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Smart
Steps Kindergarten
DK
Interactive Learning
Smart Steps is a fun activity center for young children
who enjoy interacting with the computer. Featuring
a lively, upbeat host who cheerfully guides your child through a myriad of
playtime activities, our parent testers watched as their children played for
hours exploring all the ways they could complete the age appropriate skills
areas. With each success the
children win a sticker that can be placed in their own personalized sticker
book. This positive reinforcement
was a huge hit with the children. Parents
liked that they could easily track the success their children were having and in
which areas. Teachers made mention
of the fact that they felt it would be a good program to have installed in their
classroom computers.
Recommended Age: 4 to 5
Price: $19.95
Max
on the Moon
Tivola
Electronic Publishing, Inc.
This sweet, unassuming CD-ROM program is a unique
production that features a storyline that requires your child's input for the
tale to reach a successful conclusion. What
sets this program apart is that it can be played in any of four languages, which
can be switched to in mid-stream. Our testers enjoyed hearing a phrase spoken in English and
then hearing it again in either German, French or Spanish. There are six different versions of the same story, each with
different hiding places for the moon chicks.
The task is to find them and return them to the Man in the Moon.
Parents felt that younger children were best suited for the adventure as
opposed to the wider age range recommended on the package.
Those that played with this title really enjoyed their time with Max.
Recommended Age: 5 to 8 Price: $20.00
Magix
Music Maker video jam
Magix
Entertainment Corp.
Here is a software product that involves no shooting, no
phonics, and doesn't even need an Internet connection.
Instead, music is the key to this very satisfying exploration into the
world of music mixing. The simple,
easy-to-use interface gives young children the power of professional music
editing. By adding melody lines,
drums, harmony and even video, you will be producing your own unique music video
in no time. Taking control of
various tracks, your child will discover what sounds good to their ear.
If your child is enchanted by music and likes to participate, then this
is a great introduction.
Recommended Age: 6 to 12 Price: $29.99
I
Love Science!
DK
Interactive Learning
Educational software is best when it entertains children
with well-designed characters, easy to follow instructions and, let's face it,
the educational factor hidden from plain sight. DK doesn't hide the fact that there is learning to be done
here, but the ingenious use of colorful, quirky characters, along with the very
interactive interface, makes it a blast to play. There are scientific experiments and quizzes that will
challenge your child in areas that include energy, the human body, metals,
magnets, mammals and more. There is
a support section for parents and teachers to use, so they can keep up!
Recommended Age: 7 to 11 Price: $19.95
I
Love Math!
DK Interactive Learning
First rate animations and sound effects help bring this
software and this subject alive. Using
a goal oriented approach, children are challenged and, according to our testers,
compelled to undo the damage done to various locations around the world, by a
couple of ne'er-do-wells. There is
an option to work together with another player that makes the accomplishment a
team effort and adds to the enjoyment. The
range of Math topics covered is quite extensive and includes basic geometry,
problem solving, fractions and much more. Depending
on the level that you choose (there are four), the complexity of the problems
increases so that children can challenge themselves and keep up with the current
level of learning at school.
Recommended Age: 7 to 11 Price: $19.95
Nancy
Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger
HerInteractive.com
When it comes to finding challenging, entertaining
software designed for girls, most parents tell us that they are hard pressed to
find anything that fits the bill. This
CD-ROM offering, the second in a series is both intelligent and appealing.
Faced with a mystery, Nancy and your child must uncover clues that are
ingeniously hidden throughout the program.
Not all of the clues are obvious and require some resourceful digging.
Testers told us that they found the program to be exciting, engaging and
entertaining (the 3 E's of any successful title).
Parents responded by telling us that software, which engages their teens
with such enthusiastic energy, surely rates as a must-have. The game features first-rate graphics, audio and a well
conceived plot line that really delivers the goods.
There is also a supportive web site where players can exchange tips and
ideas.
Recommended Age: 9 and Up Price: $34.95
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: April 12, 2000