parts work.  The goal — simple – get the piece into the goal section by building a contraption that will do it.  Sometimes you need a vehicle looking device — other times your creativity and imagination needs to come into play to help you figure it out.  Press Start to see what your contraption will do and…

Hi Everyone.  Thanks for the response for the Jumpstart.com contest.  I have had a number of readers request an extension so they and their children would have the weekend to try out the Jump Start site.  I will extend the entry date until next Saturday, January 17th, 2009. I will be posting results and my review on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009.

Prizes:

– A copy of the newest version Jump Start Kindergarten called “The Legend of Grizzly McGuffin” AND

– Free 3 month FULL membership to jumpstart.com as a prize.

The rules are below and please see my previous post for reviews on the fabulous Jump Start products.

What to do to enter the Jump Start.com Contest:

1) Visit Jumpstart.com (free to play as a non-member). Or if you want to try out the full membership for one month you can use the Promo code 02CENTS to get a month of…