 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
My Amusement Park (DS)
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi
- Price: $19.99
- Genre: Edutainment
Common Sense Media says
Theme park sim mixes in logic and memory games.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that My Amusement Park is a fun and educational business simulation, in which kids will construct rides and attractions, play mini-games associated with each, balance a business budget, repair any malfunctioning attractions, and even sort out traffic jams in the parking lot. There is no objectionable content. The game is an overall lesson in responsibility, with math, logic, and problem-solving lessons scattered throughout.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn how to budget their money and time while building and running their own virtual theme park. Each attraction they build costs money, so they need to save up if they want to add a particular ride or stand to their park. In addition, kids have their logic and puzzle-solving skills tested in mini-games that surround the building and maintenance of each attraction. While building the park of their dreams, kids also learn budgeting and logic skills in My Amusement Park.
Subjects
- Arts
- Hobbies
- Language & Reading
- Matharithmetic, money, patterns, shapes
- Science
- Social Studies
Skills
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creativity
- Emotional Development
- Health & Fitness
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Self-Directionachieving goals, goal-setting, time management, working efficiently
- Tech Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningdecision-making, solving puzzles, strategy
What's it about?
MY AMUSEMENT PARK lets kids design and run their own theme park. They can choose the general look of the place (safari, maybe? or tropical?) and choose which rides and attractions to build. They will play mini-games to construct the attractions, and can play different games to run the attractions. These might be matching games, memory games, or logic games. If a ride breaks down, they need to fix it right away or lose money for that day. And if there's a traffic snarl in the parking lot, they have to play a mini-game to sort it out.
Is it any good?
My Amusement Park offers a good deal of variety as it mixes logic-based mini-games with bona fide park simulation elements. There are a finite number of attractions to build and play with, and once you've filled up your park, you may grow tired of it, but you can always start from scratch with a new park and a new theme (though the attractions are the same, no matter what theme you've chosen). Since you can get more money by playing games at higher levels, it can be fun to see how quickly you finish the park. And for kids in the 5 to 8 age range, this is a nice uncomplicated introduction to simulation games, too.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about maintaining a budget. Do kids find it difficult to spend within their budget in the game? How can the lessons learned here apply to your real life?
Ask kids why they make the choices they do in the game. Why did they choose a certain decorative theme over another? Why did they choose to build food stands before rides? And so on.
What makes simulation games so much fun?
What kids can learn
Kids can learn how to budget their money and time while building and running their own virtual theme park. Each attraction they build costs money, so they need to save up if they want to add a particular ride or stand to their park. In addition, kids have their logic and puzzle-solving skills tested in mini-games that surround the building and maintenance of each attraction. While building the park of their dreams, kids also learn budgeting and logic skills in My Amusement Park.
Subjects
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
- Language & Reading:
- Math: arithmetic, money, patterns, shapes
- Science:
- Social Studies:
Skills
- Collaboration:
- Communication:
- Creativity:
- Emotional Development:
- Health & Fitness:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Self-Direction: achieving goals, goal-setting, time management, working efficiently
- Tech Skills:
- Thinking & Reasoning: decision-making, solving puzzles, strategy
How kids will learn
As kids build their favorite rides or manage their food stands, they're challenged with mathematical mini-games. They match pieces by shape, use their memories to remember where parts of a machine go, follow orders to serve customers at concession stands, and so on. In addition, they need to play close attention to their bank account, noting and managing how much money comes in and goes out each day.
How parents can help
- If your kids get an allowance, talk to them about budgeting their own money to save up for bigger-ticket items they may want.
- Suggest that kids transfer their building skills to a three-dimensional toy, such as Lego blocks or an erector set.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Edutainment |
| Developer: | Scholastic |
| Release date: | October 26, 2010 |
| Price: | $19.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E for (No Descriptors) |
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