Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
All-ages parenthood simulation game is polished and fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
My Baby 3 & Friends
What's It About?
The unfortunately awkwardly named MY BABY 3 & FRIENDS picks up where the second game left off, with players looking after a toddler who is eager to learn about the world and interact with the things and people he or she finds in it. As in previous games, players get to customize the gender and look of their child before heading into parenthood, where a nurse coaches them through each new activity they try, whether it’s as simple as slipping down a slide at the neighborhood park or something more complicated, like teaching babies how to pick up after themselves. Other activities include decorating your toddler’s room and taking pictures of him or her that can be sent to grandma for rewards or to a local store for a baby picture competition.
Is It Any Good?
The My Baby series becomes a little more polished and a little more accessible with each new entry. The third game, My Baby 3 & Friends, is wonderfully easy to dive into. Players need simply pay heed to the short and efficient voiced instructions that come from the game’s nurse, as well as occasional text-only instructions. Indeed, so long as your child can read, she should be able to play this game on her own. Activities are refreshingly simple to carry out. Players will need to pat their children with the DS stylus to keep them happy. They'll speak to the babies in a soft voice through the system’s mic to attract their attention so that they can be shown how to do things, like placing shaped blocks in corresponding holes. Activities outside of the house, such as swimming, going for walks, or playing with other kids and a puppy, are even more fun. Many of the games will seem a bit basic to older players, but kids fascinated with babies should have a great time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether players can learn from games that emulate real world activities. Are the interactive simulations in this game sufficient to teach players the basics about a topic as vast as parenthood?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi , Nintendo Wii
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Majesco
- Release date : October 12, 2010
- Genre : Simulation
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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