Since the Wii was released November 19th, 2006, it has made its way into millions of homes across the globe. Of all of the popular consoles out right now, the Wii is the most kid friendly. While the graphics aren’t as cutting edge as other consoles, the games are fun and engaging. Below are the my top picks for educational games for the Wii.

1. Big Brain Academy – The game is a lot of fun; I’ve played it many times and it provides quite a challenge! It contains a wide variety of mental puzzles that you can either play solo, or with a friend. It keeps track of your progress. I highly recommend this game!

2. My Word Coach – If you like Boggle, Scrabble and other word games, you are going to love this game! Your vocabulary will increase, just by playing. More advanced players will enjoy the challenging words on higher levels, but this game is fun for all readers!

3. UDraw Tablet (and Instant Artist) – I was really excited to see a drawing tablet for the Wii. This is a great way for kids (and adults) to express themselves through a video game format. I couldn’t help but see a connection to the Wacom tablets that I’m used to working with. There are different levels, so everyone can have fun… and after more research, I realized that the drawing pad has quite a few features. Art projects can be saved to the players Mii character, and the drawing tablet can be used with many other games.

4. Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade – It came as quite a surprise to see this title available for the Wii. I’ve seen the PC software in use for years and the younger kids love playing this game on the computer. Of course the Wii version takes all of the good parts of the software and makes it into more of a video game. I like this game because you can adjust the skill level so that it will be challenging to a wide age range. As the title suggests though, this is definitely a game for younger kids.

5. Sesame Street – Ready, Set, Grover! – This is a great game for younger children. It teaches healthy habits, good nutrition, and proper hygiene. The part that I like is that parents or teachers can track the progress made (always a good feature in a school setting). The game comes with a cover for the Wii remote that only shows the buttons that are needed for the game (this makes it easier to understand for younger children). Another feature I like is a second player can “jump in” and help out the main player if needed. This is a must have game!!