Few topics worry parents more than computer and video games. As their children hunch in front of their computers, parents wonder: Are their children playing too many computer games? Watching screens too long? Rotting their brains as they maneuver miniature cartoons and objects with remote controls? How does all of this screen-time affect their classroom learning?

Actually, a moderate serving of video or computer games can be beneficial to your kids, as long as the games have the right ingredients. The growing numbers of educational games offered on the market today allow children to learn everything from math to nutrition on a TV or computer screen.

There’s been a far reaching interest in the development of games, especially for teaching and training. Television shows and movies are not interactive; the child just sits passively and watches. But "interactivity is really the hook of using games."

So why not use the games to kids' benefit? "Games obviously are very popular media now. And if you can make something that's fun have some social message or learning component in it, then all the better.

Check out these games for something more than combat and car chases:

Bear in the Big Blue House, by Ubi Soft Entertainment. Geared toward ages 2-7, this game is based on the popular children's TV series and lets players solve age-appropriate puzzles in Bear's colorful world. For Game Boy Color, $19.99 at gamequestdirect.com.

Scholastic's Math Missions for Windows, for kids from third through fifth grade, invites players to solve real-world math challenges to bring businesses back to success so a city can survive. Including 15 math activities and 10 math missions, kids also learn about money by opening their own arcade and setting prices. $6.95 at educationmax.com.

Explore the Jungle with Buzzy. Children of all ages can learn about the jungle through this computer game for Windows or Mac. Buzzy teaches about more than 200 plants and animals in more than 30 jungle locations. By Humongous Entertainment, $12.95 at kidsclick.com.

At MyPyramid.gov, kids can play a game in which they fuel their rocket with food and physical activity. "Fuel" tanks for each nutritional food group help kids keep track of how their food choices fit into the new food pyramid. Free!

Crazy Machines: The Wacky Contraptions Game by Viva Media. Older children interested in physics can enjoy solving more than 200 puzzles and putting self-made machines to work. Available for PC and Mac, $18.99 on Amazon.com.

IndianMomsAndBabies.com recommends parents limit the time children watch television or play video games to no more than two hours per day. Instead, encourage them to enjoy fun activities with family members or on their own that simply involve more activity (walking, playing tag, dancing).

Children should be physically active most, if not all, days of the week. Experts suggest at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity daily for most children. Walking fast, bicycling, jumping rope, dancing fast, and playing basketball are all good ways for your child to be active.

Keep TVs and computers out of kids' bedrooms, the NIH recommends, and don't use video games to reward or punish a child. Make sure your kids know why a healthy balance between games and other activities is important, and don't forget to set a good example with your own TV time. For a sample family screen time log, search for "screen time log" at www.nih.gov.