Virtual pet games help children learn.
Virtual pet games allow children to care for and nurture an animal as they would in real life. These games are both fun to play for children and adults and offer learning games for various age levels. Another great benefit is that virtual pet games help children learn the responsibility of caring for an animal. This can be beneficial for parents who hope to get a real pet in the future.
Tamagotchi
Kids love computer games.
A tamagotchi is a small hand-held game that can be attached to a key ring. On this game the person picks an animal and then feeds and cares for it daily. Each day the animal will grow more and more. If care is not maintained, the virtual animal dies. Additionally, those with tamagotchis may access TamaTown on the World Wide Web. This is a virtual town where the animals can play with other friends' animals. Children play educational games that improve math, spelling and virtual hand-eye coordination to earn points that translate into virtual dollars. With these dollars they can purchase food, clothing and shelter for their pets online world. Tamagotchis are geared toward children who are 7 years old and up.
Webkinz
A hot commodity for young children since 2005, Webkinz are plush animals with codes to a virtual world. Children receive stuffed animals that come shaped as dogs, cats, hoses and reptiles, as well as other wild animals, and enter the code attached to the tag to enter the Webkinz World website. Children then create a virtual living space for their pets. This includes furniture, a bedroom and clothing. The world lets children play games that improve problem solving and spelling and games that allow them to help their neighbors, all to earn Webkinz dollars. They can use those dollars to purchase food and other items for their pets. Each day the child has to log on and feed and play with her pet or it will become sad or sick. There is even a virtual veterinarian to tell children what kind of attention their pet needs. Webkinz are designed for children 5 years old and up.
NeoPets
NeoPets is another virtual pet world. Your child selects animals online and cares for them. There are daily auctions and news regarding events in their world. Children can have their animals work at the online marketplace to earn money and purchase things they would like to play with. There are corresponding creatures available for purchase, but they do not interact with the virtual world the way other virtual pet games do. NeoPets aims to give children ages 7 and up a safe place to play.
Tags: games that, play with, their pets, virtual world, children learn, children years