I don't think the problem is that it's too advanced, I think it just calls for ALOT of patience and constant attention, which little fellers usually lack at that age...

I had my little nephew dying to play this game after he saw me playing and constantly talking about it during dinner time... a self-proclaimed game genius he is, I let him play it, though he did know what to do and all, I guess his attention span was a little short he took care of them for a while then would wander around just waiting for the game to play along...

Half a day goes by without him going back to the game, and then when he thought he had given them enough time to fix the dam, he goes back to dead villagers... fire gone, no food... I laughed at him too, but more in a "thought you were smart enough to play this game, did you?" manner