Most computer learning games focus on a combination of colors, sounds and motion, thus stimulating toddlers' different senses while challenging them with various cognitive tasks. A lot of these activities focus on early literacy, trying to teach toddlers about letters and letter sounds. Others focus on expanding their vocabulary through picture-word combinations. Some games require the child to press buttons, move dials or click through screens, while others simply present the learning content through animation. Whatever game or toy you choose, be sure to test it out on your own prior to introducing it to a toddler.
LeapFrog is a learning toy company specializing in the development and design of interactive games for various age groups. For toddlers, LeapFrog develops a variety of miniaturized computers that produce sounds and motion when different buttons are pressed. These often present a good alternative to traditional computer screens since they allow the toddler to hold the game in their hands. Also, they allow for additional degrees of interactivity, particularly of the tactile variety.
The website babygamer.com is an online resource for different computer learning games designed for babies and toddlers. It was developed by parents for parents and is entirely free. Players can choose from dozens of online games. They are categorized by age group and are given a ranking by other parents, so you can see which games have been voted the most popular over time. There may be some system requirements for playing these games, so if some of them fail to load, be sure to contact the site administrator for additional information.
If your child has a favorite theme (i.e., Doctor Seuss), you may be able to find online games specifically geared toward it. If these are popular and contemporary themes (i.e., Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street), you are guaranteed to find quality content designed specifically for toddlers. Go to the main web page for the specific television program or book, and you will likely find links for additional tools and games for toddlers.
When presenting a toddler with a computer game, it is important to consider the child's attention span, which is considerably shorter than that of an adult. While an adult may be engaged with a game for hours, 15 minutes of play time is most likely sufficient for the average toddler. It's also important to not overstimulate the child. Computer games require a certain degree of attention and cognitive processing, and a toddler may get exhausted much quicker with a computer game than with another activity, such as a book or a toy. Therefore, it is important to always monitor your toddler when she is using the computer or an interactive computer toy, and assist her with learning the game.