Update — 6/30/10:
Given all that’s happened in the Gulf and BP’s apparently outrageous lack of care, I can’t support the first game anymore. But, it’s a free country, so if you still want to play it, have at it…
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My kids and I found a couple of online games that are unusual and fun, although in very different ways. The first is called BP Gas Mania.
It’s part of the Miniclip.com collection of games (Club Penguin is the most well known and most popular of its games).
UPDATE: Club Penguin is now owned by Disney.
The BP in the Gas Mania site, unfortunately, stands for British Petroleum. I am one of the last people who would want to promote any kind of oil company, but if you can get past that connection, the game is really fun. You may have heard the little jingle, “Make Your Day a Little Better” and, indeed, that song plays in a loop while your child plays the game. The song gets incredibly annoying after a while, but in small doses it’s cheery and pleasant.
The gist of the game is that you control a little gas station attendant and give the customers what they want. Little cars drive up and you have to sort the customers according to the type of gas they want, accept their payment for the gas and then give them whatever else they might request (like, coffee or sandwiches). There’s something about it that kids love. It’s different, fun and can get a bit challenging.
Do you know what the second game is?
The second game is a site that my kids have found and enjoy more than the previously noted sites.
Referred to simply as Scratch, this site lets kids design their own games by engaging in basic computer programming. The kids use simple logic blocks that look like puzzle pieces.
Let them explore and you’ll soon be amazed at their creations.
We talk about Scratch in our podcast on Parents and Kids Talk Radio and describe it here in the blog for the podcast.
Many of your tweens and preteens will tell you that it’s not really a game, but every kid I know who has spent some time on Scratch has enjoyed the site. It’s definitely worth a visit!
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All hail Plankton! ALL HAIL PLANKTON!
I love SpongeBob. I could watch and quote that cartoon all day.
When my son was little some of his first words were “BP on the move… beep, beep.” I’m with you on the “crass commercialism,” but the games sound really fun. =)
Oh no you don’t! My kids spend enough time on the computer! This is the equivalent of giving me a new blog link to check out!
To Pete:
LOL! I can just picture your crew having fun with that…
You should see us when we get going, “All Hail Plankton!” Sometimes (for just a fleeting moment) I feel sorry for that little guy…
To Tara:
Ha ha! That must have been so cute. I love their jingles, I have to admit…
And yes, the game is really fun. The kids get a kick out of it. It’s like an early lesson in customer service: first lady needs air in her tires, next guy needs some milk, meanwhile the lady’s ready to pay…oh, here’s another guy and he wants premium gas…
To Momo:
Hee hee. Sorry! I know what you mean. There are so many fun things for them (and for us!) to do. It’s a great time to be alive, no?
How do I play these games online here?
Hi, I have one more suggestion for a website if you’re interested! beaconstreetgirls.com is great for a tween girl, she can create her own locker and talk with other girls her age, and it’s totally safe because everything gets reviewed before it’s posted.