Children in The Sims 3 Generations
A Guide to New Activities and Imaginary Friends
Sims 3 Generations Guide:
Chemistry | Children | Teenagers | Adults/Elder | Afterschool Activities
Day Care | Boarding School | Pranks | Imaginary Friend
This Guide will show newcomers and prospective buyers the new features of childhood that come with The Sims 3 Generations expansion pack. We'll talk about new activities, gameplay features, and options your kids have. Generations brings so much to the child age group that it makes the kids much more engaging to play.
To learn about raising a child in The Sims 3, see the Children page. This page covers Generations-only features.
School Overhaul – After School Classes and New Depth
School now offers field trips, and your child can occasionally bring home mementos from these activities. Your kid can have after school classes that can lead to some accomplishments at this early age. They can take up ballet or scouting, and gain levels in each. Ballet meets Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays from 3-5, a small time commitment for the child.
The Child is treated much more directly by the game world. There are numerous new opportunities for kids only, and seeking these rewards will give the child an even better foundation for a strong adult life. Medieval/World Adventures style dialog sometimes triggers while at school or on a field trip, as well. These are little things that add up to make Sim childhood in Generations the best it's ever been.
These extra goals, and the huge list of new activities below, make the childhood age something you can savor for all it's worth. You're not simply looking to get good grades (boring routine) so you get to choose the child's trait. They can live fuller Sim lives and experience many new things that are true-to-life. It's not necessary to make it all the way to the teenage years to get better gameplay.
There are many new items for Children, and some decor that will definitely make a Sim kid's room look, well, more like a real kid's room. There are fun little effects like a pencil holder, piggy bank, and other little objects that will add those needed accents. The sort by expansion button will come in handy when it's time to figure out all this new stuff.
Imaginary Friends
If you want your child to have an imaginary friend, it's something you start during the toddler stage. The toddler must use an imaginary friend doll frequently enough to form a bond with it. Click here to learn more about Imaginary Friends.
If your child is lucky enough to have an imaginary friend, they can have a tea party giving a big +20 moodlet. This also works with the stuffed bear, so long as he's in the inventory.
Generations' New Childhood Activities List
Generations brings lots of new ways for kids to have fun, but also to act up and rebel. First up are Pranks, which can be used by both kids and teens. For now, know that plumbing, computers, and other objects can be trapped to cause frustration on the part of other Sims and joy to the wicked little prankster. They can get a 12 hour +20 moodlet for pulling off a prank. This is very powerful. After all, they can get someone at any time. Head to the Pranks guide to learn more.
Chemistry supports some types of pranks, and children and up can use Chemistry to discover potions. They can be used for pranks or to buff a Sim in a variety of ways, some of which aren't useful for a child, but this is a skill that can help them for life, plus the other perks of having high logic.
This can be offset if they get caught, but should still be a net gain in mood. You can beg for forgiveness, which will get the child out of trouble. Helping with chores can also loosen the punishment, which could include being unable to use a favorite toy, or getting grounded. Most of the time, it's going to work out in the child's favor, so I'll be pranking a lot to reap those early lifetime happiness points. How easy school will be with those extra mood points!
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Dressing Up with Dreamer's Costume Chest
Children can "Transform Into" one of four costumes you'd expect kids to like using the Dreamer's Costume Chest found under the Toys menu in buy mode. They can dress as a T-Rex, Astronaut, Prince, or Princess, as pictured above. Yes, girls can be Princes and boys Princesses as little Cindy demonstrates.
While dressed up, they can walk about acting as their chosen character with the walk command, and play pretend anywhere, which could surely lead to some interesting scenarios. Overall, it's entertaining to watch and satisfies the fun need. It'd be funny to see a little horde of kids doing this stuff. If you don't want them to play pretend, they can do other, regular, things in those costumes.
Tree House
There are three Tree Houses in Generations. The ordinary Kid's Clubhouse, Sci-Fi Hideaway or Princess and the Pauper's Castle. They're all about the same price. Kids can play rabbit hole-style inside, and pull a prank by pouring water on someone's head. They can sleep inside, and even make a rule: no girls or boys allowed, whichever's appropriate. I think people might have expected more out of the tree house, but it's a cool thing to have in the back yard nonetheless, and supports multiple uses for kids.
Play on Playground
This option was around pre-Generations but has been given new purpose with all the new playground equipment. Click any object and 'Play on Playground' and they'll take off playing on everything. It's pretty satisfying to see the kid use all the various things you placed, run about and have fun. You can create a child's paradise in the back yard.
Playground Equipment
There is now a slip and slide, which is a group activity. Kids can have a sandbox, even the turtle variety. They can bury treasure but I'm not yet sure about retrieving it. A new physical activity is Hopscotch, found under the toys menu, which can boost Athletic Skill for Teens and Adults. Spring Riders are new, but just another form of entertainment for kids. There are new models of slides, swings, and other playground equipment as well.
Two useful activities involve imagination. Kids can take a joy ride on the couch, which is free fun. Perhaps more useful is the submarine adventure in the bath tub, which will give kids loads of fun while raising hygiene. Neither moves very fast, but together they are incredibly time efficient. And hey, I loved playing in the tub!
I hope this guide was helpful in pointing out the new activities for kids. If you were on the fence about buying the expansion, maybe it and other content I publish on Generations will help you to make a final decision. If you have any corrections or additions for this or other guides, use my email address on the home page or start a topic on the corrections board at the forum.
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