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This colorful, musical software title designed for the
very young user, is engaging, fun and a terrific way to introduce your child to
the computer. The circus setting is
filled with big, bold colors and a variety of places to visit with just a click
of the mouse. There are no verbal
or written instructions to follow on the screen that was viewed as a real
positive by parents. The idea of
the software is exploration, and as such there are no right or wrong ways to
play. Children can dress and make
up Buddy, watch him juggle, color in scenes and more.
Our youngest testers enjoyed the experience on the computer, as well as
with the included coloring book and 3D cutouts for building their own circus.
The CD-ROM also doubles as a music CD that can be played in the car.
Recommended Age: 2 to 6 Price: $29.95
Hasbro
Interactive
The computer gaming environment is now much more than a
mouse and keyboard, thanks to the creative team at Hasbro Interactive.
The Dig & Rigs Playset, which fits on top of your keyboard and offers
a hands-on feel of driving and manipulating a big diesel powered rig, was a huge
hit in our testing centers. The
power of turning a pint-sized wheel and watching the entire screen move at your
command provided children with a completely immersive experience that enthralled
kids of all ages. Tonka Joe, one of
the PC world's finest host/characters, guides children through an endless array
of projects and games. Whether
they're hauling a load or building a new playground, your child will really dig
this toy/software package.
Recommended Age: 3 and Up Price: $39.99
I
Spy Junior - Puppet PlayhouseScholastic,
Inc.
Entertainment software targeted at preschoolers always
faces the difficult challenge of retaining the attention of their audience.
The latest version of I Spy Junior tackles the task with remarkable
success. Parents of this notoriously fidgety age group, watched in
wonder as their children sat alert, attentive and involved in searching for
hidden treasures. The beautifully
rendered screens are filled with fun hunting games that kept children amused and
focused for a period of time that amazed their parents. The sounds, the images and the game play are all first rate.
Recommended Age: 3 to 5 Price: $19.95
Scholastic,
Inc.
This totally captivating software title is just the ticket
for merging fun and education. The
challenge posed to the young player is a simple premise and playing together
with the world's biggest red dog makes the experience rich and rewarding.
We watched children laugh and giggle along with Clifford as they
navigated their way through puzzles and quizzes.
The learning level is age appropriate and children never appeared to tire
of playing over and over. There are
rewards for each accomplishment that gave a great sense of purpose and added a
level of determination for our testers.
Recommended Age: 4 to 6
Price: $19.95
Clifford
Thinking AdventuresScholastic,
Inc.
It's Clifford's Birthday and in order to give the world's
biggest dog a proper birthday party, your child must come to the rescue.
Using thinking games that are age appropriate and fun, parents were
impressed at how engaged and entertained their children were as they brought the
party to fruition. Clifford
is a character that many preschool children have had some exposure to, so there
is an instant familiarity and comfort level.
The CD-ROM is well produced and features plenty of appealing images,
sounds and games. This is a title
that will get plenty of play.
Recommended Age: 4 to 6
Price: $19.95
Earobics
Step 1 and 2These software titles are real winners for parents who
have children who are beginning to work on their phonological awareness skills.
Most importantly they deliver what they promise.
You will find a comprehensive exploration into the development of
auditory skills that are a precursor to higher levels of learning.
In Step 2 the bar is raised to reinforce phonics skills and language
comprehension. Reading with good
phonetic skills is the most apparent benefit that impressed both parents and
educators. Using well-produced
sounds and images, as well as rewards and encouragement, the program is very
easy to understand and use. All of
the auditory and phonics skills incorporated into this program are included in
the newest state and national kindergarten and first grade standards.
Recommended Age: 4 to 7 Price: $59.00
Lightspan
Achieve Now
Lightspan,
Inc.
If your school system utilizes a PC-based computer lab and
is looking for a comprehensive program of educational software to supplement
classroom lessons, Lightspan should be on their list of products to consider.
This very expansive series of CD-ROM's that can be used on either PC's or
Playstation systems include games and lessons on age and grade appropriate
subjects throughout the elementary and junior high school years.
Reading, math and language arts are all covered extensively in 36
separate CD's. Each CD also comes
with a supporting teachers guide so that educators can design lesson plans in
conjunction with the material. Teachers
can track each student's progress throughout the year.
The lessons are designed with fun in mind, but the essence of the program
is teaching and reinforcing critical learning skills.
This impressed parents who told us they would strongly consider
recommending it to their school's technology administrators.
Recommended Age: 5 to 14
Price: $600 per school set
$2500 per school cluster
Word
Explorer DeluxeDK
Interactive Learning
Words are the building blocks to communication.
Giving children tools to play with, manipulate and enjoy words, and then
making the learning process fun is what Word Explorer is all about.
There is a great audio narration that is both helpful and funny, and
animations that are bright and colorful. Children
start with pictures then move on to the recognition and formation of words.
Building sentences comes next and as your child progresses through the
experience they begin to express themselves with fun, personalized writing
activities. There are rewards that
children work towards. Parents told us that collecting stickers made for an
enthusiastic approach to completing and succeeding each time their child played.
Recommended Age: 5 to 8
Price: $19.95
I
Spy - School Days
Scholastic,
Inc.
Like finding your lost car keys after a long search, the I
Spy series delivers challenging search puzzles that offers players the feeling
of triumphant satisfaction when the last elusive piece is unearthed.
School Days, the latest offering in this award winning series is filled
to the brim with richly illustrated landscapes that are loaded with 3D objects.
The rhyming clues, which are read to the player, set the tone for the
quest that lies ahead. The game is
challenging and requires concentration, which our testers applauded. There are rewards for each completed puzzle and plenty of
satisfied, victorious smiles to go around.
Recommended Age: 5 to 9
Price: $29.95
This software title bites off quite a bit when it promises
to teach not just reading and writing, but typing too.
To the surprise and delight of our testers, Talking Fingers was up to the
challenge and this superb program succeeds in simultaneously teaching all three
disciplines. With lively characters
and just the right amount of humor, children are guided through exercises and
games that teach letter sounds, while simultaneously using the keyboard to
identify typing techniques. From
proper hand and finger placement, to phonetic sounds, this title engaged and
educated our testers. By the time
your child works their way through the entire program, you'll be amazed at how
comfortable they are while reading, writing and typing.
Recommended Age: 5 to 9 Price: $79.00
Star
Wars Math: Jabba's Game Galaxy
If your child enjoys the Star Wars adventures and you are
looking for a fun educational title then we suggest you explore this game set a
long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
The characters from Episode One (with the notable omission of Jar Jar)
play a variety of games with your child as they pursue enough credits to rebuild
their damaged ship and fly missions. The
games are wonderfully illustrated and the variety and level of skill development
impressed our testers. Math skills
including money sense, basic geometry, strategic thinking and the basics are all
a part of the game play. The
program tracks your child's achievements and increases the difficulty as they
improve. The challenge to build
faster, cooler ships kept children involved and playing for an extended period
of time.
Recommended Age: 6 to 9 Price: $29.95
USA
ExplorerDK
Interactive Learning
Discovering the treasures of our country is what USA
Explorer is all about. This very
well produced CD-ROM title takes kids on a wild ride from sea to shining sea and
all points in between. Chasing
around the country and identifying the locations of some of our most notable
landmarks, not to mention states, capitals and much more, children told us they
loved the adventure. Like
great explorers before them they were challenged and, as their parents will
attest, they rose to meet the hurdles. There
are many opportunities to reinforce facts they already may have known, while
picking up new information along the way. The
game provides just the right amount of encouragement and rewards for success.
Recommended Age: 6 to 9
Price: $19.95
The
New Way Things Work
DK
Interactive Learning
We should all see the world as David Macaulay does, with
an inquisitive mind that insists on getting to the bottom of everything.
We all probably don't have enough time in the day, but David does and
thank goodness he's done a lot of the digging for us.
This whimsical look into the workings of things great and small is a
delightful celebration of exploration. You
and your children will discover new facts and tidbits of pertinent and
not-so-pertinent data. The
Woolly Mammoth serves as your humorous plodding sidekick.
He accompanies you on your explorative search and is anxious for you to
succeed in the series of quizzes that pop up along the way.
There are loads of Internet links that are very helpful.
So, whether it's the origins of the wheel or the inner workings of cell
phones you'll know more than you ever thought your brain could hold.
Recommended Age: 8 and Up Price: $29.95
Earbotics
Step 1 for Adolescents
& AdultsFor older children who are having difficulty reading
English, this unique software title could provide a key for opening the door to
understanding. Using a combination
of sound effects and phonics-based teaching, this slick software experience
strives to make the learning process fun. There
are multilevel tests that require the user to listen to the sounds letters and
combinations of letters make. The
interface is visually appealing and the approach is well suited for the age
level. We found that users were
anxious to begin and were determined to master the challenge of reading.
Or, for more information about The Seal of Approval or The National Parenting Center call: 1-800-753-6667
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Last Update: November 9, 2000
