I have been searching for a game designed to be played with kids 8 and over (maybe even less) they have to use daddy's cool looking dice and have wizards, fighters and light sabers. obviously I think my preteen game group will discuss genre. So is there a easy to learn game with a little crunch and some fun designed for kids?
I've heard that DO pilgrims of the flying temple (I think that's the name) is good for kids. Mermaid adventures may not be picked up by boys very quickly but it is reported to go well with boys (and even adults) when you get past the girly factor.
I know there are some dungeon crawl games that are designed for kids. Theres a blog by a guy that runs Dungeon World with kids and the system seems fine for them.
All games are designed for kids, its a question of how you run the session for them. Roll skill to pick lock, roll save to avoid trap are not that difficult of concepts. Old school tap everything with a ten foot poll to check for pits, look for answers to obscure riddles, or debating Orkish genocide to prevent future problems - are less their speed.
That said, if you can find a copy of the old game "CyberGeneration" it may interest them, as its main story is preteens gaining super-powers (to fight a totalitarian government) that uses a fairly simply d10+stat+skill base mechanic.
Despite its baroque reputation, AD&D should be just fine.
Games based on the Warrior Rouge & Mage system (Wyred, RAG, WRM itself) are all pretty easy to get into. "Mazes and Minotaurs" might work well for the group, since that is the age they start learning about Greece in school (or at least we did in mine).
Games of imagination are never truly done. Yet tomorrow we shall start another one.