It's very frustrating and disappointing how few skills can be worked on in the child stage once the 4 child skills are maxed, and logically and storywise I feel like it doesn't make sense to exclude them from a number of them simply on the basis that they're children. I honestly can't think of any skill in the sims that a ten year old couldn't even get started on. According to Carl's Sims Guide the unlocked skills are:Mental: Fishing, Logic, Video Gaming.Social: Charisma, MischiefCreativity: Piano, ViolinMotor: none.Maybe this was added later, but in actuality motor skill does unlock one adult skill: video gaming. Which is already unlocked by mental. So, yeah, that still puts motor as pretty lame compared to the others, and the others are pretty limited. Here are some possible additions that would make maxing those kids skills a lot more satisfying. Mental: Archaeology, Gardening, Herbalism, Programming, Rocket Science (maybe only from working on school projects, but still could be viable), Wellness, Writing Social: Comedy, Pet Training, Selvadoradan Culture, Parenting Creativity: Painting (if adults can gain painting skill from drawing on a place mat at a restaurant, why can't kids when working on their activity table?), Cooking, Photography, Singing, Writing Motor: Fishing, Gardening, Cooking, Fitness (I get they can't use equipment, but they should still be able to gain the skill through swimming and doing push ups, and honestly by continuing to play on the monkey bars), Dancing, Handiness, Wellness, Some are doubled, but they've already got video gaming as unlockable by motor AND mental, so I don't think that should be a problem. I get that that's a lot, and I don't expect all of that--it's just some options to choose from. Honestly, I'd be fine with something like this:Mental: Fishing, Logic, Programming Social: Charisma, Mischief, ComedyCreativity: Piano, Violin, PaintingMotor: Video Gaming, Fitness, Dancing Take away video gaming from mental and give it solely to motor and give motor fitness (which it should have had already, jeesh) so it's even, then add one more skill to each to beef them up a bit. And if they gave me something like this? Mental: Fishing, Logic, Programming, Gardening Social: Charisma, Mischief, Comedy, Pet TrainingCreativity: Piano, Violin, Painting, WritingMotor: Video Gaming, Fitness, Dancing, HandinessI'd be absolutely fucking thrilled.

could we please get some play kitchens-so they could do cooking?

"DominicLaurence;c-16798121" wrote:Fitness is more complex than it seems. Also, anatomy lessons aren't managed to them usually until they reach pre-teen fase.I will happily defend fitness skill for kids with my dying breath, lol. I was a very active kid--did gymnastics, ballet, martial arts, tennis, swimming, basketball. Believe me, at age eleven, was I probably the fittest I've ever been. Fitness is definitely not too "complex" for a ten year old, lol. If there were pre-teens, I'd be okay with fitness being unlocked then, but since teenagers appear to be 14+, and kids could be anywhere from 8-12, there needs to be a way for them to gain the skill at what would be ages 10-13. Especially since the motor skill is so lame right now. I'm willing to negotiate on any of the skills really, but maxed motor unlocking fitness is actually my primary reason for even making this post.Like, seriously, there are kids right now training and competing on professional levels, come on.

I wouldn't actually entrust any child that isn't Sheldon Cooper with rocket science, but other than that, I agree with the opening post.I guess the developers really meant for us to play with aging on, because that way children always have more than enough to do, especially with expansion packs. They have school, homework and projects, four exclusive aspirations, other exclusive features and objects (playgrounds, voidcritters, monster under the bed, etc.), character values and childhood phases (Parenthood), they can be scouts (Seasons) and join the drama club (Get Famous) - so far I've never gotten to explore all of that with one child before they aged up. I was surprised to find out that they could even start building adult skills at all after maxing out the corresponding child skills.That being said, there are still some things that children inexplicably can't do, like gardening. They can't even water plants! My parents had a garden when I was a child, and I always helped out. I also started writing my own stories the moment I learned how to write, and before that, I used to draw them. Maybe children shouldn't be able to publish books themselves, but they could at least take part in a story contest or something. As far as realism goes, real children are capable of far more than they can do in the game.

Honestly, I'm still disappointed that the base game doesn't have child-sized guitars so Children can learn the Guitar skill and that Toddlers can't fram noisily on the piano. So many missed opportunities here. And, yeah, I would like to have Children learn the programing skill if they max out mental. Basic programing concepts like if-statements and introductory HTML aren't above the grasp of your average 10-13-year-old (for goodness sakes, Neopets had a whole basic tutorial section on HTML...and that site, at its height, was aimed mainly at 7-12-year-olds!). Children could gain programing skill through activities like "customize virtual pet's profile page" and "Make a Game in RPG Builder." As a compromise for the people who don't think it's "realistic" for a preteen to learn programing, Children who don't have the Genius trait could gain Programing skill at a 25% slower pace than Teens and Adults...even though, honestly, if a kid is interested in something they can learn things that adults would usually see as above their grade level quite easily with the right resources and support. Just sayin'.There should also be a lego-like building toy and a kids' tool kit for Children to start learning Handiness. Maybe even have toys that are breakable so that a Child can learn Handiness by trying to fix their broken toy. I used to fix my own broken toys all the time as a little girl. Sure, some of my solutions (like bending a paperclip into a new lower-leg for a toy horse and securing it with spent chewing gum) were kind of crude, but for a young kid those sorts of solutions work wonders. Oh, and have them also learn Handiness by cobbling together irreparably broken toys into entirely new ones or turning shoeboxes and large cardboard boxes into things like guitars, space ships, forts, etc. So many missed opportunities...

Children can learn singing if they max out their creativity skill (they can also learn pipe organ). Programming with simple kids programs would be possible (I programmed robots in my childhood). Writing should be able to go up as they can write in their journal (which usually increases their writing skill) and write dollhouse stories on their computer if they play with dolls. Photography should also be able to go up (but I don't know if it does). Parenting skill is something even teens cannot max out. Only adults can develop this skill further.Bowling skill is one of these skills children can learn immediately without needing to max out any of the children skills. It would have been great if motor skill was maxed out first. Painting skill should be in for children. They were able to paint using the easel in the previous games.

More skills should be unlockable for kids

11 Replies

Madamelee
Legend
7 years ago
could we please get some play kitchens-so they could do cooking?
EgonVM
Seasoned Ace
7 years ago
Children can learn singing if they max out their creativity skill (they can also learn pipe organ). Programming with simple kids programs would be possible (I programmed robots in my childhood). Writing should be able to go up as they can write in their journal (which usually increases their writing skill) and write dollhouse stories on their computer if they play with dolls. Photography should also be able to go up (but I don't know if it does). Parenting skill is something even teens cannot max out. Only adults can develop this skill further.
Bowling skill is one of these skills children can learn immediately without needing to max out any of the children skills. It would have been great if motor skill was maxed out first. Painting skill should be in for children. They were able to paint using the easel in the previous games.
Umbra_Assassino
Seasoned Newcomer
7 years ago
As a YA college student IRL and minor subject is programming, I think is generally too hard for children to study programming :'(
EgonVM said programming with simple kids programs would be possible, I agree

And I remember children can have pet training without Lv10 social?
Fanphoria
Seasoned Ace
7 years ago
"DominicLaurence;c-16798121" wrote:

Fitness is more complex than it seems. Also, anatomy lessons aren't managed to them usually until they reach pre-teen fase.

I will happily defend fitness skill for kids with my dying breath, lol. I was a very active kid--did gymnastics, ballet, martial arts, tennis, swimming, basketball. Believe me, at age eleven, was I probably the fittest I've ever been. Fitness is definitely not too "complex" for a ten year old, lol. If there were pre-teens, I'd be okay with fitness being unlocked then, but since teenagers appear to be 14+, and kids could be anywhere from 8-12, there needs to be a way for them to gain the skill at what would be ages 10-13. Especially since the motor skill is so lame right now. I'm willing to negotiate on any of the skills really, but maxed motor unlocking fitness is actually my primary reason for even making this post.

Like, seriously, there are kids right now training and competing on professional levels, come on.
EgonVM
Seasoned Ace
7 years ago
"FanPhoria;c-16800124" wrote:
"DominicLaurence;c-16798121" wrote:

Fitness is more complex than it seems. Also, anatomy lessons aren't managed to them usually until they reach pre-teen fase.

I will happily defend fitness skill for kids with my dying breath, lol. I was a very active kid--did gymnastics, ballet, martial arts, tennis, swimming, basketball. Believe me, at age eleven, was I probably the fittest I've ever been. Fitness is definitely not too "complex" for a ten year old, lol. If there were pre-teens, I'd be okay with fitness being unlocked then, but since teenagers appear to be 14+, and kids could be anywhere from 8-12, there needs to be a way for them to gain the skill at what would be ages 10-13. Especially since the motor skill is so lame right now. I'm willing to negotiate on any of the skills really, but maxed motor unlocking fitness is actually my primary reason for even making this post.

Like, seriously, there are kids right now training and competing on professional levels, come on.

Hmmm...
Can I make the different idea?
When child becomes a teen, wouldn't it be great if motor skill transforms into a half of fitness skill. So if child has level 10 motor skill, they'll have level 5 fitness skill as a teen.
Right now, there aren't any sports competitions for children (or in game at all). If they'd add them, it would be based on child's motor skill.
GrumpyGlowfish
Seasoned Ace
7 years ago
I wouldn't actually entrust any child that isn't Sheldon Cooper with rocket science, but other than that, I agree with the opening post.

I guess the developers really meant for us to play with aging on, because that way children always have more than enough to do, especially with expansion packs. They have school, homework and projects, four exclusive aspirations, other exclusive features and objects (playgrounds, voidcritters, monster under the bed, etc.), character values and childhood phases (Parenthood), they can be scouts (Seasons) and join the drama club (Get Famous) - so far I've never gotten to explore all of that with one child before they aged up. I was surprised to find out that they could even start building adult skills at all after maxing out the corresponding child skills.

That being said, there are still some things that children inexplicably can't do, like gardening. They can't even water plants! My parents had a garden when I was a child, and I always helped out. I also started writing my own stories the moment I learned how to write, and before that, I used to draw them. Maybe children shouldn't be able to publish books themselves, but they could at least take part in a story contest or something. As far as realism goes, real children are capable of far more than they can do in the game.
Fanphoria
Seasoned Ace
7 years ago
"GrumpyGlowfish;c-16800682" wrote:
I wouldn't actually entrust any child that isn't Sheldon Cooper with rocket science, but other than that, I agree with the opening post.

I guess the developers really meant for us to play with aging on, because that way children always have more than enough to do, especially with expansion packs. They have school, homework and projects, four exclusive aspirations, other exclusive features and objects (playgrounds, voidcritters, monster under the bed, etc.), character values and childhood phases (Parenthood), they can be scouts (Seasons) and join the drama club (Get Famous) - so far I've never gotten to explore all of that with one child before they aged up. I was surprised to find out that they could even start building adult skills at all after maxing out the corresponding child skills.

That being said, there are still some things that children inexplicably can't do, like gardening. They can't even water plants! My parents had a garden when I was a child, and I always helped out. I also started writing my own stories the moment I learned how to write, and before that, I used to draw them. Maybe children shouldn't be able to publish books themselves, but they could at least take part in a story contest or something. As far as realism goes, real children are capable of far more than they can do in the game.

Absolutely! I agree completely! I think I'm a very "aspiration oriented" player--I play with aging on, and I pretty much always complete at least one aspiration for every child, maxing at least one skill, usually more. A few times I've completed all four with one kid. And it's really frustrating to max out the child skills, especially motor, and then not have much pay off until they age up. Unlocking a few more skills for them to pursue as reward for maxing a skill seems like not too unreasonable a request, and not too much work to achieve. For several of them, they wouldn't even need new animations--just let the fitness skill be acquired when they swim, for instance. As you said: real children are capable of far more than they can do in the game.
boskos456
7 years ago
I'd live if they were somehow able to cook and bake. Maybe at the first time their parents should teach them but it would be even better if they could cook together while getting their relationship and social needs up. And I KNOW IT IS JUST ME, but I would like my kids to be able to master the wellness skill so that I can make a Yoda meditate and teleport on his own. (I don't have the spa pack YET so I'm maybe not correct on the latter, but I watched videos and it seemed like kids can't get a massage and while they are in the sauna nothing loads above their head)
boskos456
7 years ago
*love, not live
SimsLovinLycan
7 years ago
Honestly, I'm still disappointed that the base game doesn't have child-sized guitars so Children can learn the Guitar skill and that Toddlers can't fram noisily on the piano. So many missed opportunities here. And, yeah, I would like to have Children learn the programing skill if they max out mental. Basic programing concepts like if-statements and introductory HTML aren't above the grasp of your average 10-13-year-old (for goodness sakes, Neopets had a whole basic tutorial section on HTML...and that site, at its height, was aimed mainly at 7-12-year-olds!). Children could gain programing skill through activities like "customize virtual pet's profile page" and "Make a Game in RPG Builder." As a compromise for the people who don't think it's "realistic" for a preteen to learn programing, Children who don't have the Genius trait could gain Programing skill at a 25% slower pace than Teens and Adults...even though, honestly, if a kid is interested in something they can learn things that adults would usually see as above their grade level quite easily with the right resources and support. Just sayin'.

There should also be a lego-like building toy and a kids' tool kit for Children to start learning Handiness. Maybe even have toys that are breakable so that a Child can learn Handiness by trying to fix their broken toy. I used to fix my own broken toys all the time as a little girl. Sure, some of my solutions (like bending a paperclip into a new lower-leg for a toy horse and securing it with spent chewing gum) were kind of crude, but for a young kid those sorts of solutions work wonders. Oh, and have them also learn Handiness by cobbling together irreparably broken toys into entirely new ones or turning shoeboxes and large cardboard boxes into things like guitars, space ships, forts, etc. So many missed opportunities...