Toddlers / Mouse Clickers
Toddlers and more experienced users have seen you use the mouse and are anxious to control the computer experience a bit more, though their little hands are still a bit small to actually use the mouse properly, let alone “drag and drop”.
At first, they learn that the mouse makes things happen on the screen – particularly with a game like Alphabet Roll, where the letters change color when the mouse rolls over each one, or Alphabet Roll: Foods, where the letter changes to a food when the mouse rolls over. Once the mouse moves away, the original letter returns, showing how moving the mouse is connected to the computer screen.
Again, you are the teacher. It is up to you to enrich the learning experience with information and questions. “That is an apple – apple starts with the letter A.” “What food is that?” “Which is your favorite?” “What color is the Z?”
Next kids learn that pushing the button makes things happen, too, but the coordination needed to move it and click it will come in time, with practice. Using a lap board or large book to bring the mouse closer to my child, I was able to do the clicking at first and let my child see that it makes something happen when I “clickie click”. Later I’d move the mouse and hold it steady, then let her be the one that pushes the button. Our Alphabet Click: Foods game is the same as the rollover version, except you must click on the letter to change it to a food.
It is very helpful (and cozy!) to have a lap board or book while your child gets used to the mouse, and doing it with your child on your lap. It makes it something you do together and your child doesn’t get discouraged by a lack of skill.
These games will require some mouse skill, but only enough to understand that clicking the button makes something happen and small slow motions will do for a lot of the action:
Letter Tree works like a letter quiz. Click to shake a letter out of the tree, then click to choose which word begins with that letter.
Cookie’s Color Burst wants you to click on the stars that match the requested color
Sesame Street Alphabet Hunt – click on alphabet letters gently hidden in a scene
Egg Counting Elmo – click on eggs while Elmo counts them
Cbeeies Dinosaur Match game – the classic memory card game
Disney Now has a cute Mickey Mouse Bubble Popping game that asks you to click so many of a few colors to win.
Starfall.com – Click through stories to learn about vowels
Other games allow you to drag the mouse, click to select, then drag the mouse elsewhere and click to drop. This is the beginning of dragging and dropping.
Bert’s Bottle Caps need sorting and you can help by clicking to pick them up, then dragging the mouse and clicking again to put it down
CBeeies Puzzle Games – Puzzle games need you to pick up a piece and then put it down in the right spot
The Monster at the End of the Game and Elmo’s World Puzzles requires some clicking and some dragging
Make a Higglytown Hero – this old Disney game lets you click and release to dress up people who work in our neighborhood
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 “Clicking & Dragging” games to see if your child is ready to advance.
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 more games to play or you can Google for ‘free online toddler games’ or ‘free online educational games for kids.’