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Ask Slashdot: Best Linux Game For Young Kids?
First time accepted submitter pseudorand writes "I have a 3 year old that I've so far kept away from TV and computers. I met a gamer who has a 1 year old that plays xbox (probably better than I do). I believe kids should experience the real world first, but computers will obviously be a basic job still for the foreseeable future and I'm afraid I'm letting my kid fall behind. I'd like to responsibly introduce my son to computers so he can start developing hard-eye coordination, typing skills and learning UI concepts. What's the best (Linux, of course) game to get a kid started with? Shoot-em-up's are obviously out, but I'm more concerned with something that will help him understand how to interact with a mouse, keyboard and screen and hold his attention rather than something 'educational' because there's plenty of (probably more effective) ways to teach math, reading, etc. that don't involve a computer. So far I've tried Tux Racer, which held his attention for 10 minutes or so. He doesn't quite get pressing multiple keys simultaneously yet."
nethack or if you can find rouge both great games from my childhood
Jesus, you're thinking of giving a kid a game that early? On linux too? Do you want him to grow up without a chance in hell of being able to speak to Women? How about you just let him shit his pants and play with wooden bricks? Looking forwards to your next post - "Which beers should I introduce my 12 year old to?"
For a 3 yr old, GCompris is hard to beat.
My kids know three languages I2/3 of 3 kids have 3 fluent, the third has 2 fluent and is starting 3rd). But that's nothing compared to their geography. The Snap Maps game was awesome, I play it myself. http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-geography-map-snap-usa/map-snap-Africa.html
Gently reply
Have you looked into Edubuntu (http://www.edubuntu.org/), Qimo (http://www.qimo4kids.com/) or Foresight Linux Kids Edition (http://www.foresightlinux.org)? While they aren't games, they are distributions designed for kids with pre-installed applications and games for ages 3 and up.
Ri-li is a game very young children might enjoy. It has a toy train running around the track, and there's not much to do - just click the button to switch the train tracks if you think it might crash. It has lots of motion and train noises, and is simple. I have heard from more than one parent that their child really enjoys playing it.
I started the grandkids off with the Childsplay http://childsplay.sourceforge.net/ and Gcompris http://gcompris.net/-en- educational games collections as well at Tux Math and Paint http://tux4kids.alioth.debian.org They all are in the OpenSuse repositories or could fool with Quimo http://www.qimo4kids.com/ as a live CD or as a dedicated install.
I found that having two mice connected was a big help in getting them started so I could show them what to do without having to take their mouse away.
My daughter loved tux paint and still occasionally uses it to make a card, poster or board for a game she is making up. I mentioned it to a friend and his son now loves it. Definitely worth a try.
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"You are not remembered for doing what is expected of you." - Atul Chitnis
By choosing linux, you expose the child to a different way of working to accomplish the same task. This means when the inevitably encounter a different OS they will have to learn new skills, but will then have a distinct advantage when it comes to learning the third OS or a major upgrade occurs. You also need to consider that most kids are exposed to smart phones and computers so have some experience with this anyway.
Your language example was well chosen. Learning a second language has many additional benefits. Latin is an excellent choice for someone interested in science.
Try Sesame Street Games. They're mostly flash games, but they should work. My kid started playing them when he was 2, liked them a lot, and learned to use a mouse from playing them.
Back in 2000 my buddy and I were forced to take a beginning linux class in order to take the advanced - so we quickly got the root password for the DeadRat server the teacher was running for the class - created some alternates, then installed scorched3d for the rest of the year we played scorched3d while the rest of the class tried to learn. :D Ah... Memories.
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Emo Philips
I recommend TuxPaint:
My kids have had great fun using the program, especially with the special effects tools and sound effects. Rather than a structured environment it encourages free play. You can add in your own photos as stamps or just use the extensive collection.
Hand-eye co-ordination is best learned in the real world. Take him outside and play with real objects (I've heard it's called "catch") in a natural (non-human constructed) setting.
As for the other two things, typing skills and UI concepts, they can be trivially learned by him 10 years from now just as easily. He'll pick them up on his own before that, anyway.
I always equivocate. Well, almost always.
Some of the humble bundle titles (chocolate castle, crayon phisics) are pretty good and educational, stimulating the brain. A three year old is a bit too young, but I would suggest you play together -- this way you can help the child, strengthen the bond between the two of you and steer the educational and entertainment process.
However, please keep in mind that there was an article a few weeks ago that exposure to TV (and maybe a computer?) at an early age may hamper a child's cognitive development.
Why not crack open a good printed book with nice illustrations and read to your child? Or play some old fashioned games. Or kick ball, learn to ride a bike, etc etc. You'll be thankful one day that you did. And your child will, too.
My 2yo and 4yo daughters are addicted to minecraft, and they're surprisingly proficient at the game. They also play on a variety of websites, but minecraft seems to capture their imagination best. I 2nd whoever suggested Edubuntu, but not for a 3 year old.
GCompris. Yes, it's boring for an adult, but there is a wide variety of activities - some of which he'll like. It includes TuxPaint which teaches mouse use and drawing. You're late with TV. Get "The Letter Factory", "The Word Factory", and "The Storybook Factory". Let him digest them one at a time - each needs a few months to sink in, then introduce another - he'll be excited. Don't hesitate, if your kid can't read basic words already, your late with these videos.
Wordworld, Dinosaur Train, Sid the Science Kid. All on PBS (assuming US here). Also, get an antenna so you can get PBS Kids during more hours of the day (for scheduling, not additional watching) your cable company does not carry all the subchannels and Kids in not #1 all the time.
I'm a fan of limiting TV. We limited ours to 1 hour per day early on and have migrated to 2 hours (she's 6 now). The "Factory" DVDs are excellent and teach reading. If you're going to teach your kid anything "academic" it should be reading - everything in life is easier if you can read. There is nothing wrong with educational stuff, but free play and getting creative with physical objects/toys is also important. Education is not lame - you sure you're from around here?
And don't worry a bit. Your kid will know how to use tech stuff better than you by the time he's 5 regardless of what you do. But if you must, get him an iPod or iPad and get lots of puzzle games - Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, whatever that silly alligator game is.... But limit screen time per day.
How about http://www.starfall.com/ ?
My kids loved it when they were around 3-4 years old.
Help! I'm a slashdot refugee.
From the same article: But the issue is controversial and his opinions and standing are questioned by Dorothy Bishop, professor of developmental neuropsychology at Oxford University who says that although this is an important topic, Sigman's paper is not "an impartial expert review of evidence for effects on health and child development". "Aric Sigman does not appear to have any academic or clinical position, or to have done any original research on this topic," she said. "His comments about impact of screen time on brain development and empathy seem speculative in my opinion, and the arguments that he makes could equally well be used to conclude that children should not read books."
+1 for TuxPaint. If you install the sound pack they'll love it, but you'll hate it.
My 8 year old just asked me to put it back on after I reinstalled my laptop. Seems there's no end to the creativity and the simple drawing tools are really fun to use.
Gcompris also held his attention for a good long while. There's quite a few challenges in there.
And +1 for all the other "take your kid to the park" responses. Get them out there and make them run about. Teaching them to be sedentary is a terrible thing, and you'll spend a long time undoing that early "work" later on.
I drink to make other people interesting!
As for the other two things, typing skills and UI concepts, they can be trivially learned by him 10 years from now just as easily. He'll pick them up on his own before that, anyway.
What do you bet that in ten years:
Mice will be dead; everything will be motion tracking, eye tracking, touch tracking, etc.
Nobody will type (by "Nobody I mean you can safely round the number of typists in the world down to zero).
Contemporary "UI Concepts" will seem quaint in the way that most people today view command lines as quaint.
I can't offer any practical advice about helping a 3 year old develop, but ask yourself: "What did your parents do in your formative years?" Are you pleased with how you turned out? Can you think of anything that would have made a difference? :-)
Let's assume you're 35 now. When you were a three year old, that would have been around 1978. Taking a guess at what environment environment enriching things your parents provided for you then, I'm going to go with a teddy bear over an altair. Maybe -speak n spell.
I'm guessing the finger paints, blocks, stuffed animals are more useful than technology.
One more thing to consider, most computer games aren't very interactive - you can play finger paints or blocks with your child. How much time will you interact with them if they're on the computer? In a few short years you both will have lots of fun with geek things in the future so enjoy the time you have now - it will go fast.
By force it to be Linux rather than something your child is likely to see outside your narrow view of the world. Might as well force him/her to speak Latin at home as well.
The benefits of speaking a 2nd language at home are too well know to dwell upon. You never know, being exposed to one may have saved you from being chained in your sadly narrow view of the world.
Latin, being not only the root language of the Romance languages, it is also a key to better understanding other European languages such as English, German &c., would be undoubtedly provide the child with great advantage. However since hardly any one is fluent enough actually to speak it at home this is unlikely to be a viable option.
As far as OSs, and their GUI frontends. I (doubt|hope) that the differences between a contemporary Linux GUIs and Windows or even Mac will be anywhere near as great as those between our GUIs and those that will dominate some 15 years from now (when said 3 year old may have to use computers professionally). My boys are conversant with linux, windows and OSX (thought they prefer the latter), and this has certainly not inhibited their skills in any one OS. So I can confidently say, without wanting to appear overly offensive, "you are full of shit mate!"
I'm showing my age here, but it only took those of us who grew up without computers (not entirely true, my first computer was a Kosmos Logikus) a week or three to learn how to use the early GUIs. There's nothing in there that is conceptually difficult for a reasonably intelligent young adult to pick up and learning to use a pointing device is a sinch for most anyone under that age of 60 (which isn't to say some 80 year olds don't find it a sinch either).
Computer exposure for children is somewhat overrated. Given the choice between learning multiplication tables by rote (which the school is refusing to teach my kids, "we don't do that any more") and developing "mouse skills" which is considered essential for modern survival, I would choose the former. Thank FOSS for ... TUXMATH for teaching well, what the school will not (and you only need a keypad!) But probably not quite for a 3 year old (unless said 3 year old is Terence Tao).
Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident a security. --Edmund Burke
Best Linux Game For Young Kids?
Ubuntu. For the advanced player, try the server edition without the mouse.
brandelf -t FreeBSD