Things You'll Need:
- Linux operating system
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Step 1
Gather some information about the young Linux users for whom you want to find games. In addition to knowing the ages and academic levels of the children who will be using the computer, you'll need to know how well each child can navigate the Linux environment. For example, very young children may not be able to use the keyboard very well at all, while older children might even prefer to work in a command-line environment instead of with a graphical interface.
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Step 2
Decide what you consider to be an educational game. Most Linux distributions come with a package of games, much like Windows or Macintosh computers do. If you are comfortable with your child playing games like Solitaire, Tetris and Minesweeper, than you may not have to do anything other than installing your distribution's default games.
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Step 3
Investigate the Edubuntu Linux distribution package if you are looking for educational games to use in a school (see Resources below). It's a comprehensive operating system that not only includes a web browser, an office suite and educational games, but also includes all the files necessary to run the K12 Linux Terminal Server Project. This means you can set up an entire classroom or lab and have all the educational applications at your fingertips.
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Step 4
Install Debian Jr. on your computer (see Resources below). Debian Jr. is based on the Debian Linux distribution and is designed not only to provide educational (and fun) games for children seven- to 12-years-old, is ultimately designed to provide an OS that children can use easily. Scaffolding on that knowledge incurred by using this basic system, children can then move up to using more complicated Linux platforms.
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Step 5
Choose the suite of educational games known as Childsplay if you run a dual-boot operating system or have more than one type of computer in your home (see Resources below). Though specifically designed for a Linux system, these games can be downloaded in Windows and Mac format as well, making it easy for your two- to five-year-old to learn how to play them on a familiar system before moving on to the less-familiar Linux environment.
