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I think they have multilingual games... Or maybe it's just their website.

Check out linuxforkids.org

Do you think there is any chance Microsoft could release GNU/Linux or GNU/Hurd version of Microsoft Bob in a form of X11 window manager? It has very low system requirements (80486, 8MB RAM, 32MB HD) which makes it perfect for teaching kids the basics of computer usage (together with such projects like Debian Junior, GNU and Education, LinuxForKids, SEUL/edu, etc.) on low-end PC hardware. Some time ago, I was looking for a good window manager/desktop environment and, while there are many good applications, I couldn't find any graphical user interface itself, which would be similar to Microsoft Bob. What I need is not only something easy to learn, but also actually fun to play with, so the kids will want to learn the basics of computer science. Do you know any projects, which I could use here? (Free software would be the best.) Thanks.

n/t

• K12 Linux
• Linux For Kids
• Debian Jr

I saw an earlier post for linuxforkids, but I thought gcompris deserved it's own mention even though it is on the linuxforkids.org site. Gcompris contains a nice suite of educational games for Linux. All GPL of course.

A wise man once told me to use the preview button and I ignored him. :(

Bammkkkk

I saw an earlier post for linuxforkids, but I thought gcompris deserved it's own mention even though it is on the linuxforkids.org site. Gcompris is a nice suite of educational games for Linux. All GPL of course.

Bammkkkk

Maybe
Linux for kids
is the right place for them.

My kids actually prefer my linux machine to mom's 2000 machine. Something about all the cool games that install out of the box when you select "Debian Jr" during tasksel. :) My two oldest kids actually like this text based math quizzer, and try to out do each other on it all the time. I have them defaulted to KDE for the desktop, and most the stuff they do would be flash sites like Nick, bob builder, etc. I find it interesting that the kids go for the linux desktop vs the 2k box when they have all these games on both. For more on what's available for kids under linux goto the Linux For Kids website. Good luck, and just let the kids choose.

I think some of /.'s posters could use this stuff.

linux for kids is for kids 10 and under. it looks like they have software for math, spelling, language, science.

i dont have any personal expirence with it, but it looks promising.

The Windows box is still a necessity. I have a 4 year old who likes educational games and without Windows, they simply don't run.

• Debian Jr. Project
• GNU and Education
• Schoolforge
• Linux For Kids
• KDE Edutainment Project
• Organization for Free Software in Education and Teaching
• SEUL/edu

When I was a kid I used my father's computers, but he didn't know much about OSes, he was just buying what they told him in the computer store.

As a resuld, when I was still a kid, I used to know the most important functions of MS-DOS interrupts 10h and 21h by heart. When I was about 12, we were writing programs for computers class, some simple calculations. It was boring, so I wrote a TSR, which after taking over the clock interrupt, and after few minutes from ending, was starting some virus-like visual effects on the screen. My teacher phoned my home that night, asking how to turn it of.

My point is that I really mastered the MS-DOS, and everything I had was a DOS box and lots of free time. I often wonder, what if I had Linux when I was 10 years old, instead of DOS? Would I know Bash and Perl, like I knew Command.com and QBasic? Would I know low level Unix system calls, like I new the DOS interrupts? Would I master Emacs and GCC, like I mastered Borland IDE? Unfortunately, I will never know that. But I would have much easier start as a Unix sysadmin, that's for sure.

After reading the comments here it looks like I'll need two PCs on the 2nd floor, one with Windows for my son, and one with Linux for the 802.11b card.

Meanwhile, I've discovered this site, which encourages me to give him Linux as well as Windows. So I'll run one of the several suggested X-terminals on his PC and host his Linux stuff on another box.

You have a good reason to use Windows, so just use it; don't make your poor son suffer just because you have a personal problem with it.

LOL! My wife works at Microsoft; I interviewed there (twice). I use Windows 2000, NT4, ME, 98, and 95 just about every day. I have an advance copy of XP I'm going to load on my laptop after Labor Day weekend (know your enemy and all that :-) I also use Linux, our firewall runs Linux, and when I get it re-built our server will run Linux (currently it runs NT Server). I don't have a problem using Windows, and my wife doesn't have a problem with me and the servers using Linux. She's not likely to ask for an account on the Linux side, but she's all in favor of our boy learning and using both systems. My sister has a Mac, and if our boy learns that as well that's OK by us. I've got a Sinclair (not a Timex) in the basement that he's welcome to play with if he ever shows the interest.

after all, dual booting is the best option for your son's needs.

Actually, a pure Windows PC is the best option for my son's needs. But for the family's needs I wanted him to run a Linux PC (I didn't get into details, but his PC is on the 2nd floor, and I wanted to use it to host the 802.11b card, which would require Linux on that box, full-time. The only other Linux boxes are in the basement, and my laptop, but the laptop can't act as the 802.11b access point! Don't even think about suggesting Windows is good enough for that application -- I'm not stupid enough to allow anyone in the neighborhood onto our LAN.)

After reading the comments here it looks like I'll need two PCs on the 2nd floor, one with Windows for my son, and one with Linux for the 802.11b card.

Meanwhile, I've discovered this site, which encourages me to give him Linux as well as Windows. So I'll run one of the several suggested X-terminals on his PC and host his Linux stuff on another box.

• LinuxForKids.Org
• Using Linux to Teach Kids How to Program. It's good Logic practice.

I'm not sure if you're looking for general advice on how to administer a network, or for education-specific software to run on those systems.

Things like Dan's Quiz Page cover creating custom quizes, while there are some sites that have a specific topic like science. The general site LinuxForKids.org has links to most educationl titles, though the emphasis is for home-use.

If you're looking for help on how to set things up, and administer them, look here at Learnux.

If you're looking for School Administration (beurocratic) software, I didn't find any. That doesn't mean that there isn't any. Take a look here , here or here . Ask these groups questions, there are quite a few mailing lists on this subject.