Teaching Kids to Respect Earth Through Gameplay
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY 
on 04.23.07
That's the focus of the Notenik's recent video game release under the title Respect Our Earth. The collection of games teaches children (ages 5-10) the importance of protecting the planet, while being ecologically mindful of the limited natural resources we have available to us. The CD includes 8 games focusing on specific lessons that include recycling, smart energy use, protecting endangered species and more... While kids are encouraged with positive messages and asked to try again should they make a selection that would often be presented as a loss to help encourage them to continue trying to make better decisions for the planet in the games and in life. As you might expect, healthy earth messages are shared throughout the gaming experience to make the time spent playing a positive learning experience. It could make a great post Earth Day gift for kids...
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Now, don't get me wrong — I'd love to get kids jazzed up about 'respecting the Earth' — but do we really need another video-froggin'-game to do it?
How about taking your child(ren) by the hand and taking a walk with them? Go birdwatching. Take a walk on the beach. Do anything outside that doesn't require the use of any energy other then you own body, and make it a point to discuss it with them.
And as to the link and reference to o this game making a great post for an ' 'Earth Day gift for kids'.'! What? Presents for Earth Day? Great ! I foresee wonderfully decorated window displays in mall windows around the country filling in for that down time after the big Easter rush.
Really! Turn off a light and take a walk.
:)
Hey Mushi,
I totally agree! And as one of the developers of the ROE games, I want to encourage everyone to turn off all the tubes and hit the bike paths or make some recycling art at their school, or volunteer the family for a clean up day at the beach.
Having said that, however, I also believe that it is a good thing for those of us interested in preserving this earth to use each and every tool we have at hand. And computer games are just that. A very effective medium for speaking with generations of children who know less about hiking then they do about hit points.
My goal in working with this kind of educational gaming is to reach in to the world of our children and share some more wholesome messages where they can be had. Hopefully, someday, encouraging a child to do exactly what we are espousing, turn off the computer and go outside in to the fresh air.
I really love all this newly found attention to the mother earth. But, I think it is likely to be my children ( I have two ) that will actually be the generation most able to fix what we have built here. We are just trying to do our little part to introduce the concepts to this generation that I hope will cure the earth.
RoninTT
I have a 5 yr old. Last time I took him on a walk, we got 10 minutes into it and I had to carry him back home.