Nintendo DS educational games??

[Amy&Josh]

What are the educational games for the DS for boys ages 5-7?

 

[McKelly]

My kids liked Animal Genius, it didn't take them very long to complete everything on it though.

 

[surfergirl602]

I bought my girls their ds's but I'm gong to wait and see if games go on sale anywhere. I'm looking for educational type games as well.

 

[HM]

These are too old for your kids, but in case someone else sees this or you want some for the future:

My Word Coach
My Spanish (French, Japanese, etc) Coach
My SAT Coach
Brain Age

 

[mominwestlake]

My SAT Coach- I'll have to check that out. I wonder if it would really help my d15 prepare for the SATs?

 

[HM]

My SAT Coach- I'll have to check that out. I wonder if it would really help my d15 prepare for the SATs?

My son is just starting to work with it (Bought it a couple weeks ago). So far it seems pretty good. Even if it only works a little bit, it would be worth the $30 cost, I think.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

Subbing....

Educational would be GREAT!!!!!

 

[griz_fan]

There's been some good suggestions (Brain Age games are pretty fun), but one of the problems I've seen with overtly educational games is that they tend to not be very engaging. My kids quickly lost interest in a couple of "educational" DS games. But, my youngest son, who was about 7 when he got his DS Lite fell in love with the DS version of Age of Empires. While not explicitly an educational game (it is a turn-based strategy game with LOTS of history), he has learned quite a bit about it. The game is based on actual historical characters (Joan of Arc, Richard the Lion-Hearted, Saladin, etc...) and historical battles, conflicts, etc... Each character and mission is introduced with a brief history of that person or event before the playing begins. That wound up igniting his interest in history. He's now in the 3rd grade and probably knows more about history than a lot of adults! He knows the flags of most European countries, knows the basics about the Crusades, the story of Joan of Arc, etc... And, this game has led him to read books on the subjects and explorer the history used in the game. So, from that perspective, I think that game proved to be very educational.

that's something I've seen in other games, too. Quite a few games, especially those targeted to kids, are pretty mindless, but there are still quite a few games that are really engaging and strongly reward creative thinking, analytical thinking and other cognitive skills. While not explicitly educational games such as Animal Crossing can wind up teaching kids a LOT.

Something to consider....

 

[solfan68]

My kids liked Animal Genius, it didn't take them very long to complete everything on it though.

Our DS actually got this through his Book Club order form. He's a Pokemon/Ninja Turtles kid through and through. But he really enjoys this one nearly as much !

ETA: I love the Nintendo games, both Wii and DS, because I have found him reading all of the text and on screen instructions. Again, he's always been a big reader - both with us, and solo - but I really get a kick out of him being able to read more and more of the onscreen info himself !

 

[melancholywings]

I love Professor Layton they are puzzle based games, though DD 7 hasn't picked it up yet (both DH and I have finished it.)

 

[musclemouse]

There is Smart Boys and a Smart Girls gameroom. Which are made for the young ones. Then there is another game for the older kiddos... BrainQuest for grades 3-4 and 5-6. I'm getting the one of those for my oldest.

 

[Aristomommy]

We have:

Flash Focus
Brain Age
Brain Age2
Brain Academy

I like all of them, but the kids love Flash focus. It unlocks games as you do your daily training. It teaches hand eye coordination, concentration and memory among other things. It will also calculate your age based on your daily testing.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

Do you need reading skills for all of these? My DS is 6 and very efficient at Nintendo DS, but I think the reading skills are still a bit away....

 

[princesspwrhr]

But, my youngest son, who was about 7 when he got his DS Lite fell in love with the DS version of Age of Empires.

WHERE did you find the DS version of Age of Empires?!?!?!? My 10yo dd is getting a DS for Christmas and has been in love with Age of Empires since she was about 7, the PC versions are always on her Christmas and Birthday lists. She will be over the moon if I could find it for the DS.

 

[Minnie M6]

There's been some good suggestions (Brain Age games are pretty fun), but one of the problems I've seen with overtly educational games is that they tend to not be very engaging. My kids quickly lost interest in a couple of "educational" DS games. But, my youngest son, who was about 7 when he got his DS Lite fell in love with the DS version of Age of Empires. While not explicitly an educational game (it is a turn-based strategy game with LOTS of history), he has learned quite a bit about it. The game is based on actual historical characters (Joan of Arc, Richard the Lion-Hearted, Saladin, etc...) and historical battles, conflicts, etc... Each character and mission is introduced with a brief history of that person or event before the playing begins. That wound up igniting his interest in history. He's now in the 3rd grade and probably knows more about history than a lot of adults! He knows the flags of most European countries, knows the basics about the Crusades, the story of Joan of Arc, etc... And, this game has led him to read books on the subjects and explorer the history used in the game. So, from that perspective, I think that game proved to be very educational.

that's something I've seen in other games, too. Quite a few games, especially those targeted to kids, are pretty mindless, but there are still quite a few games that are really engaging and strongly reward creative thinking, analytical thinking and other cognitive skills. While not explicitly educational games such as Animal Crossing can wind up teaching kids a LOT.

Something to consider....

This sounds like something my DS 9 would love...thanks for the info!

 

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