Since she could press keys on the keyboard my 3 year old daughter has loved computer games. Her first games were the Peek-a-Boo! and ABC’s Zoo Learning games from Fisher-Price. If it were up to Izzy, she would play on the computer every day. Below are a few sites that offer free online games for younger children. Playing games on the computer can be a great way to spend time with your children.
- Crayola-There are not a lot of games here but you can find a ton of craft ideas and coloring pages which are easily searched. One downside to the craft section is many list Crayola supplies but these can easily be substituted. For the games, the Fireworks Spectacular and Snowman Builder are worth giving a try.
- Fisher-Price-Has their online games divided into infant, toddler and preschool. Izzy loved the infant ones when she was younger and were some of the first games she played. The site also has print and color pages, e-cards and suggestions of age appropriate activities to play with your child.
- Fun with Spot-Based on the popular books featuring Spot. There are a variety of activities here. Some games require reading skills but there are others that involve moving and clicking the mouse. You can also find wallpaper, print outs and watch a few Spot video clips.
- KneeBouncers-This is a great site for younger kids. It is well done with bright colors, music and sound effects. Your child will be rewarded by simply pressing keys on the keyboard.
- Nick Jr.-This site has games, art, videos, and radio for many of the currently popular shows for toddlers and preschoolers. This includes The Backyardigans, Dora the Explorer, Wonder Pets, Ni Hao, Kai-lan, and Go Diego Go, among others. There are also a number of printable activities sorted by show, themes, or age.
- PBS Kids-Features a large variety of activities based on PBS television shows. Just a few of the shows you’ll find here are Curious George, Clifford, Sesame Street, Arthur, and Reading Rainbow. Each show has its own page with different things to entertain your child, including games. The variety here is great and definitely worth taking a look.
