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Games: Where do I find the good games?

© Wayne Dawe

I like games. When I went out on New Years Eve we played Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit neither of which are new games but games with tremendous play value. Both of these games also have versions designed for kids, the adult versions are suitable for kids twelve or so and up. Links to Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit sites can be found in the link section.

The advantage of games can be understood by anyone who has spent a rainy weekend in a cottage at the beach. I don't think that most kids have become too jaded to still enjoy board games and the classics are classics because they have survived the test of time. Every Christmas I shudder when I see commercials on TV for the newest battery powered game that looks cool but usually involves tossing some plastic bit into another moving plastic bit. Another game that I think has stood the test of time is Trouble (remember the Pop-O-Matic?).

I can hear you say, "Hey! What about computer games? I think computer games are great too but I generally find them too frantic, violent and fast paced for small kids. I'd like to differentiate between games and educational software, the primary purpose of a game is fun, the educational content may be there (even better if it is) but the fun is paramount. Two sites with cool Java games can be found in the link section. Usually I try to avoid shooting games but I rationalize ZOOP because the shapes are very abstract. ZOOP can be a bit annoying to play at 640 by 480 because you have to scroll the game board. The rules are pretty simple but game play can be a bit fast for small children. Electro Magnetic Poetry has a field with words you can drag around to make stories, sounds simple but I found it fascinating.

An absolutely great place to find children's software is Children's Shareware and More. Grace Sylvan has put together a dynamite site, well worth the trip.

Next week I rant against TV, the great brainsucker. Don't forget to surf with your kids, it's a jungle out there. Jungles can be a lot of fun to explore but you never know what could be lurking behind the next tree.

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