Short of Nintendo with their Wii console and DS handheld, it can be difficult to find games geared toward children these days from the major game makers, as video games have made the transition in the past 20 years from something considered for children only, to a form of entertainment that is now largely mainstream and composed of a much older demographic.

While this is no different among the major PC game developers, the great thing about the PC and the internet is that many smaller studios and independent game developers can thrive and release kid’s PC games that educate and stimulate, without incurring the costs associated with manufacturing and publishing a game. Many sites exist that house extensive databases of these games, including http://kids.yahoo.com/games, and http://www.bigfishgames.com/ just to name a couple.

The other added benefit of online games is that not only can you find many free games to play, but even ones which cost a fee usually come with free trials so you or your child can test it out. This is often in the form of a one hour trial, or unlimited play with access to a portion of the overall game.

If you’re a parent searching for a suitable game for your child to play, you should always consult the ESRB rating of a game, which not only provides an overall age bracket for the game, but also detailed information about the elements of interest contained in that game.

With many online published titles you won’t find any ESRB ratings data, but most sites should give a fairly in-depth explanation of the game-play involved. Your other option is to take a quick stroll through the game yourself or watch your child play it to make sure the content is appropriate.

Many kid’s PC games also come in an educational format, so if your child needs additional help with spelling, math, history, geography, etc. you can surely find an edutainment game that will help them along on that path.

While you may be tempted to just purchase one of these and thrust them on your child, you should take on this task together with them and choose and a game that is right for both of you. The more your child enjoys the game and wants to play it, the more they’ll get out of it.