Kid's games appropriate for a 4 year old

[leeland]

My Son wants to play on the computer and is relentless...

I have found a couple of web sites that are simple point and click and color matching...ect.


Just curious with the plethora of games out on the market today if anyone has any experience or recommendations on specific games for kids in that age bracket?


I would like to start off with something TOTALLY novice if at all possible.


Thanks!

Lee

 

[GullyFoyle]

Take a look at the Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad
on sale at Amazon: Link

My 3 & 5 year old loved all the different things they could do. (although the 3 year old was not so hot with the mouse)

 

[ryan256]

The Incredible Machine
Its a game where you build Rube Goldberg type devices to do simple things. Very fun and will make the kid think.

 

[CrazyLazy]

GTA 4, got to start them out young.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
GTA 4, got to start them out young.

Damn you beat me to it. Actually GTA:SA w/Hot Coffee MOD

 

[leeland]

ha ha ha you guys are Terrible!

I tries to get me to let him play the xBox 360 when I am on there from time to time...

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: ryan256
The Incredible Machine
Its a game where you build Rube Goldberg type devices to do simple things. Very fun and will make the kid think.

Crazy Machines 2 is the newest of that genre. Although I think a 4 year old might have problems solving most of those puzzles.

 

[leeland]

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
Take a look at the Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad
on sale at Amazon: Link

My 3 & 5 year old loved all the different things they could do. (although the 3 year old was not so hot with the mouse)

So how do you or anyone for that matter go about locking down the desktop or anything else for that matter...


The couple of times I let the 4 year old loose on a computer I had so many windows open and stuff moved around it wasn't even funny...

I was contemplating setting up a VM of windows xp in case he screwed something up I could easily recover...

 

[pontifex]

Postal 2

 

[Harabec]

Either Doom 3...or play this with him.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Dead Space looks pretty kid friendly.

 

[BenSkywalker]

So how do you or anyone for that matter go about locking down the desktop or anything else for that matter...

Give him his own desktop with absolutely maxxed out limitations, only allow the exes to be run that you want him to have access to, don't allow any file changes, going online, anything. A little bit of a pita to setup(nothing horrible, just annoying), but well worth it in the long run IMO.

 

[udneekgnim]

World of Warcraft

the ultimate baby sitter technology has to offer

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: ryan256
The Incredible Machine
Its a game where you build Rube Goldberg type devices to do simple things. Very fun and will make the kid think.

Crazy Machines 2 is the newest of that genre. Although I think a 4 year old might have problems solving most of those puzzles.

I'm 34 and some of the puzzles confuse me, I would fear a 4 year old who could get far in that game

Insaneaquarium is pretty fun for kids, lots of clicking, might be a bit too advanced for a 4 year old but he'd have fun feeding the fish and blasting the Alien creatures.

 

[KMFJD]

Originally posted by: udneekgnim
World of Warcraft

the ultimate baby sitter technology has to offer

Even with starting late (4 years old) you should be able to train him/her up and have them grinding/gold farming for you in no time.

 

[Schadenfroh]

City / company building games like Sim City 2000, Capitalism 2, and likely though I never tried: "tycoon" games.

 

[GullyFoyle]

Originally posted by: leeland

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
Take a look at the Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad
on sale at Amazon: Link

My 3 & 5 year old loved all the different things they could do. (although the 3 year old was not so hot with the mouse)

So how do you or anyone for that matter go about locking down the desktop or anything else for that matter...


The couple of times I let the 4 year old loose on a computer I had so many windows open and stuff moved around it wasn't even funny...

I was contemplating setting up a VM of windows xp in case he screwed something up I could easily recover...

Hello, that's what this does, the included software, once started, locks them in to this application only, requiring a password to exit the application. Some of the feedback mentions this as a negative. I guess it depends how old your children are.

See product features:
"Once a character is plugged in, kids are only allowed to visit pages on that website until they plug in a different character, keeping them away from unsafe websites and from getting into your computer's files. "

 

[TidusZ]

This is some of the worst advice I've ever seen offered on the internet. Most of these suggestions (the ones that aren't obvious jokes) are violence-free games that unfortunately are way beyond the scope of a four year old. The one exception is that Fisher-Price launch pad. Unfortunately I don't have any good recommendations myself, other than to note that there are a shitload of games designed for kids in various age groups - I don't know which are superior, I don't have kids and if all goes to plan I never will - but I imagine if you picked a few up and let the kid decide it'd be hard to go wrong.

 

[leeland]

Originally posted by: DanDeighan

Originally posted by: leeland

Originally posted by: DanDeighan
Take a look at the Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad
on sale at Amazon: Link

My 3 & 5 year old loved all the different things they could do. (although the 3 year old was not so hot with the mouse)

So how do you or anyone for that matter go about locking down the desktop or anything else for that matter...


The couple of times I let the 4 year old loose on a computer I had so many windows open and stuff moved around it wasn't even funny...

I was contemplating setting up a VM of windows xp in case he screwed something up I could easily recover...

Hello, that's what this does, the included software, once started, locks them in to this application only, requiring a password to exit the application. Some of the feedback mentions this as a negative. I guess it depends how old your children are.

See product features:
"Once a character is plugged in, kids are only allowed to visit pages on that website until they plug in a different character, keeping them away from unsafe websites and from getting into your computer's files. "

Sorry I should have mentioned I couldn't get to the link from work which is why I asked...

Once I got home I was able to see the preview video...looks pretty cool for minimal setup!


Thanks,
Lee

 

[Harabec]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
This is some of the worst advice I've ever seen offered on the internet. Most of these suggestions (the ones that aren't obvious jokes) are violence-free games that unfortunately are way beyond the scope of a four year old. The one exception is that Fisher-Price launch pad. Unfortunately I don't have any good recommendations myself, other than to note that there are a shitload of games designed for kids in various age groups - I don't know which are superior, I don't have kids and if all goes to plan I never will - but I imagine if you picked a few up and let the kid decide it'd be hard to go wrong.

Kids (at least Israeli kids) are a lot smarter than you'd think.
Sometimes it seems we lose half of our IQ as teenagers.

 

[Ryland]

FATE? Its a cartoonish RPG that my son started playing around then.

 

[Martimus]

My daughter plays Webkinz online. She calls it her Lion game, since her character is a Lion. It seems set up for that age group (my daughter is 3).

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders or Piggly Wiggly. A four year old shouldn't be let anywhere near a computer.

 

[FalseChristian]

I'd go with Postal 2 or Manhunt 2 if you're 4-year old is mature enough and has the wisdom of a much older 6-year old.

 

[StormSide]

Alphabonk Farm

http://tinyurl.com/3vz4wt

http://tinyurl.com/3nhntm