Infants / Keyboard users
Infants and new users need games that work when they bang anywhere on the keyboard – some companies call these games “lapware”. At this tender age, my kids would sit on my lap and kick or pound the keyboard out of excitement and experimenting and I have never had to replace a standard keyboard because of it – although of course temper banging is never allowed.
If the keyboard is comfortable on your and baby’s lap, great – otherwise I recommend a large book that can go on your collective laps and hold the keyboard to bring it close to the child. Here are some lapware games I have found (made a couple, too):
Owlie Boo – This site gets it and has several games broken down by ability. At this stage we want “pressing keys games” and this site is ideal for baby’s first games. Hit any key to make the mild, animated dog bark or the cute frog jump.
HappyClicks.net – Touch/tap games. This entire site looks like great games for baby. This link goes to the touch games. The Magician seems quite popular.
Knee Bouncers – Also offering skill appropriate games for small kids. Free trial.
Baby Keyboard Game – This is downloadable software for baby. I downloaded this one and it worked well, with every key.
I am including Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddles keyboard game because it serves as a good reminder that we need to preview these games before we offer them to our kids. You press the space bar to make Peppa jump into puddles for points – extra points if she jumps to pop the balloons, too. If you do not want your child to jump in mud puddles or pop balloons, this game is not for you.
Once your child sees that hitting the keyboard makes something happen, the next level is to show that each key does something different. Remember, you are the teacher. Once your child sees an animal for every letter, you ask them to show you the skunk or when they hit a key and a goat shows up “that’s a goat – what does the goat say?” The more you engage and play along, the more education your child will get and the more fun you will have together.
Alphabet Keys: Animals – I made this game, because my favorite keyboard games are no longer available since Flash games were discontinued. This game shows you an animal for each letter you type. It begins to show cause and effect for computer input device, namely keyboard, and screen, and later is fun to learn animal names and other things you would like to teach a child about animals. We have an English and Spanish version of this game and other games that are good first mouse user games.
StarFall has similar alphabet games, and they offer them in Spanish and French as well. Kids learn a second language a lot easier when they are small, so these can be fun for everyone.
The next step is to ask your child to find the RIGHT letter on the keyboard – this will build on the previous skills. Now that your child knows what key to push to get a skunk, they can learn that is an S and you can quiz them, as some software games will. When the sounds or pictures are engaging enough, they will love to remember which keys to choose, like they would a matching game, until they really learn the alphabet.
Global Glitch – for older kids new to keyboards, this game uses only the space bar to run and jump to catch coins. Timing is important in this game.
PJ Mask Ninjalos – also for older kids new to keyboard, this game uses arrow keys to move the character back and forth across the screen to capture Ninjalos, time and energy.
Two Kids has a lot of good looking games. Special Delivery also has arrow key action, but it moves up and down instead of side to side.
HappyClicks.net offer maze games that require the right arrow key be used to get through.
ABCya has several type the right letter games – this one is Halloween themed. Search the site for Typing games to find the ones you like best. Typing Rocket Junior – this program looks like it is meant to teach kids touch typing, but it works well as a “get to know the keyboard” game. See also Cup Stack Typing
These are baby games that will ease you into the next level:
Owlie Boo – The mild games on this site load quickly, so it is a good choice to try the next level. Try some “Moving the Mouse” games to see if your child is ready to advance.
Alphabet Roll: Letters change color when the mouse rolls over each one. This one sort of lights up whenever the mouse is moved anywhere near the letters. Begins to show cause and effect for computer mouse and screen, getting baby ready for the next level.
Cookie Cart Racer has just a few clicks to make a car for Cookie Monster, then you use arrow keys to change lanes as he races and catches prizes.
You will know when you and your child are ready to move on to the next skill level. We also have more site suggestions for this level or you can Google “free online keyboard games”