Educational computer games, as suggested by the name, are a fun way of developing personality and knowledge, they facilitate learning. They are used mostly with little kids because of this characteristic, as their favorite time passing activity is having fun, playing. Continuing this thought we all know that it is easier to learn something that we are interested in, rather than something that we do not care about or even bores us.

This is where the games come in. When someone begins to play a game he or she is interested in that game, so if that specific game includes some new, useful information then that specific information sticks with us, we know it from then. As a result educational computer games are created especially for children, in a way that these games help them in their development, in their education.  ABCya! for example is a developer of educational computer games for elementary students. While playing these kinds of games children can also learn basic computer usage, besides math or reading which is also essential.

Educational computer games include in most cases funny word games or jigsaw puzzle games. These can expand the children’s vocabulary and motivate them to learn more, because, obviously, the more you know the more likely is that you win or at least you do not get to be the last one. And as the grownups, they also like to win and they also have a competitive spirit, or if they do not have a competitive spirit then playing can help them develop one. Another useful property of the games is that while playing the little ones learn to obey the rules, to play by the rules. So games have an important social role, where it is also necessary to obey the rules.

However these games are not the only ones which can teach us something. I mean every computer game has an educational side, even the shooter games. These games have a story, which are based, inspired mostly from real life moments. As Call of Duty where the action takes place during the Second World War or Far Cry which takes place in Africa and can remind us to the movie “Blood Diamond” where the most diamonds are coming from.

Another form of education in a computer game is when an item is called “Excalibur” as King Arthur’s sword given by the Lady from the Lake. Maybe while playing the gamer becomes interested in that specific sword decides to find out what that is. Reading the text about Excalibur he or she will learn not only about the sword but also about King Arthur the Round Table, the knights and so on.  As we can see every computer game can be able to teach us, to educate us because of its unique way of captivating our interest.

Computer games are capturing every year millions of children around the world, on which of course they have an impact, no matter the nature of it. The reviews over the effects which the computer games are having on children are separate. The subject is still very disputed. Most think that computer games have a bad influence over child's psychic.



These are based on the fact that many studies have correlated the juvenile aggression with violent games preferred by the children. Another factor which can be related to changes in the child's behavior, made by the computer games, is the number of hours per day spent in front of the computer. The studies have demonstrated that most of the parents do not know and do not limit the number of hours which the children are spending in the virtual reality.



Children who play violent games more than 10 hours per week may present these behaviors:

- increased aggression
- frequent argues with the teachers
- violent altercations with the classmates
- low results at school

There are not many who think that computer games have positive parts and some negative parts which are exaggerated. Some studies are showing that playing on the computer has beneficial effects like increasing the manual dexterity of the children and the level of skills in the informatics domains.

Another argument in favor for the games is related to the studies which correlate aggression with games. These are saying that just the correlation of aggressive with playing on the computer does not necessary prove that there is a cause effect relation between them. It can only mean that for example, the children who are predisposed to an aggressive behavior are attracted to the violent games.



With all these, most of the experts agree that the parents must have some sort of control over the game types and the time which the children are spending in front of the computer.

Some useful advices on how you can minimize the negative effects of the computer games over your child:

- be careful at the video game rating (it offers you information about the violence level of the game and the age group to which is recommended).
- keep the computer in a common space (like the living room), not in the child's room
- set rules about the number of hours per day which your child is allowed to play video games
- close monitor all the media materials with which your child is in contact - TV programs, movies and internet (especially that many games can be played straight from the internet).
- make time to discuss with your child about the games he likes. Ask him with what feelings he remains after he is playing and what understands from the game. Explain to him the difference between virtual and reality.
- talk to other parents about this subject, you can find out many useful things from their experience.

Computer games for children are very popular on the internet. Almost every website with games has a category for children games. I find some very interesting websites with such games. A very educative website with children games is www. learn4good .com. Here you can find games to play for free, like Play QubiDraw - a Kids Memory Match Game. This game uses your memory and observation skills.

Your challenge is to find matching pictures, or to find the pictures that don't match with others, depending on the game you select. You can choose to play an open pictures or closed pictures game, where you have to select two matching pictures in order to remove them from the board. If you choose the One Item game, you can select between a game where you have to find one item that doesn't match the theme or a game where you have to select the item that has never appeared before. It is a fun game for children, and helps your child to practice and train visual memory skills.

Another game is Free Animal Coloring Activity for Kids: On the right side you have a color palette to choose from. Select the color with your mouse and then click on the picture. The part of the picture or any element of it you click on will be colored in the color you have selected. Be creative. After you have colored the picture click the PRINT button at the bottom right corner and you can print out the picture.

If you want to have a little fun you can try Oggy and the Cockroaches: You have to protect Oggy's fries from nasty cockroaches. How to play: Using the mouse, aim Oggy's fist at a cockroach which is trying to steal one of 20 French fries. You gain points each time you hit the three cockroaches: Joey, Deedee or Marky. When Deedee does a flyby air raid on Oggy's plate, be sure to punch him out as well for even more points. Last but not least, keep an eye on the second cat Jack and his hand when it comes out to grab the whole plate. You have to slap him several times on his hand as quickly as you can. If you don't - the Game is over!

You can also try A simple and smaller free flash (online) version of the game which features a maze game for children: Ladybugs is a collection of 3 maze games ( more than 100 levels in total ) where the player has to help the ladybugs find their houses. Learn colors and orientation through this very cute game!

Bugs have never been so cute and cuddly...and colorful! This game for small children will keep your little ones racing against other ladybugs; wandering around garden mazes and helping ladybugs find their homes. These are challenging yet extremely fun activities to stimulate your child's thinking and color recognition skills, while at the same time, simply having fun. As you can see there are many games to choose from.