Gardening Mama, Majesco Entertainment and Cooking Mama, Ltd., 2009; $29.99; www.gardeningmama.com; ages 6 and up.

 

Requires: Nintendo DS. According to one of our young game testers, this extension of the wildly popular “Cooking Mama” franchise is “wicked fun!” Players “grow, harvest and enjoy” huge variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers in what’s billed as the first gardening game, ever. Using the stylus, which acts as a gardening tool, players plant, water, fertilize, prune and eliminate pests in Mama’s garden through different challenges, including “Let’s Get Growing” and “Make It Fancy.” Advancing through levels unlocks special features, such as being able to change Mama’s outfits. 

Judge's Top Pick! 

Clifford Boro, 2008; free; www.kidzui.com; for ages 3 to 12. Requires: High-speed Internet connection and Adobe Flash Player 9+. This downloadable Web browser has prescreened, kid-oriented content so parents can allay concerns about their children surfing through unguarded and unprotected browsers. Kids register, create user names and avatars, and then surf, rate and share content from more than 800,000 sites, ranging from Disney to YouTube. They also earn points for the content they rate and share. For $5 per month, parents can upgrade their accounts to increase filtering and reporting features to monitor children’s online usage. KidZui aids parents in helping their offspring learn responsible online behaviors.

Dizzywood, Rocket Paper Scissors, 2007; free with optional monthly subscription $4.95-$9.95; www.dizzywood.com; ages 10-12.

 

Requires: Web browser and Flash. While a growing number of virtual communities have been developed for kids, few are able to create the right balance of kid fun, learning potential and positive social behavior. Dizzywood is a refreshing alternative that places kids at the center of a very thoughtfully designed world that enables them to build confidence and express themselves in a healthy, story-enriched online world.

 

In addition to mini-games that encourage reading and vocabulary development, Dizzywood hosts online events that inspire kids with civics and environmental topics. There’s even a “Doing Good” resource page that lists areas where kids can get involved in local and national community volunteer activities, ranging from Toys for Tots to the Sierra Club. 

Science Buddies, Science Buddies, 2001; free; www.sciencebuddies.org; ages 5 to 18.

 

Requires: Web browser and Flash. This incredibly rich, Web-based resource for K-12 science education was created in partnership with National Science Teachers Association. Designed to complement classroom instruction by helping students build literacy in science and technology, the site inspires students to explore and try experiments in a wide variety of science areas, including Astronomy, Biotechnology, Music, Physics, Environmental Engineering, and Energy and Power, among others.

 

The Science Fair “Topic Selection Wizard” is a powerful tool that asks students to share information about their interests and strengths before offering a slate of possible project ideas. Parents and teachers find Science Budddies to be extremely successful in helping kids make connections between classroom reading and lab activities, and real-world experience. 

DreamBox Learning K-2 Math, DreamBox Learning, 2009; $12.95/month; www.dreambox.com; ages 6 to 8.

 

Requires: Web browser and Flash. This in-depth online math curriculum offers individualized instruction that adapts to a child’s progress and achievement. While at first it may seem like a pricey subscription, DreamBox is a terrific investment in helping young elementary school kids focus on developing fundamental computational skills, conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities. Games and activities are aligned with grade-level standards from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

 

DreamBox is a worthwhile resource for first and second graders who may demonstrate an advanced aptitude and who need more stimulation than what they receive in the classroom, as well as for kids who are struggling and need more support. 

Text & Learn, LeapFrog, 2009; $21.99; www.leapfrog.com; ages 3 to 4.

 

This Toy PDA has a standard layout keyboard that’s bigger than anything mom or dad would use, thus perfect for little hands and growing minds of youngsters who want their very own “smart device.” While the screen graphics are simple black and white pixelated animations, the audio and games engage preschoolers in activities that promote letter and sound awareness, as well as everyday words. Leapfrog calls it the “toddler-safe PDA.” Indeed! 

Walt Disney Internet Group, 2007; free to play with an option to upgrade to an unlimited subscription; www.piratesonline.com; for ages 10 and up. Requires: Web browser.
In this downloadable game module, players create a pirate and start their online adventure; it’s that simple! Pirates is another terrific online experience from Disney and one of its first forays into the massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) space. Unlike other MMORPGs, which are designed for older audiences but attract younger players because of the virtual adventures they provide, Pirates is age-appropriate for advanced tweens and young teens. The game immerses players in a virtual world, where they develop effective communication and collaborative skills as they forge alliances, hunt for buried treasure, battle evil “undead” forces, and develop strategies to outwit their foes.
 

Family Fun Winner! 

VTech Electronics, 2008; $79.99; www.vtechkids.com; for ages 4 to 7. Requires: Windows 2000, XP or Vista; Internet Explorer 6.0 or above; Adobe Flash Player 9; and a TV with audio and visual cable input jacks (A/V and USB connection cables are included).
This all-in-one art studio includes a small desk unit that connects to a TV or PC, a built-in digital camera and art palette. Billed as a “junior Photoshop,” little users snap photos, edit them and display their work on a TV or PC screen. This smart toy is all about “hands-on creativity,” ranging from basic drawing to photo stamps, from digital frames to “wacky” effects. Kids save, share and print their work when the unit is connected to a PC. One favorite feature is that users can send personalized e-cards. As our young testers evaluated other games, one tester entertained the group by creating a super-duper enhanced self-portrait on the TV screen.

 

For more artistic fun, check out:

Best Bang for the Buck Winner!   

Hudson Entertainment, 2008; $29.99; www.hudsonent.com; for ages 6 to 14. Requires: Wii console. This great party game leverages the new kinds of gameplay and interactivity afforded by the Wii. Deca Sports features 10 different athletic events, including basketball, soccer, badminton, archery, kart racing, motocross, beach volleyball, figure skating, curling and snowboarding. 

 

For more fun with the Nintendo Wii, check out:

Crayola Art Studio, Core Learning Inc., 2008; $24.95; www.core-learning.com; ages 6 to 8.

 

Requires: Windows 98, 2000, XP or Vista. This powerful creativity application for the PC invites kids to learn to create, edit and transform digital images with fun-to-use digital tools, such as Crayola Pencils, Paints, Markers and Crayons. The easy-to-learn interface provides a perfect introduction to the standard layout of tools, features and functions found across computer applications that kids will encounter as they grow older. “Begin to Draw” is ideal for young digital artists.