They have an Android tablet of their own that I’ve configuredb strictly for child use and it has helped them learn many things easily using apps such as Khan Academy Kids and Duolingo Kids. There is precious little beyond that that is not not infested with ads or needs subscriptions that are bound to cost a lot in the long run.
I have an old machine with Debian connected to my TV that I can also attach a PS3 controller to, if needed. What software can I explore in the Debian world that can help my child continue her learning journey. I’m open to suggestions not just for learning tools, but also for games that might help.
PS: they get plenty of outside time too, so that’s not a worry. I just want them to explore things and discover things they might like. I’m amazed by their ability of assimilate stuff so any help about diverse things like gamified music theory, art, logic will be highly appreciated.
Cheers!
GCompris maybe?
Thank you! This is what I was looking for.
I started my kids with this when they were 4 years old. today they don’t know anything other than Linux (they’re 9 and 11 now).
My daughter has Nobara on her laptop and PopOS on her PC. My boy is sold on ZorinOS (I’ve tried to steer him to something else, but it’s an uphill battle).
Looks interesting indeed. Thanks!
What don’t you like about ZorinOS?
It’s not that I don’t like it. I just think there are way better distros out there. We’ll, I also don’t like how behind they regularly are with kernel updates, but that’s not an issue for my kid.
Gcompris : https://gcompris.net/index-en.html
This looks like a great collection of things that are exactly what I’m looking for and I’m surprised I never saw this mentioned when I was looking for things.
Just a question. It says it’s built around KDE. Will it work right on vanilla Debian without jumping through many hoops? I can get around quite well in the Linux world but some things still make me stumble.
I think it’s in Debian main repository so it should be fine :)
It won’t appears in many research because it’s a libre software. And libre softwares get almost no press coverage from medias, so no good SEO for search engines.
Tuxpaint is also a nice software to add to your list
I guess this is going to need the use of a mouse and so not suitable for the TV setup. But my child likes paint programmes so I’ll figure out the best way to let them explore this without messing with my laptop. Thanks!
Can’t beat good ol’ Minetest!
I’ve heard only good things about world building games like Minecraft but I personally never could really get into it. Maybe I’ll give it another shot. Thanks!
There are tons of mods for Minecraft too that can completely change the game and sometimes teach different things
Does it fit to a 5 yo kid?
With some help from the adults. My niece is six and she loves it!
I let my 6 year old play portal (supervised). But there are plenty of games on steam that work on old hardware with debian.
GCompris and Minetest or Minecraft are top.
I think its pretty cool you spend so much thought on creating a safe and fun digital environment for your children. Its important that the parents have control and overview of what the children are doing. Stay on it and stay interested how they spend their time, else they might feel neglected
Others already suggested great answers, so I won’t repeat them, but I let my kids play on pbskids.org . tons of fun and educational videos and games for kids if they’re younger.
Honestly, if you want quality educational support, subscription services are more often going to be your gold standard. Ones that work in a browser probably best bet. Line ABC Mouse or whatever.
