Games for a 5 year old?

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Martimus

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2007
4,490
157
106
Originally posted by: TimBob
My daughter is 4 1/2 and I've tried buying a few kids games but they were pretty bad so l'd like to find something as well. Sometimes she plays games on the interent at sites like Sesame Street or My Little Pony.

Most of the time, when we play video games it's on the Wii. We have a lot of fun playing Wii sports (mostly tennis) and Wii play.
Click to expand...

At that age, the Wii really is the best thing, because it is simple, intuitive, and doesn't require a lot of button pressing. That is why I am not keeping the Wii that I bought for my sister to give to my daughter. Even though I know she can play it (she has at a friends house, and could do it pretty well - where she can't even play Webkinz on the computer by herself), I don't want it to become the thing that she wants to do the most versus going outside to play or having me read her a story (or ten).

I do play Webkinz with her on a somewhat regular basis. I don't really know of any other PC game that is designed for that age group though.
 
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imported_TimBob

Member
Aug 28, 2006
175
0
0
Originally posted by: Martimus
Originally posted by: TimBob
My daughter is 4 1/2 and I've tried buying a few kids games but they were pretty bad so l'd like to find something as well. Sometimes she plays games on the interent at sites like Sesame Street or My Little Pony.

Most of the time, when we play video games it's on the Wii. We have a lot of fun playing Wii sports (mostly tennis) and Wii play.
Click to expand...

At that age, the Wii really is the best thing, because it is simple, intuitive, and doesn't require a lot of button pressing. That is why I am not keeping the Wii that I bought for my sister to give to my daughter. Even though I know she can play it (she has at a friends house, and could do it pretty well - where she can't even play Webkinz on the computer by herself), I don't want it to become the thing that she wants to do the most versus going outside to play or having me read her a story (or ten).

I do play Webkinz with her on a somewhat regular basis. I don't really know of any other PC game that is designed for that age group though.
Click to expand...

I got the Wii last year and we probably went about 7 months without turning the Wii on. But, once winter came along we started playing again. It's tough to go outside and play when it's 10 degrees and dark at 6:00.

I picked up the Littlest Pet Shop Wii (also available on PC) as a Christmas present for her.
 
Kirby

Kirby

Lifer
Apr 10, 2006
12,028
2
0
Originally posted by: TimBob
My daughter is 4 1/2 and I've tried buying a few kids games but they were pretty bad so l'd like to find something as well. Sometimes she plays games on the interent at sites like Sesame Street or My Little Pony.

Most of the time, when we play video games it's on the Wii. We have a lot of fun playing Wii sports (mostly tennis) and Wii play.
Click to expand...

Boom Blox would be fun for a 5 year old I think. I know I did. :eek:

Develop some motor skills in the process. :thumbsup:
 
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imported_TimBob

Member
Aug 28, 2006
175
0
0
Originally posted by: nkgreen
Originally posted by: TimBob
My daughter is 4 1/2 and I've tried buying a few kids games but they were pretty bad so l'd like to find something as well. Sometimes she plays games on the interent at sites like Sesame Street or My Little Pony.

Most of the time, when we play video games it's on the Wii. We have a lot of fun playing Wii sports (mostly tennis) and Wii play.
Click to expand...

Boom Blox would be fun for a 5 year old I think. I know I did. :eek:

Develop some motor skills in the process. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've read some good reviews on that.
 
BurnItDwn

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,355
1,867
126
I will throw in the suggestion of Midtown Madness 2. It's a relatively old game that will run on pretty much any hardware. Graphics are good enough that it doesn't look TOO outdated.

It also might help to teach hand/eye coordination.

Originally posted by: Powernick50
Left 4 dead. /thread
Click to expand...
That's a fun one. And as an added bonus it will encourage teamwork!

 
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BladeVenom

Lifer
Jun 2, 2005
13,365
16
0
I think most 5 year olds like Halo and GoW. However Lego's Star Wars might be a little more age appropriate.
 
M

Martimus

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2007
4,490
157
106
Originally posted by: TimBob
Originally posted by: Martimus
Originally posted by: TimBob
My daughter is 4 1/2 and I've tried buying a few kids games but they were pretty bad so l'd like to find something as well. Sometimes she plays games on the interent at sites like Sesame Street or My Little Pony.

Most of the time, when we play video games it's on the Wii. We have a lot of fun playing Wii sports (mostly tennis) and Wii play.
Click to expand...

At that age, the Wii really is the best thing, because it is simple, intuitive, and doesn't require a lot of button pressing. That is why I am not keeping the Wii that I bought for my sister to give to my daughter. Even though I know she can play it (she has at a friends house, and could do it pretty well - where she can't even play Webkinz on the computer by herself), I don't want it to become the thing that she wants to do the most versus going outside to play or having me read her a story (or ten).

I do play Webkinz with her on a somewhat regular basis. I don't really know of any other PC game that is designed for that age group though.
Click to expand...

I got the Wii last year and we probably went about 7 months without turning the Wii on. But, once winter came along we started playing again. It's tough to go outside and play when it's 10 degrees and dark at 6:00.

I picked up the Littlest Pet Shop Wii (also available on PC) as a Christmas present for her.
Click to expand...

I know, but she always wants to play in the snow. She loves it more than anything. But really, I don't want her to want to play a video game more than she wants me to read her a book. I guess that is my real fear.
 
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AmberClad

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
4,914
0
0
The two earliest games I remember playing as a kid were Tetris on the Gameboy...and Operation Wolf (this was before Jack Thompson, mind you). You probably don't want to be giving the 5 year old kid a shooter, no matter how simple or easy to grasp the game is (even so, I don't think I turned out to be a psychopathic serial killer :confused:), so I'd lean more towards arcade puzzler type games:

Geometry Wars, AudioSurf (I have no idea what kind of music a 5 year old would listen to though), various other puzzlers available on Steam
 
M

Martimus

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2007
4,490
157
106
Originally posted by: AmberClad
The two earliest games I remember playing as a kid were Tetris on the Gameboy...and Operation Wolf (this was before Jack Thompson, mind you). You probably don't want to be giving the 5 year old kid a shooter, no matter how simple or easy to grasp the game is (even so, I don't think I turned out to be a psychopathic serial killer :confused:), so I'd lean more towards arcade puzzler type games:

Geometry Wars, AudioSurf (I have no idea what kind of music a 5 year old would listen to though), various other puzzlers available on Steam
Click to expand...

Operation Wolf was AWESOME! I remember playing that at the roller ring, whenever I had a few quarters.
 
Qbah

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
10
81
If you have an Xbox360 perhaps the Crash series? Looks really nice, cartoony, mostly you run around collect stuff and punch some bad looking mutated animals (they look kinda cute though :p) all shown in a kid-friendly manner (I think). Check some videos on youtube. Crash Mind over Mutant and Crash of the Titans. You can play co-op too and I have a blast playing this game too (and I'm 27...). So joyful, cartoony and fun! :)
 
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imported_Lothar

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2006
4,559
1
0
Originally posted by: TBSN
Red Light, Green Light, 1,2,3!!!!

Tag!

Play OUTSIDE!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Seriously.
Whatever happened to playing around in dirt?

Kids these days...No wonder there's so much diagnosis of ADD, ADHD, etc... today.
 
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imported_TimBob

Member
Aug 28, 2006
175
0
0
Originally posted by: Lothar
Originally posted by: TBSN
Red Light, Green Light, 1,2,3!!!!

Tag!

Play OUTSIDE!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Seriously.
Whatever happened to playing around in dirt?

Kids these days...No wonder there's so much diagnosis of ADD, ADHD, etc... today.
Click to expand...

Cool. How many kids do you have that you play with in the dirt for 12 hours per day?
 
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Madwand1

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2006
3,309
0
76
Lego Star Wars II (the original series). Also get a couple of controllers for it so that he and someone else (esp. you, but also his friends) can play together. There's a bit of a learning curve, so he (or his friends) would need help at the beginning at least. There are also some on-line walk-throughs for when you get stuck.

There's a sense of light humor to this series, especially this one, which makes them a lot of fun and lighter and less violent than the movies.

Of course you could pick any one of the Lego games series and enjoy them -- but Lego Star Wars II is a classic, and the newer ones are not better.
 
Z

Zuke

Member
Oct 11, 1999
157
0
0
I totally agree with the suggestion of Lego Star Wars II. Lego Star Wars 1 would be ok too. imho, the Lego games are the best little kid games available. I have a 7 and 5 year old and that's what they started out on the version for the gamecube (and now play it on the Wii). Easy controls, cartoon action, plus CO-OP mode. You can play with them and if they need help - you can move them along by helping instead of taking over. Good times.
 
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