When it comes to games for kids in the preschool to early grade school range, the selection is slim. After all, just because a title is rate "E" for "Everyone" by the ESRB doesn't mean the younger set is going to enjoy or even understand the gameplay mechanics of its otherwise friendly content. It's important to note, too, that the ESRB has a rating category specifically for early childhood games, called "eC" which stands for, handily enough, "early childhood." Here are some of both types worth giving to youngsters this holiday shopping season.

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Leapster Games



From: Leapfrog; For: Leapster

If you've yet to realize that Leapfrog's Leapster Multimedia Learning System (US$79.99, CA$99.99) is the ultimate in guilt free game devices for kids, get on that. It is. It's a honkin' pocket player with numerous, clearly-defined buttons and a directional navigation pad--think oversized, over-achieving Game Boy--, plus its big LCD screen is touch and stylus sensitive for added intuitive interfacing. Most importantly, of course, are the individual Leaspter game cartridges, all of which are designed to educate while entertaining, where no one dies and making mistakes is part of the fun. To name but a few, there's Dora the Explorer Wildlife Rescue where you guide Dora on animal saving "missions" while learning letters, phonics, science concepts, shapes, patterns, cognitive thinking and, naturally, Spanish. SpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day offers similar interactive cartooning but is more bent toward money and math concepts, spelling, science, and consonant blends & digraphs. Leapster 1st Grade uses Leapfrog's own mascots to teach essential reading and math skills while Math Baseball offers a sporty way to hone addition, subtraction, multiplication and division aptitude.

And for kids that are even too young for Leapster, Leapfrog has that covered too with the "LeapStart Learning Table," a toddler activity center that stimulates push-button and touch-sensitive learning of the alphabet, counting, shapes, colors, musical melodies, etc.

It's safe to say that LeapFrog doesn't make throw-away, played today/forgot-by-lunchtime toys; they make intelligent products designed to create intelligent people, not just pacified ones.

US$24.99 at Amazon.com
CA$34.99 at Toysrus.ca

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Backyard Games



From: Atari; For: Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PC, PlayStation2

For true family friendliness, you can't beat the Backyard sports games from developer Humongous Entertainment. Be it Football, Basketball, Soccer, Skateboarding or Hockey, each title boasts solid production values but with simplified controls and reduced complexity for each sport. Using appropriately pint-sized characters and plain but pleasant environments, the Backyard titles also make for great parent & kid gaming/bonding time. (NOTE: Atari Kids' Backyard games are distinguishable by their bright, colorful packaging and should not be confused with Eidos Interactive's hackneyed Backyard Wrestling games, which are rated Mature.)

US$14.99 - $29.99 at Amazon.com
CA$24.99 - $49.99 at Amazon.ca

Dora the Explorer Superstar Adventures



From: Global Star; For: Game Boy Advance

Dora the Explorer Superstar Adventures is delivered as a collection of activity-based games of the "We did it! We did it! We did it! Hurray!" variety. Importantly, each of 18 activities can be accessed at any time, out of order, rather than earned or unlocked, which would be frustrating considering the point, which is to engage kids while stimulating their shortly-attentive brain, not tease them silly with linear objectives.

US$19.99 at Amazon.com
CA$26.99 at Amazon.ca

Cranium Hullabaloo



From: Cranium; For: The floor

Part "Simon Says," part "Twister," part "Musical Chairs," part "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral Quiz Show," Cranium's Hullabaloo is hands down the cheapest favorite babysitter you'll ever find. Basically you scatter a bunch of color-coded, shaped and themed pads on the floor then a battery powered digital ringmaster sings out directions like "put your foot on a food," "stomp to a green" and "put your elbow on a triangle." Great, giggly goofball fun. And the parent just has to turn it on and watch! Or "participate" if that's your thing.

US$19.95 at Cranium.com
CA$39.99 at Toysrus.ca

Disney Learning Series



From: Disney Interactive; For: PC

While you're more likely to find these in the "used" or "blow out sale" bin, Disney Learning games are not throwaways; they're just a little dated, with no need for sequels or updates (or repackaging for that matter). The "Disney Learning" PC CD-ROM series goes from "Toddler," to "3rd Grade" (sometimes bundled is sets), each using preeminently playful icons like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto; Buzz LightYear for the older set. With the education through interactive entertainment motif, each title is smartly crafted, encouraging kids to learn and enjoy it; recall and think-it-through various game challenges rather than punish them for failure. Disney Learning lets you win by playing.

US$14.99 - $29.99 at Amazon.com
CA$16.99 - $26.99 at Amazon.ca

Dora The Explorer Fairytale Adventure



From: Atari; For: PC

Probably the closest you can get to the TV show while remaining interactive, Dora The Explorer Fairytale Adventure lets kids actually control that cursor floating around the screen, pointing to objects and solutions that Dora is looking for, rather that watching some mysterious force move it around on TV. So vintage Dora, but you're in control. Comes with a mini Dora doll too.

US$19.99 at Amazon.com
CA$26.99 at Amazon.ca

TV Games for Kids



From: Jakks Pacific; For: TV sets

If you're looking for a low budget game console, complete with one controller and a bundle of basic kids games, TV Games for Kids is all that--and all in one device that plugs directly into the A/V jacks on your TV. Themed variants include Blues Clues Coloring, SpongeBob, Disney, Tele Doodle and more, each offering a collection of fairly banal maze running/token collecting games or, better, tyke-centric activities such as drawing and painting or assembling the world's greatest Krabby Pattie. If they've been pining for a new Nintendo DS or an Xbox, TV Games are not going to satisfy. But as fun, friendly, frolicsome, frugal family entertainment, TV Games for Kids are fantastic.

US$19.99 at Amazon.com
CA$19.99 - $34.99 at FutureShop.ca