Handle With Linux

What to say to your children when they can no longer use windows on the PC

A comment in an earlier post 10 cool things you can do with linux and not with windows stated that it would be a big challenge to find 10 advantages of linux for kids.

Well lets give it a try,

1. What to say if your kids can't play there favorite windows games anymore.

First of all, there are many free linux games available. See this list:

big list of linux games

In my experience there shouldn't be problems with flash games, I like those too and play them all the time in Linux. Try installing the latest flash player.
Here's a story about using shockwave:

shockwave in linux

But that's not all, you should teach your children what is one of the greatest things about open source.
Open source games! When I was a child I played a lot of games and you know which were most popular? The simple BASIC games. Why? Because you could easily change them. Teach them a little programming, like changing the lives you start with or level editing. I'm convinced you'll need a crowbar to get them away from Linux in no time.

2. Can't use windows paint anymore?

Show your children what they can do with the easy to use and still feature filled inkscape, this is the tool that could have made me an artist when I was a child. It's vector graphics, just like drawing with the adobe tools. Only this has an interface a child can use. Very nice!

3. Kids need office for school

While they shouldn't teach children to use proprietary software at school, I know you can't change the world on your own. Therefore you could use wine, I believe it runs office applications pretty well. Of course you should learn your children the truth about who is wrong here;-) It's not wrong to teach your children to use the better and cheaper alternative. It's wrong schools teach children to use inferior, more expensive software. Just because the school is sponsored by a company, which will get their money back trough your pocket.

4. Movie maker alternatives in Linux

In Linux there's no movie maker, no but there are many alternatives here. kino would be your best choice for kids I guess. If you like more features try kdenlive, this provides for almost professional level editing.

5. Fun Learning

There are many fun learning tools available for Linux, this is something I learned long ago from microsoft itself. Back in those times microsoft sold educational games like the one with the helicopter teaching you where everything is on the map. This is a great way to learn and plenty available in Linux.

Look here:

tux4kids
childsplay website

and here's a blog entry:

educational linux software for children

6. Configure it to suit the childs age

You can configure everything in Linux, and have it start with a desktop configured for the child running it. You can leave your three year old on the computer without having them break anything or going on the internet. Just remove everything you don't want them to use and make everything easy accessible you want them to have. Want a desktop with just 3 big buttons? Easily done in Linux.

7. Teach your children about the benefits of open source

This is actually so obvious it's probably easier to explain to your children than it is to the grown ups.
You can choose between free of charge and superior quality or expensive and inferior.
That's how simple it is, the only difficult thing is explaining why not everybody is using open source software while avoiding inappropriate language.

8. Tell your children about the environmental benefits

Linux is more involved with the environment, there goes a lot of effort into energy efficiency development in Linux. And stimulation of energy efficiency is easy in linux. Children understand this better, they generally care more for the environment. So this is a great argument for children as well.

9. More change for a computer of their own

I know people who shift down laptops in the family like we used to do with old clothes. The youngest has the oldest notebook and the oldest (daddy) gets a new one. Rather than trowing away the old notebook or PC, install linux and make it super usable again. Teach them Linux and they will be happy for years with the old hardware.

10. Land them a good job in the future

If children know Linux and get in contact with it at a young age, they might become very experienced computer users. And Linux system administrators are better paid then windows administrators. Furthermore they will have a better life as Linux users than as windows users. No spyware and bloatware to keep them back in life.

This are just some of the things you can tell your children when they are unhappy about you throwing out windows.

Feel free to add to this list by leaving a comment.

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