How to Buy Wii Games for Kids

Continuing in Nintendo's history of video games, the Nintendo Wii is both innovative and fun. It is also considered the most family friendly in its generation of video game consoles, as well as the most affordable. The Wii is a great gaming choice for the whole family, from kids to adults. Here are some tips to buying games for kids; some parents might even enjoy them as well.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Check the rating. This is the place to start when buying any video game for kids, including Wii games. The ESRB ratings are as follows: EC for early childhood, E for everyone, E10+ for everyone older than 10, T for teens 13 and up, M for mature audiences of 17 or older and AO for adults only. Depending on the age of your children, E, E10+ and maybe T are where you want to look for Wii games.

2. Look at the description on the rating. On the front cover of the Wii game, you will find the simple rating, and on the back of the box, you will find a box that explains why it's rated that way. This way you have a better idea why the rating is what it is. You will find descriptions like cartoon violence, crude language, mild lyrics, suggestive themes and alcohol or drug related content.

3. Search the Nintendo Wii website for games. There is a search feature on the Wii website that will let you look up games based on category and rating. This way you can really key in on a game that will be perfect for your kid.

4. Find recognizable characters. Nintendo has been around long enough that you probably played with some of the same characters that your children are playing with now. Characters like Mario, Link, Donkey Kong and even Sonic the Hedgehog are on the Wii. Games like Mario Party, The Legend of Zelda, Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart are all good options with recognizable characters for kids.

5. Try it out before you buy it. You should play a game before you let your kid play, especially if you're not sure about the content. Try renting the game from a store that rents Wii titles and play it on your own before you let your kids try it. You can also get a taste of many games at many retailers with their interactive Wii displays.

6. Get a Wii game that may be educational as well as fun. The Wii offers several games, such as Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, which can be fun as well as educational. This way your kid can have fun and you can know they may be getting something substantial out of it.

Tips & Warnings

• You know your children better than anyone, so use the ESRB ratings as a guide instead of a rule. There may be E games that have content you don't approve of for your kids while a T game may be fine.

• The Virtual Console on the Wii offers many classic NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafix 16 games. You may find something you can download that your kids will like.

• Don't buy a game that has questionable content on its box cover. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but a video game with a scantly clad female or excessive violence on the cover is a clear warning sign that you should stay away from it for your kids.