Software for a 6-year-old?

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by bellgamin, Dec 7, 2006.

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  1. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

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    My 6-year-old granddaughter will be spending several days with my wife & me during the Christmas season. She loves playing educational games on the computer.

    Therefore, I am urgently seeking software that has educational games for kids aged about 6 to 8, and would VERY much appreciate specific recommendations (with links, if possible).

    aloha... bellgamin
     
  2. WSFuser

    WSFuser Registered Member

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  3. Rmus

    Rmus Exploit Analyst

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    My favorite educational site is

    http://www.familygames.com

    Check their freeware games link - it's more than just games.

    The notecard program is one of the best I've ever seen in teaching the names of the notes of the music keyboard. People (adults too!) learn the keys very quickly.

    -rich
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2006
  4. tony62

    tony62 Registered Member

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    Hi bellgamin,
    Tuxpaint

    my daughter absolutely loves it.
     
  5. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Hello,

    Maybe MATLAB? Joking.

    Paint cant be nice. Or you might even go as far as Google SketchUp. I really don't know what 6-year olds are capable of.

    A sweet game that she might try is Cultures. I would say that it is quite education, since it includes raising of Viking children, all sorts of domestic jobs, and lots of interaction between your Viking characters.

    Mrk
     
  6. Firecat

    Firecat Registered Member

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    Well, it depends on how you interpret the game. A friend of mind used a trick in the game in which he would simply marry off all the male kids to their mothers and use them for further population production. :eek: :ninja:

    Its a nice game, and I doubt a six year old would be able to pick up anything bad from such kind of game, but still, its good to be aware.

    Also, many games offer an option to remove the gory stuff from it, so maybe such games will help.

    I would recommend games like Pharaoh, Civ City Rome, or Caesar 3/Caesar IV. While there are some difficult elements to these kinds of games, like preparing armies for defense of your city, most of the time spent playing these games simply involves building a city, and giving the citizens all they need to grow and prosper. As they prosper, your city's huts and settlements turn into large and beautiful villas. :)

    Another series I could recommend is the Tycoon series of computer games. There are many types like Railroad Tycoon, Business tycoon etc., but they are mostly no brainers all involving the player to set up a sprawling enterprise with lots of profits.
     
  7. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Hello,
    Sorry for going off-topic, but there is an almost 30-year-old boy who would like Caesar IV! Was it released? How come I didn't hear about it?
    Mrk
     
  8. Texcritter

    Texcritter Registered Member

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  9. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    Agree 100%. Tuxpaint is the best thing there is for kids ( and grown ups!)
    There is also a bunch off additionals for it, it is an unending source of interest for children. Try it you won't be disappointed.
    P.S. It's not just a painting thing, it does lots of things!
     
  10. cthorpe

    cthorpe Registered Member

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    I teach computers to elementary school children. We used TuxPaint at one point to draw a self portrait. Now the kids always beg to play it again.

    C
     
  11. bellgamin

    bellgamin Registered Member

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    I am very very grateful to all contributors. I am using Mario & Tux for now, but shall investigate the other suggestions in the near future.

    I looooove Tux. My granddaughter is going to have to race me to the keyboard when she wants to use that TRULY superb program.:D
     
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