| There are literally hundreds of sites online providing | | | | 9. Adventure/simulation games include animated and |
| thousands of free online games for young children. | | | | active adventuring learning games that tend to be |
| Most of us would tend to think of free online games to | | | | longer, interactive and simulate real life challenges or |
| be like arcade games, full of adventure and violence | | | | adventures. |
| not appropriate for young children. However, free | | | | 10. Intuition / reasoning games which may include brain |
| games available on the internet now come in a great | | | | teasers and mind development games |
| variety appropriate for young children of all ages, from | | | | 11. Physical activities which are online games that get |
| toddlers to preschoolers, school age children and teens. | | | | gamers to carry out physical tasks and activities |
| Parents can also indulge and have lots of fun playing | | | | Many of these online games are played on the |
| free online games with their children. | | | | computer through keyboard, mouse, touch and voice |
| Type of Games | | | | commands. There are also many popular free online |
| Free games on the internet tend to be based around | | | | games that are printable so can be downloaded and |
| age groups and game types. | | | | printed on paper to be played away from the |
| For toddlers there are games involving colors, shapes | | | | computer. |
| and interactive free games that work on their | | | | Benefit of Free Games |
| co-ordination. There are also active games that get | | | | Free online games for the young offers many benefits: |
| them working on their hand-eye co-ordination as well | | | | - Developing language skills in young brains as young |
| as games involving animals which always get them | | | | minds learn sounds, pronunciation and phonics much |
| interested. | | | | easier than older brains |
| For preschoolers, free online games might involve | | | | - Increase hand-eye co-ordination with games that |
| active animation / cartoon figures and interactive, online | | | | involve activities |
| puzzle games to help these kids grasp concepts of | | | | - Help young gamers learn concepts such as language, |
| language, math, music and social behavior e.g. right and | | | | music, colors, math and social behavior through a fun |
| wrong. Games involve crafts - i.e. art and building basic | | | | process. Younger gamers learn faster when they |
| stuff are also popular in this age group. | | | | enjoy the process |
| For school age children, games will have increase | | | | - Provides release for young children to have fun in a |
| complexity and may include online puzzle games, | | | | non-pressure environment to remove tensions and |
| games involving math, music, language / word | | | | reduce hyperactivity |
| comprehension, spelling and vocabulary related free | | | | - Build attention span and ability to focus in young kids |
| games. | | | | - Develop essential math and spelling, vocabulary skills |
| For old children in their teens, brain teasers, Sudoku and | | | | from an early age |
| other number games, language games, complex | | | | - Encourage artistic endeavor and craft appreciation in |
| puzzle games, reasoning games bring bit more | | | | children so that this is carried through their lives. |
| challenges for their inquisitive minds. Teenage children | | | | - Build confidence/ self esteem as young gamers |
| might also start getting into animation and video games | | | | succeed and get good at things |
| involve problem solving, virtual reality adventures and | | | | - Increase creativity, intuition and life skills |
| other active games. | | | | - Improve vital problem solving skills for school, work |
| For all age groups, free online games come under | | | | and life |
| some of these basic categories: | | | | - Add to young children's life knowledge base |
| 1. Co-ordination, online puzzle games which test | | | | As young minds and bodies are developing, giving |
| hand-eye and brain co-ordination skills | | | | them mental and physical stimulation through games is |
| 2. Craft games which indulge children in art and craft | | | | vital to develop neuron networks in their brains. This |
| making | | | | early neuron network development helps boost |
| 3. Free puzzle games which include jig saw puzzles, | | | | learning and problems solving ability later in life. |
| mazes and word puzzles | | | | As with all good things, access to free online games |
| 4. Music games which involve tunes, music instruments | | | | and free online puzzles should be limited so that young |
| and singing | | | | kids are not 'overloaded' with information and do not |
| 5. Math games including word and number games | | | | become addicted to free games and miss out on |
| related to mathematics | | | | important physical exercise as well as beneficial |
| 6. Problem solving games which indulge gamers to | | | | physical social interaction with other children. |
| solve presented problems through skill and learning | | | | Importantly, parents should be involved with their |
| 7. Word/language related games may include scrabble, | | | | children when playing these free online games to |
| spelling and vocabulary games | | | | develop fun competition and boost family interaction |
| 8. Picture / coloring games which are for younger | | | | and social dynamics. This will lead to a happier and |
| children helping to develop association with color, | | | | more fulfilling family life for children and adults alike. |
| photos and pictures. | | | | |