Families with computers want one basic thing from their online experience - a sense of discovery and fun without the frustations and disappointments of slow performance and malware (as well as malsites).
When you hit on that indispensible app you can't live without, you're hooked on technology and its potential. For some, it's music that excites you; others live for the online communication (just watch your preteen begin to hang out with his friends online). Parents love the convenience of a quick recipe from the Internet and email with family and friends. For kids, learning and playing an online game is that killer app, the first Eureka! moment in their journey of discovery in technology.
Part of the frustration for families online is just finding the good stuff. Kids lose interest in boring computer stuff very quickly. A parent's best strategy is to hunt down the online games that are appropriate for their child's interests and abilities. Start with these top picks for your child's age to find online games that won't disappoint. You can bookmark them or learn how to make an Internet Games Page for your child.
For maximum fun and minimum frustration, we used these criteria to pick the best online games for children.
Did the child play the game without parent's assistance?
Did we have to read the instructions, or could we jump right into the game?
How many times did we have to use Help?
For mom and dad, did it have SOME learning value?
Kids' interests and abilities vary, so check out other age ranges if the choices don't match your child's level.
Top Online Games for Preschoolers
Top Online Games for Early Elementary Ages (Grades K-2)
Top Online Games for Middle Elementary Ages (Grades 3-4)
Top Online Games for Older Elementary Ages (Grades 5-6)
