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Games About Babysitting Animals

Games about babysitting animals can represent more than just frivolous fun for children. These amusements present the opportunity for children to learn to care for animals, to begin to grasp the meaning of responsibility and to see consequences of their actions. Animal games may hold more interest for younger children and girls, but many have boys in mind and include features, actions and an appearance designed to appeal to young males.

Benefits
- Pet babysitting games provide children with a nonviolent video-game alternative. They also offer a pet-owning alternative for those who do not possess the level of maturity to care for a living creature and those who cannot physically care for pets or are prevented from owning pets because of the rules of their residence, lack of room or the means to do so. Pet ownership and babysitting games offer parents a method of introducing the importance and complexity of properly caring for a pet before bringing a first pet or a new pet into the household.
Effects
- Babysitting games have substance in addition to their entertainment value. Such games provide children the potential to learn personal responsibility, time management and organization skills during play. Pet-care games present children with a form of pet ownership where mistakes, neglect and lack of attention do not involve harm to a living creature.
Options
- Depending on the pet babysitting game chosen, players experience feeding, exercising, clothing or caring for a virtual pet or some combination of these responsibilities. Games often allow players to express their personalities by offering a choice of their pets' colors, hairstyles, outfits and names. Websites such as Dressup Me demonstrate the range of options available in pet games. On the website, children can select from among a wide variety of pets, including baby ducks, puppies, ponies, bunnies and fish, or opt for a more exotic pet.
Evolution
- The egg-shaped Tamagotchi by Bandai is referred to as the original virtual pet. Tamagotchi owners raised their pets from an egg to old age or death, performing tasks such as cleaning up after their pets and offering interaction. The level of care given determined the behavior of the pets, their health and well-being. These original games have evolved to a current form wherein the new Tamagotchi Connection Series offers wireless communication and the ability to play games, exchange gifts and spawn multiple generations, going far beyond the original, limited interface.

Kids Games