OS X Software for 3 year-old?

[StingMe]

As I mentioned last week, I'm taking delivery on a 17" 1.25 GHz G4 iMac this week that I'm going to set up for my 3-yo (in two weeks) niece. What educational/game software do you aunts, uncles, or folks with kids have on their/your Macs running OS X?

My niece loves to watch the fish of Marine Aquarium and really enjoys slideshows of her family's (or maybe any) digital photos (iPhoto's got that covered).

I'm thinking she's a little young for KidPix - which I hear is THE software for kids; maybe I'll get that for her next year.

I happened upon this great blog entry but the guy never completed part 3 where he was going to provide a software list:

http://allforces.com/2005/06/15/kids-computer-part1/

My niece is into nature (not limited to "virtual nature" - I make sure she has lots of first-hand experience), princesses, horses, and the usual suspects as far as cartoons go.

Any suggestions (freeware, shareware, or commercial) and links will be greatly appreciated - thanks!

[Ombligo]

My son use to like the Reader Rabbit series. I can't recall if itwas osx native though.

[lafinfil]

>
> I'm thinking she's a little young for KidPix - which I hear is THE software for kids; maybe I'll get that for her next year.
>

I'd go ahead and get it for her now.

Great software for kids to get used to using a mouse and moving things around.

My niece started with KidPix when she was about 3 or 4 years old on my sisters Mac
(my sister is a graphic designer and works from home)

Fast forward 18 years and my niece will be graduating in May from Syracuse with a degree
in pattern design and is already weighing job offers right now,

KidPix Rocks !

[StingMe]

[quote Ombligo]My son use to like the Reader Rabbit series. I can't recall if itwas osx native though.
Looks like the Reader Rabbit titles might run under Classic - I'll see if I can pick up something cheap to test it out.

[quote lafinfil]KidPix Rocks !
Thanks for the input! It looks like MacKiev has done an incredible job of updating KidPix for OS X...tight integration with iLife and a timely Universal Binary. This is definitely the kind of software developer I want to support...maybe I'll pick up some Dr. Seuss titles from them as well.

[michaelb]

I have the os 9 version of kidpix, but no "kids" software for Os X. I would also recommend kidpix, because the parents are sure to approve of that and she will be able to play around with it. My kids for years would just endlessly play with the weird and fun "spray paint" of bugs and popcorn and other effects.

[Harbourmaster]

My kids like Flying Colors 2 http://www.magicmouse.com/h_flyingc.html







In it's most basic mode it is very simple to use, almost identical to KidPix (same programmer wrote this software!) but it is much more powerful under the hood and you can really do some incredible stuff with it!

[C(-)ris]

First thing I would buy is a piece of plexiglass cut to fit the iMac bezel. Then attach it with white velcro. Instant kid proof LCD. Only issue would be glare.

[StingMe]

Flying Colors 2 looks like a winner for OS 9 - not sure how it would do via Classic though...

[quote C(-)ris]First thing I would buy is a piece of plexiglass cut to fit the iMac bezel. Then attach it with white velcro. Instant kid proof LCD. Only issue would be glare.
That was going to be one of my next questions...not sure if it will be necessary, but better safe than sorry I suppose I wonder if 1/8" anti-reflective plexi is available at a reasonable price.

I thought about going with an eMac with its more kid proof display, but the extra weight and bulk just wouldn't work.

[C(-)ris]

Never priced the anti-reflective plexi before. The real glass goes for around $15 for a sheet that size.

[BobC]

MacKiev seems to have taken over Broderbund's Living Books series. Our 3-yr-old has loved the original OS 9 versions of those. They're very easy to get started with, and really reward clicking around for beginning mousers. Green Eggs and Ham is our favorite.