Interactive/multiplayer online games for young kids?

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tigercorp

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#84151 25-May-2011 18:05

So I spend a fair amount of time on skype with my 5 year old, who lives in the UK with his mum.

We've been playing the multiplayer skype games for quite some time (found in Tools - Extras - Play Games), but they're now getting a little boring.

Can anyone recommend any other apps/sites/portals that offer the same sort of multiplayer games, suitable for young kids? And even better if they're educational :D

Kaos36

709 posts

Ultimate Geek

#474214 26-May-2011 05:07

When my son was 6 I got him into Quake multiplayer online. Shock horror! Parents looked at me in disgust that quake game is about shooting others (though shooting demons is not the same as shooting people) By the time he was 8 he was a master player when he would type in chat he was 8yrs old the players never believed him how could an 8yr old beat me. But back then it wasn't so Politically Correct their were no losers to say I am a bad parent for what i was doing. He's 19 now and wouldn't hurt a fly as timid as they come and yet he played shooter games all his life. Now he plays WoW which I think maybe I have failed as a parent. Haha!

But one game I would recommend for a 5 yr old maybe not quake as you might get a knock on the door now from CYF and have your son taken away. Get your 5 yr old into Age of Empires any version its a good game for kids.

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Kaos36

709 posts

Ultimate Geek

#474475 26-May-2011 16:33

Oh I just reread your post your son is in the UK. Get his mother to buy Age of Empires 2 or 3, then buy yourself a copy and go online and play multi-player matches you can go against each other or both team up against the computer AI.

Not only that but he will love the AOE single player game. My son played AOE II for years where he got right into the history of the characters - it taught him about William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Salakedem (sp) Ghenis Khan and Barbrossa. Top game for kids.

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From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"

ChrisNZL

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

#474478 26-May-2011 16:44

Club Penguin?
http://www.clubpenguin.com/

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b0untypure1

1426 posts

Uber Geek

#476080 31-May-2011 09:03

try neopets. online game where you have a pet you look after, and play various (lots of) different games to get items, money etc. all virtual
http://www.neopets.com/

infact, its sooo good that people still play it at uni !

tigercorp

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#476093 31-May-2011 09:30

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've been checking out Club Penguin which seems pretty well suited for his age. In fact, the only concern I've got is that'll be too addictive.

Would be interested in knowing if anyone else's kids play and how they find it?

tdgeek

29743 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#476112 31-May-2011 10:16

My Daughter played Club Penguin, she loved it.

SpookyAwol

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#476157 31-May-2011 11:59

VERY addictive :-) My boys love it - its pretty straight forward for a computer literate 5yr old to play. Just be aware that they might start hassling you to subscribe as well! (you dont have to)
Assuming you both jump onto the same server, you can follow each other around. Depending on the setup, you can also message each other.

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Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

#477058 2-Jun-2011 13:29

+1 for the Age of Empires series (not counting anything marketed as AoE since Ensemble Studios was disbanded).

Don't let him rot his mind with WoW and Minecraft.

talisker

65 posts

Master Geek

#477089 2-Jun-2011 14:13

Club Penguin is great - my kids love it. They must put a huge amount of development into that site. It's continually being updated with new activities etc and it's all very well thought out and well designed.