Finding the Perfect Online Games for Your Kids

The world of online gaming is exciting. With the Internet at your fingertips, there should definitely be online games for kids perfect for your children, right? Yes, there is. The trick is to find it.

When are Kids Ready for Online Games?

Parents, rightfully, have more fears about their children playing online games than they do about any other kind of computer game. Deciding to take the plunge and allowing your kids to play online games doesn't have to be a complete nightmare, though.

First, you'll need to determine whether your child is ready for computer games at all. If your child is under three, or still has a short attention span (they're usually unable to sit in one spot and color for 30 minutes at a time), they're probably not ready developmentally yet. Pay more attention to the developmental stages of your child than the ages plastered all over games - the maturity level of your child and the things they're learning in their daily lives have a much stronger impact on their ability to play games than the number of their age alone.

When your child passes the first "test", they're ready to play games on the computer. Online games for kids are available in all styles and formats, and they don't have to involve other people or "communities" in any way. Before you start worrying about keeping your child safe online, first concentrate on the style of game that would work best for them.

The key to choosing the right kind of game lies in your child's abilities and interests. If they're currently learning their ABC's in school, any type of letters game or even memory games would be a perfect fit. Music games are also good for a variety of developmental levels. Think about your child's needs and interests and keep them in mind as you continue reading.

Good Online Games for Kids

There are a variety of online games for kids that you will want to investigate thoroughly before allowing your child control. Some of the games listed below are websites that provide a selection of games while others are for specific online games.

Game Sites:

Learn 4 Good - http://www.learn4good.com/games/index.htm - This website has a large selection of games that can be played online or downloaded to your computer and played from your hard drive. Most of the games are educational in nature.

Kaboose - http://resources.kaboose.com/games/ - A fun website focused on providing games "for moms and kids". The selection is cute, fun, and definitely colorful.

Individual Games:

Fly For Fun - http://flyff.gpotato.com/ - When it comes to community-based online games for kids, this one has to top the list. It is filled with colorful, kid-friendly graphics and introduces children to the concept of an online community in a relatively child-safe way. Definitely for the older children (grades three and up), the game has a great back-story that parents can get into, too. Playing this game will require downloading a program that runs from your computer and connects to the game's servers, but the experience is one that your children will enjoy and it's safe enough that you'll be able to relax a little.

Club Penguin - http://www.clubpenguin.com/ - Another community-based online game, Club Penguin is designed for the kids by Disney. It works as a virtual world where games can be played with other penguins, kids get to chat with each other, and the world itself can be waddled around and explored to open new fun opportunities.

Toontown - http://play.toontown.com - Totally kid-friendly, this online game for kids qualifies as an MMORPG (Massive Multi-Player Online Role-Playing Game). Kids get to pretend they're one of the colorful Disney characters that they build when starting the game, and then they move through Toontown having adventures and generally enjoying play with other kids their age. While there is "violence" in Toontown, it takes the form of the classic anvil-dropping on an enemy or throwing a pie in another kid's face. Another parent-relaxing feature is Toontown's chat control system. By default, anyone wanting to chat with your child must know their friend code. The friend code can keep inappropriate messages from ever reaching your child. Otherwise, chat is limited to pre-determined (selectable) messages.

Online Games for Kids & Safety

Keeping your child safe while they play games online is pretty easy if you follow a few basic tips:

1. Become familiar with game ratings, what the ratings mean, and how to interpret your child's developmental age as it applies to the ratings.

2. Spend time with your child while they play online games. If they play in a community setting, pay attention to what games they're playing and who they play with.

3. Keep your computer in the living room or another area of the house that can be easily monitored.

4. Be aware that cyber bullies exist in community settings. Learn how they should be dealt with, and work with your child.

5. Join in on the fun! There are a lot of online games that allow you to play side-by-side (or at least "nearby") your child. This is one of the best methods available for keeping your children safe when they play online games, especially in community settings.

Sources:
KidSource http://www.kidsource.com/education/computers.children.html
Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/protect/family/activities/gaming.mspx