Tag: games

Free Old School Games

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Remember when we were kids (yeah, I know that seems like forever ago!) and we’d go to our grandparent’s house for the holidays? Did your grandparents play solitaire, gin rummy, or do crossword puzzles and try to teach you? Yeah kids, that was the fun your parents had at grandma and grandpa’s house! No TV, movies, and cell phones. We learned and played old school games and we actually enjoyed every moment. Well, I think I found a website that I swear my grandmother could have developed herself if she was still around and had to share it with you all! A free old school game jackpot…

Solitaire.org is a jackpot of all sorts of classic card and strategy games. Everything from Sudoku, Spider Solitaire, Word Search, Crosswords, Hearts, and more! They even have Minesweeper, a classic strategy game I played back on my Windows 95 PC (yes, I’m aging myself now). Do Windows PCs even come with Minesweeper anymore? I guess I haven’t checked (or played based on the screenshot below) for a few years now…LOL! Now I can have my nostalgia without an app to download, no membership to subscribe to, no data mining, and no credit card info needed ever. Just a full library of all my favorite old school games and more that I’ve never even heard of.

Minesweeper Screenshot

What I love most about Solitaire.org is that everything is free, there are no ads to get in the way, and the games all load super fast. For every game they have on their site, there are also detailed instructions on how to play, how the game is scored, and the history of the game which the nerd in me loves. It reminds me of how my grandparents used to teach me everything about a game before we could even start playing it. From strategy tips to even tutorial videos, anyone can become a master of Freecell, Pyramid, Mahjong, and more!

The best part about Solitaire.org is that their games are safe and fun for all ages! Teaching kids about classic Solitaire to games like Minesweeper build their strategy and problem-solving skills. Looking for free games your kids can play online? Check out my other blog post about another great resource for fun and even educational games safe for kids of any age to play by clicking here!

Free Online Games for Kids

SuperSavingMom 1 Comment

Looking for fun, safe, and free games for your kids to play online?  I put together a list of my favorite sites that offer free games that are both fun and educational!  These sites have games appropriate for young kiddos up to older teens.  Best part, there is no need to go out a buy expensive gaming system and games with these free sites. 

Whether or not we like it as parents, gaming is part of today’s culture.  We can’t keep our kids away from it forever though we can limit their time playing and the types of games they can play.  When my son was about 4 years old, I bought one of those expensive Vtech educational video game systems and a bunch of games.  It was super expensive but there weren’t a lot of options online 13 years ago.  Now there are so many websites available with free games for kids of all ages that are entertaining and offer some sort of educational purpose. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Some of the best ones I could find online are listed below.  They are in no specific order, but here are 8 websites with free online games for kids.

PBS Kids

PBS Kids is definitely targeted towards younger kids probably around ages 2 years to 8 years old.  We all probably can remember PBS shows as kids and the impact they had on us growing up.  PBS is a feel-good network and now has tons of free online content as well.  From games to videos to parenting resources too!  Their games are targeted to provide entertainment as well as education.

Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network is the next step up from PBS Kids with content targeted towards kids from around age 8 up to preteens.  They offer TONS of free content that includes fun and creative games to quizzes, strategy, and learning games as well.  Kids can play games based on their favorite Cartoon Network shows and even watch videos online.  No TV cable subscription needed to access the website.

ABC Mouse

ABC Mouse is an absolutely adorable mouse-themed adventure game series that is targeted towards young kids aged 2 to 8 years old.  It features different adventures and games around major curriculum including math, science, reading, arts, and colors.  The only bad thing is that it is only free for the first 30 days.  Afterward, it costs $12.99 per month.  You can also get $2 cash back through Rakuten when you sign up for a paid subscription.

Splash Learn

Splash Learn is probably one of the only online game sites targeted for very young kids aged PreK to 5 years old.  Their program is used in 1 in 3 schools in the US for math and reading.  Their site offers a lot of free content, as well as a paid option to unlock even more or add additional kids.  This is a great site to consider the paid subscription if you homeschool your kid(s).

Plays

Plays.org was born out of the pandemic lockdowns and has grown to over 150 games and continues to add 1-2 additional games per day.  Best part, they have games for all ages!  They have content targeted towards young kids in preschool all the way up to adults.  From classic games like Tetris to simulation games to even typing games to learn or improve typing skills.  This site has so much content! Best part…It’s all FREE with no need to pay to unlock all their content.

Fun Brain

Fun Brain is just what it sounds like, fun brain games for kids.  They offer content for kids age PreK all the way up to 8th grade.  Their site has games, digital books, math, and fun educational videos to watch as well.  Their digital books are a great way to get your kids reading without even having to buy a hard copy book!

Disney LOL

Does Disney even need a description?  We all know and love Disney!  They are awesome for the entire family, young and old.  They have a whole online site dedicated to games and activities for kids of all ages.  From videos, coloring pages, to fun and educational games, Disney LOL has it all!  All their content is also absolutely free.

Sesame Street

Last but certainly not least is Sesame Street.  This classic kids TV series now offers free games on their website as well.  Just like Disney, they have videos, coloring, and games.  Their content is good for kids age 2 to 10 years old.  No subscription necessary!

Looking for fun and free activities to do with your kiddos offline?  Check out my page of free events for families and kids here: https://www.supersavingmoms.com/free-events-for-kids/


Free Online Educational Games and Activities for Kids

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Times are changing dramatically due to the recent pandemic. I know a lot of parents are now at home with their kids trying to not only entertain them but teach them with schools being closed for the rest of the school year. It’s difficult trying to come up with creative ways to teach at the same time also keep their attention, so I found some resources online that I thought were fun, entertaining, and educational. And the best part, they’re also FREE!

Culinary and Cooking Kids Games

Culinary Schools offers a collection of dozens of games to help familiarize children with food, farming, cooking, the culinary arts, the restaurant business, and hospitality-related careers.

None of these games contain any advertisements or extraneous branding. All games are published using mobile and desktop-friendly HTML5 web design. Links to each game open in a new tab focused exclusively on the associated game instead of having the games framed inside other web pages. Below are the free gaming collections they offer to help students have fun while learning in an interactive environment:

1. Cooking and Kitchen Work – track multiple tasks in the kitchen and learn how to follow a basic recipe
2.  Food Education Games – learn about healthy foods versus unhealthy foods
3.  Serving Eaters – make sandwiches or play a waiter
4.  Farming – familiarizes players with farms, farm animals, and farming.
5.  Other Fun Food-themed Games – match 3 in a row, deliver food, stack pancakes & more.

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is a free, fun, educational program designed to inspire young children to become learners for life. The robust Khan Academy Kids curriculum and original content make learning engaging and fun for children ages two to seven.

PBS Kids

PBS KIDS is dedicated to offering free access to media content and community-based experiences that support learning for young children. Their mission is to use the power of media to open worlds of possibilities for all children so that every child can reach their full potential in school — and in life.

‘The Kids Should See This’ Video Collection

TKSST is an unprecedented collection of over 4,500 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. Plus, it’s free for everyone.

Safe Kid Games 

Welcome to Safe Kid Games! We’re all about safe games for kids. Our web pages are filled with the best educational games, learning games, and just plain fun games. We’re keenly focused on providing a safe environment for children. Every game here is free and is reviewed to ensure it’s safe for children. As with all things, we encourage each child’s parent(s) to review and monitor their child’s online activities to ensure they’re being safe, and also to ensure that any games or content are appropriate for their own child. Thanks for visiting and please share this site with your friends!

Out of Eden Walk

Out of Eden Learn is a free online program for students aged 3-19. The program groups students of similar ages from diverse geographical and socioeconomic settings together for collective learning experiences.

Out of Eden Learn currently offers several 8-12-week long learning experiences, or “learning journeys,” designed around three broad learning goals. All of the journeys combine offline activities with online interaction and invite young people to:

1. slow down to observe the world carefully and listen attentively to others
2.  exchange stories and perspectives with one another; and
3.  make connections between their own lives and bigger human stories.

 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash