Konami Kids Playground: Frogger Hop, Skip and Jumpin' Fun
A colorful control mat encourages tots to move around as they play mini-games focused on learning and play. Toddlers will giggle as they learn about cause and effect: Jump on any space to see a fireworks display on the TV. Older players score points as they step on spaces that match answers to questions about numbers, letters, colors and shapes. Or they can hop about as they raft down a river, jump rope and grab flies.
Best for Ages: 2 to 6 years
Suggested Retail Price: $40 for PlayStation 2 game and mat, $15 to $20 for additional titles
Smart Girl's/Smart Boy's Playhouse
Designed for preschoolers, the mini-games encourage children to draw pictures, match sounds, play instruments, and perform other age-appropriate activities. The girl's version includes dress-up activities and the boy's title features monster and vehicle play. One note: Written on-screen instructions are of little use to non-readers, so parental assistance is needed until children learn how to play.
EA Playground
When the weather’s frightful, the playground can move indoors with this collection of mini-games for one to four players. Using the Wii remote, players swat at the tetherball, fly paper airplanes, race slot cars, shoot darts, spike volleyballs, and play dodge ball. The games are intuitive enough that parents can easily join in.
Best for Ages: 5 years and up
Suggested Retail Price: $40 for Wii game, $30 for DS game
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics
Two beloved characters–Mario and Sonic–face off in a title based on the upcoming summer Olympic games in Beijing. One to four players can compete as Mario and Sonic, along with their other pals. Using the Wii remote, players perform flips in gymnastics, race to the finish line in track, slam the ball in table tennis, and compete in other Olympic events at venues that mimic the real thing.
Super Mario Galaxy
Nintendo's favorite icon blasts into space in an action-adventure game that encourages teamwork. A child can play on his own or recruit a friend to help collect star bits, stall enemies, and clear the path as Mario travels from one planet to the next in a breathtaking Wii game that's almost as much fun to view as play.
Master of Illusion
Kids can amaze their friends (and parents) as they perform magic tricks in a game that performs 20 mind-boggling tricks on Nintendo DS' dual-screen. Better yet, the game provides step-by-step tutorials for players who want to learn how to do the real thing with the included deck of marked cards.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Have some fun: Pick up Gibson Guitar's Les Paul controller and rock to "School's Out," "Rock 'N' Roll All Nite" and dozens of other legendary rockers. Strum to the beat and follow the color-coded patterns on the TV screen. This is a great game for nostalgic parents to play with their kids. Be prepared to stay up late; it's all but impossible to put this guitar down.
Note: Despite the game's Teen rating, the music is relatively tame, especially when compared to today's pop music.
Best for Ages: 9 years and up
Suggested Retail Price:$90 for PlayStation 2 and Wii games, $100 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games
Listed prices were quoted as of November 14, 2007, and may, depending on vendor, be subject to change. If an item is temporarily out of stock from a vendor we recommend through a Buy link, you can wait for the vendor to restock or you can do an online search for other vendors to find that particular item.
