I am commenting specifically on the Animal Crossing City Folk Wii product. Not only do they cross many miles to their nearby urban community, but they may also cross many miles to visit friends and family they don’t see regularly.

I have had the pleasure of watching my grandchildren get hours of entertainment from their Wii system. I personally believe that this system provides not only “play time” for children and adults, but also helps children develop mentally, socially, and physically.

In Animal Crossing City Folk, children have the keys to their own community. They develop the whole story. This game encourages your child to use his imagination. They can develop their own little Mii (person), choose their hair, clothes, etc. They move into their own houses that they decorate to their liking.

They can go fishing for rare fish that they can sell for beauties! They can use the beauties they accumulate to pay their mortgage, buy items for their house, clothes, or gifts for their friends. They can also give their beauties back to their community to buy new bridges, parks, windmills, and community services. As you can see, this can help develop a “giving” attitude and a desire to help others.

Each animal character has a personality. There are animals like elephants, goats, raccoons, rabbits, etc. It’s fun to see all the animals and Miis walking around the community. Up to four people in your household can live, work, and play together. Parents can have a good time playing with their children. They can go fishing together, build snowmen, take a bus to a new urban town where they can catch a show, or shop at Gracie’s Boutique. They can also shop for clothes, “shine” their shoes, and get their hair done. They can have a complete Mii makeover!

The atmosphere is that of real life. Even the seasons change. It snows, it rains and the sun shines brightly. Fireflies come out in the summer, there are trick-or-treaters on Halloween, and they can hunt for eggs on Bunny Day.

I have seen my grandchildren play this game. Not only do they develop good communication skills, they learn to spell by communicating with their Mii friends, and when buying and selling things they also have to use math skills. On the creative side, children can design clothing, signs, and other artistic items. I value games that help children grow in all of these areas.

Also, with Animal Crossing you can cross miles and play with cousins ​​or friends who live far away. Yes, you can even play online using your broadband connection. You can invite up to three friends to visit your town using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. If you buy the Wii Speak microphone, it will seem like everyone is in the same room. It’s priceless to see the kids “reunite” in Animal Crossing.

It’s so adorable to see these little people head to the gate of their town where there are two watchdogs standing guard to go visit another town or greet their guests. They have fun fishing, seeing each other’s house and how it has been furnished and decorated. They can even shop at their friends’ community stores.

I see this type of activity as a means to develop skills that a child can use in his life. It’s definitely an inexpensive way to bridge the miles that separate kids from their friends and family. And the cost is much less than planes, trains or cars!

I hope you have fun at Animal Crossing!