Kids' Software Games

From LoveToKnow Kids

Kids' Software Games for All Ages

There is no doubt about it; the world is living in the computer age. As such, getting children in front of a PC as early as possible is no longer an option; it is a necessity to ensure their futures in the increasingly cybernetic world. Fortunately there are two factors which work together to make this goal one of the easiest for today's parents to achieve. Most children are naturally attracted to the interactivity that a computer offers and there are plenty of fantastic kids' software games available to both educate and entertain children while teaching them the basic use of a PC.

Preschool and Kindergarten

As little as twenty years ago, the idea of sitting a three or four year-old child in front of a computer and expecting her to be able to operate it was virtually unheard of. PC applications were confusing, convoluted, and difficult for many competent adults to master. As computers have grown up, however, they have also grown down with more kids' software titles becoming available each year. Today there are literally hundreds of titles available that are designed to entertain children by offering them chances to interact with characters like Spongebob Squarepants, Barney, and Blue of "Blue's Clues" as they learn the alphabet, simple math, phonics, and basic computer operation. Popular titles for this age group include The Learning Company's "Reader Rabbit" series, "Kid Pix" - a title that allows kids to draw and paint with the computer mouse, and many "Sesame Street" titles featuring popular characters like Elmo, Grover, and Big Bird.

Kids' Software Games for Grade School

As kids get older, their computer literacy needs change as quickly as their needs for entertainment and education. During this time, parents may find it challenging to steer their kids' interests toward educational titles as they are likely to be increasingly far more attracted by pure entertainment titles. In the earlier grades, parents will find it easier to balance the children's educational needs with their entertainment interests as more "grown up" versions of the software they used at younger ages are readily available. Older kids are bound to have their attention drawn to games like Warcraft and The Sims and away from educational titles that teach math, science, language, and geography. While parents will want to find a balance between education and entertainment, they should be aware that even the games that offer little or no educational value still help kids develop valuable computer skills. Educational titles which are perfect for this age group include the Carmen Sandiego games as well as the "I Love" ("I Love Science", "I Love Math") games from Global Software Publishing.

Teenagers

By the time today's toddlers and kindergarteners reach high school, they should be well versed in the computer world. Educational titles are likely to be a thing of the past for these kids as they become more interested in the internet and in more mature PC games. Parents will probably find themselves spending more time policing the content in their kids' games than anything else and should be well aware of the ESRB, an organization that rates the age-appropriateness of games using a system similar to the one used for film ratings. Teens should also be developing their computer skills further by learning non-game applications such as word processors and spreadsheets and possibly learning computer programming skills as well. A solid foundation of computer literacy will help kids prepare for college and the job market and kids' software games and educational titles will help lead them in that direction. After all, the toddler that is playing "Elmo's Deep Sea Adventure" today could very well create the next "Doom", "Eudora", or "Halo" years from now.


 


Comment on Kids' Software Games



(Displayed with your comment)                        (Will not be displayed)
Verification Code:   
    

Kids Categories
LoveToKnow Tools
More Articles