# Computer (software, etc.) for an 11-year-old **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-software-etc-for-an-11-year-old/384522 "2006-12-17T18:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-software-etc-for-an-11-year-old/384522/1 "2006-12-17T18:05:05Z")
A friend of mine has an 11-year-old nephew he loves dearly. This kid is bright enough, though not brilliant, but basically not into … much of anything (i.e., not into sports, not into school, etc.). My friend got him a laptop ( :rolleyes: ), which the kid seems to like playing with – but the friend wants to get the nephew something for Christmas that will either “trick him into learning stuff” or “inspire more curiosity.” Any suggestions for games, software, CD-ROMs, or whatever it is that young people are into these days that might intrigue an extremely average 11-year-old? TIA. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-software-etc-for-an-11-year-old/384522/2 "2006-12-17T20:12:05Z")
How about a game along the lines of **Civilization IV**? It is a game, so it’s not like you are buying him boring “educational software”, but it’s chock full of actual “historical-type” stuff. There are actually quite a few games that will “trick” kids into learning. My 8-year old son has been playing my copy of **Rise of Nations** ; just the other day he was telling me all about the Terracotta Army and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, both of which he had “built” the day before. I’m not sure I even knew what terracotta was when I was 8. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-software-etc-for-an-11-year-old/384522/3 "2006-12-17T21:13:46Z")
When my son (who is 11 now) was younger, he really enjoyed the software in the JumpStart series. The company’s product line for older kids looks pretty good. I thought [this](http://shop.knowledgeadventure.com/portal/store/store.asp?nProductID=3000012&ncategoryid=23964) was interesting and not so obviously educational as to be off-putting. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-software-etc-for-an-11-year-old/384522/4 "2006-12-17T21:33:28Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] A friend of mine has an 11-year-old nephew he loves dearly. This kid is bright enough, though not brilliant, but basically not into … much of anything (i.e., not into sports, not into school, etc.). My friend got him a laptop ( :rolleyes: ), which the kid seems to like playing with – but the friend wants to get the nephew something for Christmas that will either “trick him into learning stuff” or “inspire more curiosity.” Any suggestions for games, software, CD-ROMs, or whatever it is that young people are into these days that might intrigue an extremely average 11-year-old? TIA. [/QUOTE] Is he interested in animals/dinosaurs? My nephew has fun playing Zoo Tycoon and they really have to learn a lot about animals to play. The Jurassic Park game isn’t bad either if you can pick up a copy. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-software-etc-for-an-11-year-old/384522/5 "2006-12-18T02:07:33Z")
These suggestions sound great – thanks! Keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-software-etc-for-an-11-year-old/384522/6 "2006-12-19T01:06:10Z")
**bump** Anyone else have any suggestions? Or additional commentary on one of the ones suggested already? Thanks!