New Games Start Gamers Off Really, Really Early

[Tom Goldman]

New Games Start Gamers Off Really, Really Early

KneeBouncers is a great way to get your kids into videogames as young as possible.

KneeBouncers [http://www.kneebouncers.com/] is an interesting website thought up by a father of three that was sick of seeing his very young daughter left out while the older kids were having fun playing videogames. It's full of free online flash games that are played using any keyboard input, so as long as a toddler can bash on the keyboard he/she can play.

KneeBouncers games range from educational to purely visual interaction, some teaching colors and words while others involve the game's cast of characters jumping in puddles or performing in a circus. Input from the keyboard will cause an action on screen: moving a character around, playing a sound, etc. If you're like me, your first thought went to the dreaded "ALT-F4" combination which normally closes programs, but it's been smartly disabled.

I really love this idea as a way to get very young children used to the idea of technology and videogames. If I had young kids, I'd definitely sit them in front of these things and see how they liked them; it's never too early to get their videogame addictions started after all. Parents can also download coloring pages of the KneeBouncers animals, and support the site by ordering merchandise with 10% of the profits going towards The Children's Aid Society. Kneebouncers seems worth checking out for parents that don't believe videogames are the devil.




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[Altorin]

the important thing about this is the name actually

The idea of Knee Bouncers means that a parent is right there with the kid, interacting with them.

Honestly, I think the worst thing you can do for a very young child is to sit them down in front of a video game by themselves.. but having the parents right there, playing the games with the kids, that's just magical.

 

[squid5580]

Thank you. Thank you so very very much. Maybe if I can get my little tyke hooked she'll understand when daddy wants to play his grown up games lol.

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

While this is a wonderful idea, that Shapes game is creepy as all hell.

 

[squid5580]

So I tried it with her. There should be a warning on the site. I think I need a new keyboard after 5 minutes of gametime. Anyways she loved it. My only beef is they should have disabled the windows key as well. It is difficult to try and get to the mouse while holding a squirming baby and make sure the keyboard doesn't go flying. No way she will be playing this alone. LOL. Awesome Tom thanks again.

 

[Erana]

I dunno...
I'm still wary of the youngin's playing video games.
Of course, I'm a little biased after having had Wolfenstein and Heretic monsters seared into my brain as a child. >.<

 

[Amnestic]

I dunno...
I'm still wary of the youngin's playing video games.
Of course, I'm a little biased after having had Wolfenstein and Heretic monsters seared into my brain as a child. >.<

I started playing Sonic the Hedgehog on my Sega Mega Drive before I started school, I fully endorse kids starting early so they can get hooked better see our hobbies and pass times first hand.

 

[Kiefer13]

Pft, start them off on Sonic The Hedgehog I say. I was playing that at three.

Still, it's a nice idea, and I like the fact that it encourages parents to sit down with their kids rather than just leave them to it.

 

[squid5580]

Pft, start them off on Sonic The Hedgehog I say. I was playing that at three.

Still, it's a nice idea, and I like the fact that it encourages parents to sit down with their kids rather than just leave them to it.

This for kids under 1. They are too small to hold a controller (and to ADD to keep pressing the same button)

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

My kids first game: Kirby. Great intro into gaming.

And this is REALLY EARLY.

 

[Jared]

Well, we are pulling em in early I suppose!

Wonder how much of a market there is for children that age...

 

[BillyShakes]

If I ever have children they're not playing games until they are at least 8, for reasons I'm not going to bother explaining.
But when I do let them, I'm starting them on the N64 and Game Boy. Little tosser's first game is not going to be Halo, or anything of the like.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Is it weird that I enjoy these games myself?

And I have no kids?

 

[Osmo]

On the first one, "Wake up sammy" hold in the spacebar. it feels like you are on an acid trip.
Anywho i think this is a really great idéa, nice that it's free too.

 

[laserwulf]

Although I look forward to eventually having a 'lil co-op buddy, I wouldn't want kids of mine playing video/computer games at all before elementary school, and then gradually introduce them to computers. Sure it's important to have computer skills these days, but I also want to make sure that they are comfortable with and can have fun outside and with other children. Things like social skills and creativity are byproducts of group play, and important for raising a well-rounded kid. With computer games, your experiences are limited to what the programmers allow you to do (multiplayer interactions notwithstanding).

 

[incal11]

Although I look forward to eventually having a 'lil co-op buddy, I wouldn't want kids of mine playing video/computer games at all before elementary school, and then gradually introduce them to computers. Sure it's important to have computer skills these days, but I also want to make sure that they are comfortable with and can have fun outside and with other children. Things like social skills and creativity are byproducts of group play, and important for raising a well-rounded kid. With computer games, your experiences are limited to what the programmers allow you to do (multiplayer interactions notwithstanding).

You sad old guy.
I didn't get to play video games before elementary school and yet I didn't develop any social skill there (not until much later, at my own pace), because I was born like that; and my creativity is fine, thank you.

 

[laserwulf]

Although I look forward to eventually having a 'lil co-op buddy, I wouldn't want kids of mine playing video/computer games at all before elementary school, and then gradually introduce them to computers. Sure it's important to have computer skills these days, but I also want to make sure that they are comfortable with and can have fun outside and with other children. Things like social skills and creativity are byproducts of group play, and important for raising a well-rounded kid. With computer games, your experiences are limited to what the programmers allow you to do (multiplayer interactions notwithstanding).

You sad old guy.
I didn't get to play video games before elementary school and yet I didn't develop any social skill there (not until much later, at my own pace), because I was born like that; and my creativity is fine, thank you.

I'm talking about basic stuff: being able to share toys, take turns, follow directions, cooperate, not hit other kids, good sportsmanship. Or are you saying that you were, in fact, a 'lil sociopath growing up? My point is that I don't believe early development that's based on canned experiences adequately prepare a kid for a world where other kids and adults can act unpredictably; kind of like how wild animals raised in captivity can't survive on their own.

And 26 is old?

 

[FROGGEman2]

-snip-

You sad old guy.

And 26 is old?

On the internet...

Anyway, Yahtzee is 26 and he insists that he's old.

OH RIGHT THE OP

I love this idea, I want to pass down my gaming genes to the younger generations.