Educational Pet Games for Kids

Pet games are incredibly popular among kids. The joy of taking care of a pet, playing with it and having fun adventures together has made online games like Neopets, Moshi Monsters and Club Penguin a big hit with the young demographic. Apart from being good fun, pet games for kids are also useful in teaching players how to care for a dependent animal. Most pet games require players to feed their pets and entertain them in various ways. While some of these pet games may not be very realistic, the ones that are can act as excellent educational material for kids.

“my nintendog (chloe)” by jencu is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Here are some educational pet games that teach kids about responsibility, animal behaviour, consideration and in some cases even how to handle money and run a business!

Title: Dora Puppy
Platform: Nintendo DS
This pet game is aimed at preschool-aged children and is special in that kids do not need to know how to read to play the game. Players help Dora take care of her puppy Perrito, taking part in all important pet care activities. They must help with feeding, bathing, letting the dog out and cleaning up after it. They get to play various games with Perrito and dress him up in various types of clothing. They must also help train Perrito to follow various commands for the Big Puppy Competition. There is also color and shape recognition involved in this pet game for kids. Dora Puppy is played with the stylus and by speaking into the microphone.

Title: Nintendogs + cats
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
This is another pet game that gives players a realistic idea of what it means to own a pet, this time aimed at older children. With incredible animation and the 3D effect, these animals feel very real. They even respond to movements, such as licking the owner when he/she leans towards the screen. The game uses the voice recognition feature to make the pets respond differently depending on who calls it. Other cool features include the “Street Pass” feature which exchanges pet information with other users that you pass in real-life, and then lets your pet interact with them when you take it for a walk in the game. You can use the AR card to make a projection of the puppy appear on your surroundings, and take pictures of it. Whether you’re trying to teach your kids what it means to own a pet or are just looking for a good time, this is an excellent pet game for kids.

Title: Discovery Kids: Puppy Playtime
Platform: Nintendo DS
This pet game for kids is not just about playing with your cute and cuddly pet. Players choose from one of three dog breeds and train the puppy to become a rescue dog. Kids learn what it takes to raise a rescue dog as they play 20 different mini-games to train their pets and teach them important tricks. As the dogs become more experienced in completing missions in simulated training environments, they get to be part of real missions alongside the Fire Department, Police Force and Lifeguards. Kids are sure to get a kick out of this game, especially when they see their hard work come to fruition as their pets perform important life-saving tasks for people in distress.

Title: Fish Tycoon
Platforms: Nintendo DS, Windows
Most kids see fish as easy pets that don’t require much care. While they may be easier to care for than dogs or cats, they do require attention in order to thrive. You can teach kids what it means to take care of fish in this pet game, where time passes even when you’re not playing. Players learn about breeding and genetics as they try to breed the ‘Magical Fish’ that once inhabited Isola. Kids also learn how to handle money and run a business as they sell adult fish in order to finance the costs of their fish breeding experiments.