Keyboarding Games For Kids - Is it Helpful For Kids Typing

There is lot of free games available for your kids to learn how to type. Some websites offer free online typing lessons right from familiarizing with the keyboard. However, to master this important skill, it is vital for your kids to keep on practicing and keyboarding games is indeed one of the best ways to do so. As the saying goes, "practice makes perfect"!

When looking for keyboard games for your kids, you have to ensure that what you have selected fits your child's age and maturity. If your kids are above 10 years old, it would be boring for him to practice if the games are designed for those who are below 8 years old. Similarly, if it is for advanced learner, then younger children will get frustrated and discourage to continue it because it may be too difficult for them. Furthermore, for those kids who are below the age of 8, it is preferably to introduce them with the placement of keys first before getting them to start playing keyboarding games. This is in view that hand placement is fundamental to learning how to type.

Below are some of the websites that offer free software for your kids:

Free Online Typing Games - this website offer not only free keyboarding games, but free tests to measure your typing ability. This site requires sign up (quick one) before you can participate. By participating, your kids get the chance to practice their keyboarding skill!

FreeTypingGames.us - games that you can find in this free site are mostly for entertaining purposes. They are fund and are most suitable for beginners.

FreeTypingGames.net -this site contains 30 different lessons! Your kids can learn to type using free software without having to attend traditional based typing lessons. You don't have to download, sign up or register for these games.

So if you are looking for free keyboarding games for your kids, look no where, the above are considered some of the quality websites that offer freebies for your kids' practice.

Some Fun and Helpful Dora the Explorer Games

If your child is a Dora the Explorer fan, you probably have bought, or are planning to buy, any of the available Dora the Explorer games. These games are educational in nature, just like the TV show itself, and help children develop their abilities while having fun. There is a whole line of Dora the Explorer games designed that are designed to focus specifically on certain skill sets of your children.

For children aged 3+, I recommend the fun Color Forms game. It helps your little kids recognize important concepts as color and form, and even numbers. This easy game's goal is to collect all different colored pieces and get to Abuela's house. Children can choose between four different characters (Dora, Boots, Tico the squirrel and Isa the Iguana), and can be played in three different ways: By colors (age 3+), by numbers (age 4+) and even by both colors and numbers (recommended for age 6+). The game's cards are big enough to appeal any child, and they contain descriptions in both English and Spanish. As all Dora the Explorer games, your children will sometimes face the villainous fox Swiper, who will try to steal all of the collected colored forms from your kids. This game is especially interesting if there are three or more players.

For single players, you should probably choose a Dora the Explorer videogame. These games keep your kids entertained while helping then develop their skills. I recommend the Lost City Adventure videogame (for kids aged 3-6), in which your kid must help Dora find her missing favorite teddy bear. Dora and Boots must travel to the Lost City, the magic place where every lost object ends up. In the way, Dora will also help some of her friends find their lost items. This game helps your children develop his/her thinking and math abilities, as well as his/her problem solving skills.

Another great videogame in the Dora the Explorer games series is the FairyTale Adventures videogame. In this game, your child will help Dora in her quest to wake Boots from a magic spell. In order to do so, Dora must become a true princess! The game will take your preschooler kid in a journey through Fairy Tale Land, where classic fairy tales take place. Dora's quest to become a princess involves puzzle solving and also playing songs from the TV show. This game will allow your child to improve his/her puzzle solving abilities and thinking skills. The game's play pack even includes a small cute Dora the Explorer doll.

Of course, there are a lot more Dora the Explorer games available to choose from. They represent a great way for your children to learn and improve useful skills. Bringing home an educational Dora the Explorer game for your children will not only be a great surprise for them, but will also be highly beneficial for their development. Besides, children just love Dora the Explorer games!

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Understanding the Game of Shuffleboard

The game of shuffleboard used to be played on the floor where players would push their puck with a broom or a stick to score points. Now, the most popular version is table shuffleboard and there are many tournaments in sports bars and family fun centers. Many players want a shuffleboard table for their home because of the popularity and it is something that many players absolutely love. High quality wood tables can be an investment, but they are a must have for those that love the game.

When playing table shuffleboard with two players, the game starts with both players standing at one end of the table and a coin toss determines who will shoot first and what color of weights they will get. Shooting last offers an advantage. Player one slides their weight towards the far end of the board or the scoring end. The second player slides their weight, trying to knock off the first player's weight or to go a further distance. This continues through to the eight weights are alternately shuffled and the winner of the round is the one that lies the furthest down the board.

Players start the next round by switching to the other end of the table and continue playing rounds until one player has scored 15 or 21 wins. The score is tallied for the winner by adding the values of all leading weights that lay ahead of the opponents leading weight. The only person that gets a score is the winner. Any weights that are cut off or lie behind the other side's weights aren't scored. If none of the opponent's weights are remaining on the board, then all of the winner's weights are scored.

The value of the weights is scored based on the zones where they end up. The three primary zones are Trey, Deuce and One, with Four points given for any weights that are overhanging on the scoring end. Any weights that have passed the first foul line but touch the Deuce line are still in the one point zone. The next zone for two points are those that cross the Deuce line but don't go over the Trey line. Those weights that are passed the Trey line and between the end of the board but don't overhang the far edge get Three points. The Four point bonus is given for the weights that extend over the far edge of the board.

If there are not any weights left on the board at the end of the round, then nobody wins or gets any points, but the next round starts by alternating the last shot privilege. To be scored, all weights must make it over the foul line closest to the shooters. To determine whether it is on the foul line or not, the legal determination is made by looking down directly over the top of the weight from the scoring end of the board. If a weight bounces back into the foul zone, it is considered illegal, even though it originally passed the line.

The fine wood tables that are like miniature bowling alleys used in bars and restaurants are the high quality tables that can cost $10,000. If you love table shuffleboard, you might be disappointed, if you don't make the same investment for your home table.