DISNEY CHANNEL GAME COM
If you have kids, chances are you have looked at www.disneychannel.com. If you haven’t, you and your child are missing out. The Disney Channel website is full of free online games for your child (or you) to play. That’s right, free entertainment. But the games are not just about entertainment, they are about learning, too. You will find that Disney continues its tradition of strong family values throughout its games. Each game can be seen as teaching your child how to problem-solve. In addition, the games advocate healthy habits and nonviolence. (You won’t see anyone kung-fu fighting on this website.)
Take, for example, a game based on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. In “Pizza Party Pickup,” the chosen character races through the halls of the Tipton collecting items for a pizza party. You earn points by grabbing snacks. But you aren’t looking for sodas or candy bars—instead, you are collecting glasses of juice, bananas, cherries, apples, and strawberries. You must think logically to deduce the paths of the other residents who are patrolling the halls. The game pushes you to think critically; at the same time it promotes healthy eating habits. Every child should have the opportunity to learn how to properly feed his or her intellect as well as the body.
An American Dragon: Jake Long game takes a different tack. “Jake’s Dragon Tile Combo” is similar to mahjong. This game teaches your child to recognize spatial boundaries, and to quickly recognize visual similarities. It requires your child to think carefully about his moves. If he (or she) is able to plan several steps in advance, he can consider himself a true prince of puzzles! Keep in mind that a child who practices puzzles is more likely to succeed in mathematics and other logic-based problems.
The disneychannel.com has multitudes of other free games. It also offers opportunities to download demos of longer computer games, or to sign up for a subscription to a multiplayer online game. You never have to worry about your child being inundated with excessive violence or other adult themes. In fact, you can enjoy knowing that your child is occupied with an exercise of the mind. Have fun exploring everything the disneychannel.com has to offer for you and your family.