• Reality games for kids teach them responsibility.blue game pad image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
  
  Virtual world games are more than just video games; many real world games provide kids with an opportunity to buy their own home, manage their own money and even work a job and take care of pets. This gives them an early view on adult responsibilities and priorities. There are a variety of popular real world games for kids that they can play on their computer or popular gaming systems.
  
  

Club Penguin

• Club Penguin is an online game run by Disney.com. Club Penguin is dedicated to providing a safe and secure way for your children to interact with other members, while never sacrificing privacy. Club Penguin is free to play online; your child must sign-up with a user name and password and a parent's email address. The parent then must activate the account before the child can play. Kids can choose their own colorful penguin avatar and then explore different areas of Club Penguin, chat with friends and play games with other members. Members also have their own igloo, which they can decorate using coins they win in games. There is also a version of Club Penguin available for Nintendo DS, which takes the penguins into a secret agent role and allows the player to solve crimes and mysteries.
  
  

Zwinktopia

• Zwinktopia is an online virtual world that allows members to create a virtual cartoon character of themselves, customizing hair color, eye color, body type and even clothing. Zwinktopia has 29 locations that members can explore, from the shopping mall to Paris, Hong Kong and Tahiti. Members also have the opportunity to play a variety of games and chat with other members. Zwinky members each have their own dorm room, which they can customize with furniture and paint colors. Kids can earn money by playing games to buy new clothing and accessories for their room.
  
  

Sims

• "Sims" is one of the more popular virtual world games. Many of the games are geared toward teens and young adults; however, some are created for a younger audience. "Sims 2 Pets" is manufactured for Nintendo Wii, Game Cube, DS, Playstation 2, PSP and GameBoy Advance, as well as a PC version. "Sims 2 Pets" gives players a chance to own and care for their own pets, which is a great game for a child who is begging for a dog or cat of their own, because they will see what a true responsibility animals are. Other "Sims" games, such as "Sims 2" and "Sims 3," allow you to customize your character and his life, and even his career, making it ideal for a pre-teen or teen as well.