Five fun, educational Linux games for kids!

Technology provides today's school with numerous avenues to provide quality education to kids while making learning fun. With schools increasing the use of technology to deliver learning, parents are faced with embracing technology to provide learning and fun experiences for kids growing up in a technology saturated world after school.

As a concerned parent, I want to do my part in making sure that my kids have the ability to play games and learn at home while away from school. Linux games for kids often provide a low cost/no cost alternative for parents willing to install the latest Linux operating system to provide a low cost alternative for educational tool for kids. Because finding Linux games can sometimes be difficult for Linux newcomers, I have compiled several great Linux games for kids that will provide your child with hours of learning and fun:

1. Ri-Li (pictured) is a wonderful game for children ages 3 and up that love trains. The kids get to control toy wooden trains through various levels while attempting to pick up coaches to win. This fun and engaging game has great graphics that are bright and colorful while teaching keyboard-mouse skills and following rules.
   


2. KTuberling or Potato Guy is a great children's game available on the KDE Desktop that even captures the attention of some adults. Kids can dress the potato guy with different outfits and facial features and there is even an ability to save your art for your aspiring Da Vinci. This game is a must have for the 2-5 year old range.

3. GCompris is the Swiss Army Knife of children's educational games. With over 100 activities in computer discovery, algebra, science, geography, games, reading, and many other activities providing fun from ages 2-10, a parent would be remiss not to include this in their kid's games for Linux.
   


4. Childsplay is part of the Schoolsplay suite of games and great for a wide range of young kids. Consisting of activities such as memory recall, mouse and keyboard use, and games such as pong and billiards, Child's Play engages your kid while providing the ability for parents to track their child's progress. Childsplay is recommended for children between 2 and 10.
   


5. Tux Racer is one of my favorites and I look forward to playing with my son who loves to race. Players take on the character of Tux the Penguin and race through various levels unlocking new and interesting levels along the way. Recommended for kids 5 and up, Tux Racer can be difficult for younger children still working on keyboard and mouse skills. Sure, it's not technically an educational game, but if your kids like to race this is the game for them!
   

All of the games mentioned above work with Ubuntu except KTuberling and most will work in both Gnome and KDE desktop environments. You can learn more about Ubuntu and download the Linux operating system by visiting http://www.ubuntu.com.

Tags: education, games, Gnome, KDE, kids, Linux, opensource, ubuntu