Best Xbox 360 Kinect Games for Kids

Kinect for the Xbox 360 provides for unparallelled interaction between you and your gaming experience, but these days you're seeing a greater number of titles that are geared toward young kids. While some titles are blurring the lines between entertainment and education, all are designed for pure fun. This holiday season, you are the controller with our picks for kid-friendly Xbox 360 games that use the Kinect motion sensor technology to play.

Sesame Street TV

It’s eight 40-minute TV shows composed of live action video segments, but with a twist - you become part of the show through participation during key times during each episode. It could be a wave of your hand to groom a dog, clap to identify a letter, or stand still for as many seconds as the number of the day. It adheres to the famed program’s philosophy of entertaining while educating, but enhances the experience with physical interaction. This, along with Kinect Nat Geo TV, is setting the standard for a new generation of edutainment. Check out our full review.
Price: $29.99 at the Microsoft Store or at  $28.39 on Amazon

Kinect Nat Geo TV

Comprised of eight interactive wildlife documentaries for kids, host Casey Anderson journeys with viewers to Alaska and Yellowstone Park to watch animals in their natural habitats. Kids are quizzed on what they’ve learned, and have the opportunity to capture close-up photos of featured creatures by saying the word “Snap!” Each episode also has optional mini-games and bonus information called “Side Tracks,” in which kids learn more and take on the role of an animal. Check out our full review.
Price: $29.99 at the Microsoft Store or at $29.99 at Amazon

Just Dance: Disney Party

Designed to literally get you up off the couch and dancing to current and classic Disney tunes, this version of Just Dance has 25 songs that span everything from the Jungle Book to Camp Rock to Phineas and Ferb. You can play with up to four players, and kids can even create their own customized playlist of up to 10 songs to dance to. Choreographers help you with the moves while set against backgrounds that match the song you’re dancing to (i.e. a Little Mermaid background). Check out our other dance picks.
Price: $19.99 on Amazon, $29.99 on ToysRUs.com (also available for the Wii)

Nickelodeon Dance 2

Designed for young fans of Nickelodeon shows, and a younger audience than Just Dance: Disney Party, this newly released sequel comes with all new songs from Team Umizoomi and the Backyardigans. Instead of live action choreographers, there’s Nickelodeon friends you can dance with, 20 in all (and double the amount from the original version) including the likes of Dora, Diego and the Bubble Guppies. Nickelodeon Dance 2 supports only 1-2 players, but if you know someone a fan of Nick that it should make you consideration list. Check out our other dance picks.
Price: $29.99 on Amazon or $39.99 on ToysRUs.com (also available for the Wii)

Harry Potter Kinect

Immerse yourself into the world of Hogwarts in a game exclusively for the Xbox 360. This game pulls in experiences from across the eight Harry Potter movies using Kinect technology to do everything from flicking your wrist to cast spells, make potions and play Quiddich. Some activities are familiar to Kinect users where you need to physically jump, duck and move side-to-side to avoid falling objects, fly around on your broomstick and maneuver a mine cart under Gringot’s Bank. You can even superimpose your face on a wizard or witch – you look a little funny, but it’s all Harry Potter fun if you’re a kid, love the movies and don’t mind spending $50.
Price: $49.99 at the Microsoft Store or $49.92 on Amazon