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Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

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Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#91

Post by throw_away1525 »

stigi wrote: post #86
throw_away1525 wrote: post #21

I can highly recommend Amazing Tales, it is a pen and paper RPG for kids her age. I play with my daughter and she LOVES it. You only need a couple of six sided dice, although you can optionally spice things up with 8, 10, and 12 sided die if you have them (or you can make it special and buy some from your local games shop). It's basically collaborative storytelling, and the possibility of failing dice rolls makes it…

This sound so cool! Does anybody know of similar games for non English speaking folks? My kid only speaks German and I have the feeling playing our first RPG will benefit from us all being on the same page in the same language. Thanks!

If you can read English well enough to read the rulebook yourself, then you can play with your kids in German... this is not like D&D or something, you never really need to reference the rulebook while playing the game. There is no player's handbook. The rules are really, really light. The focus is really on storytelling.

Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#92

Post by getwiththeprog »

wiradikusuma wrote: post #80

I feel depressed. My boys are 8 and 4, and they're both only interested in "hack and slash" computer games, so I bought local co-op like Ninja Turtles and Castle Crashers. I tried giving them "puzzle" games, they're not interested. I tried giving them books (and I also read the books for them), they always "Daddy can we play games". Still thinking how to make them interested in programming. The Pi I gave them, they u…

With respect, may I suggest that you think about spending more time with them, rather than providing for them.

It sounds like they have watched lots of TV and need to have better role-models around and interacting with them.

Maybe (if you have the financial capacity) take a holiday and go explore the world with them without any youtube or games.

I would not allow them to use youtube! But don't beat on em! Kids just follow what they see around them - so to change them you will have to change their environment.

All the best, I imagine balancing work and income with good kids is difficult. My advice, if you earn enough to eat and have a house you earn enough.

Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#93

Post by prawn »

getwiththeprog wrote: post #92
wiradikusuma wrote: post #80

I feel depressed. My boys are 8 and 4, and they're both only interested in "hack and slash" computer games, so I bought local co-op like Ninja Turtles and Castle Crashers. I tried giving them "puzzle" games, they're not interested. I tried giving them books (and I also read the books for them), they always "Daddy can we play games". Still thinking how to make them interested in programming. The Pi I gave them, they u…

With respect, may I suggest that you think about spending more time with them, rather than providing for them. It sounds like they have watched lots of TV and need to have better role-models around and interacting with them. Maybe (if you have the financial capacity) take a holiday and go explore the world with them without any youtube or games. I would not allow them to use youtube! But don't beat on em! Kids just f…

If my children watch YouTube, it is with me and I'm choosing the content, or giving them options to pick between. We generally watch documentaries. Where necessary, I provide extra explanations, or paraphrase subtitles for the preschooler. If I pause and ask them a question to have them understand why something is happening, they seem to enjoy the challenge. I hope that it makes them interested/interesting and inquisitive people.

Examples of things we've watched recently:

Behind the scenes Korean street food videos: https://www.youtube.com/@yummyboys

Transport journeys through Africa or Asia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN_6jfIoYE4

How various things are grown or made: https://www.youtube.com/@eater plus many others

Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory

Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin

Mark Rober

etc

Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#94

Post by prawn »

thetoon wrote: post #19
prawn wrote: post #12

We've found that watercolour pencils are great in helping them with detailed art that might be beyond some children straight painting at that age. Not books or games, and not sure where your child is at with her drawing, but my kids (similar age) have enjoyed following along with this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@artforkidshub Creative games that we have and like: https://www.thinkfun.com/products/gravity-maze/…

For what it's worth, we had much better response from our kids with Gravitrax the Game ( https://www.ravensburger.co.uk/en-GB/products/gravitrax/expe... ) than the regular one. The material is basically the same (and thus could also work at extending a starter set), but there are cards with puzzle included, difficulty ramps up nicely, and the kids got more involved than with the "freeform" approach. Turing Tumble has…

Wasn't aware of the game. I'll investigate - thanks!

We've had months where Gravitrax has dominated the house and been very popular. Dedicated table for it in the living room. At one point, my 10yo son and I would make a very elaborate set of tracks every night. We'd start with a three way splitter at the high point and take one run each, and leave the third for one of his sisters. But after a while, unless I have time to play it with him, his interest fades and he does crosswords or reads instead.

Many years ago, I set up something like the tumble game for them. Not computing anything, but more like a maze. Tilted the coffee table slightly and let them stick Lego pieces to the surface and attach rubber bands, then roll marbles down. That was popular for a bit.

Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#95

Post by pg938hkd »

lnsru wrote: post #82
open-source-ux wrote: post #24

Raspberry Pi The Raspberry Pi is excellent for kids (and adults). There are tutorials for any topic ( https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en ). A lot of people are not aware that the Raspberry Pi magazines (MagPi) and books are free as PDFs. Or you can purchase printed books or magazines. - Magazines: https://magpi.raspberrypi.com/issues - Books: https://magpi.raspberrypi.com/books Micro:bit The micro:bit is an even sma…

Raspberry Pi is out of stock everywhere. Triple regular price on eBay. Take Arduino. It’s probably more adopted than microbit.

[dead]

Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#96

Post by hammyhavoc »

kdazzle wrote: post #57
spiffytech wrote: post #17

There's an old game from the 90s I loved : The Incredible Machine . It's all about devising elaborate Rube Goldberg machines to solve puzzles. The cat knocks a ball into the goldfish bowl, which tips over and fills a bucket that operates a pulley that flips a switch that opens a door. That kind of thing. I remember it being very freeform and exploratory, teaching cause and effect and physics and thinking through comp…

Sounds awesome! Reminds me of Gizmos and Gadgets [1]. My kid is also 7, and part of me just wants to push all my fav 90s games like the aughts never existed. [1] https://www.myabandonware.com/game/super-solvers-gizmos-gadg...

The '90s was great for edutainment.

Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#97

Post by rahimnathwani »

stigi wrote: post #86
throw_away1525 wrote: post #21

I can highly recommend Amazing Tales, it is a pen and paper RPG for kids her age. I play with my daughter and she LOVES it. You only need a couple of six sided dice, although you can optionally spice things up with 8, 10, and 12 sided die if you have them (or you can make it special and buy some from your local games shop). It's basically collaborative storytelling, and the possibility of failing dice rolls makes it…

This sound so cool! Does anybody know of similar games for non English speaking folks? My kid only speaks German and I have the feeling playing our first RPG will benefit from us all being on the same page in the same language. Thanks!

Hero Kids is mentioned in this sibling comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35568686

It's available in English, Polish, German and Spanish.

I bought the English version yesterday, but I haven't started reading yet.

Re: Ask HN: Technology/creative books and games for my daughter (7 years)

#99

Post by leandot »

throw_away1525 wrote: post #21

I can highly recommend Amazing Tales, it is a pen and paper RPG for kids her age. I play with my daughter and she LOVES it. You only need a couple of six sided dice, although you can optionally spice things up with 8, 10, and 12 sided die if you have them (or you can make it special and buy some from your local games shop). It's basically collaborative storytelling, and the possibility of failing dice rolls makes it…

Thanks for this, had an amazing evening killing dragons and flying on magic carpets with my daughters.
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