Kiddiesgames.com now offers a download version of its computer games for babies and preschoolers, that subtly creates a new standard in respectful software for small children. Instead of negative "That’s not right, try again" or self-doubting "Are you sure", the software contains ONLY positive, engaging interaction, according to the recommendations of the latest research into child psychological development.

The trend in parenting and early childhood education is definitely towards treating small children with respect. If you are looking for children’s software that respects this philosophy, then you’ll be interested in the Kiddiesgames download games.

The Victorian times of "children should be seen and not heard" is long gone, and our techniques for raising children are becoming less and less Victorian all the time. Schools and most parents no longer spank children when they’re naughty. And instead of issuing seemingly arbitrary commands, adults now tend more to take the time to explain things to small children.

Game software for children, particularly for babies and preschoolers, is a relatively new area. It’s been around for about a decade. We haven’t been at it for centuries. There are guidelines that "good" children’s software is assumed to adhere to, that most likely originated in observing older children playing computer games. Two of these guidelines are: 1) negative correctional feedback to let the child know when they didn’t get the right answer, and 2) ask the child "Are you sure?" when they click to exit the software, in case they accidentally clicked on the wrong thing.

Kiddiesgames.com now offers download games that challenge those standards.

Kiddiesgames are fun and educational computer games for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Big, happy, colorful children’s faces invite children to play on the computer and engage them in the game’s activity. However, there is no toxic negative feedback such as raspberries being blown or someone saying "That’s not right" when the child playing the game doesn’t get the right answer.

Why would an educational children’s software not contain correctional feedback? It seems counter-intuitive.

Research into the effects of parenting styles on toddlers’ language skills found that toddlers who heard a larger proportion of negative feedback did not have as good language development as toddlers who heard more positive feedback even when the child was wrong. Parents who did not "correct" their toddler’s incorrect speech and instead encouraged them by continuing the conversation as if nothing was amiss, ended up with children who had more correct speech! More information about this phenomenon can be found in Chapter 14 of the book about baby brain development “What’s Going On In There?” by Lise Eliot, Ph.D.

When a child’s efforts at learning something is met with a correction, it’s as if the child hears "don’t bother trying that, you’re no good at it". It seems that the best way to correct a small child acquiring a new skill is to not correct her! Instead lavish her with positive feedback. It seems that children are inherently self-correcting when it comes to learning new things, as long as they are receiving positive attention from their loving audience.

In the book “By the Ages”, the experienced early childhood educator teachers K. Eileen Allen and Lynn R. Marotz give another example of how to foster a child’s need for respect and self-esteem: “«Look at that! You laced your shoes all by yourself» (No mention of the eyelet that was missed.)”

Using the lessons learned from this latest research, the Kiddiesgames emphasize positive responses, and do not acknowledge that an answer was incorrect at all. When the child on the screen asks the young player where his nose is, if the young player clicks on the ear, the child on the screen continues as usual, pointing out both the ear and the nose. The fun, engaging game flow continues with no hiccups for negative feedback, subtly teaching the child.

The other golden rule of children’s software that Kiddiesgames deliberately breaks is the one about asking "Are you sure? Yes / No" when the child clicks on the quit button. Why? To add one more little brick of confidence to the child’s self-esteem. Instead of questioning or doubting a child’s decision or action, especially one as inconsequential as quitting a computer game, Kiddiesgames software simply carries out the commands of the child, and quits the game.

Kiddiesgames encourages caregivers to spend quality, fun time with their small child, by sharing the playing of educational computer games. The help section of the software includes tips for getting the most out of the games and quick explanations of the philosophy behind the design of the games. These tips and explanations are small reminders that can be applied to the caregiver’s daily interactions with the child, not just the specific computer game.

Children’s software has finally caught up with the latest child pyschology recommendations. That software is Kiddiesgames.

The Kiddiesgames download games are at http://www.kiddiesgames.com/en/downloads.php and cost $16.
Free browser-based games are also available at http://www.kiddiesgames.com.
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