Product Review Young Children Software

Reader Rabbit and Jumpstart: giving children a head start.

The websites for children seem to be more aimed at them playing games than actually leaning something constructive. Unlike some game sites that are aimed for kids, the Reader Rabit and Jumpstart series main focus is teaching rather than etertaining the child. That's why the Reader Rabbit and Jumpstart software for preschool to the second grade is such a great tool. It teaches your children through fun games and activities.  However, as great as this software is it does have its problems. That is something we'll go into later. Lets talk about a few examples of what both these learning tools offer.

Reader Rabbit Learn to Read With Phonics (Preschool & Kindergarten)

Description: Has the child explore and solve questions in 26 letter lands. Children will be exposed to letters and the sounds associated with them. In addition, they will be introduced to simple Math and Spelling. 

Review: A fun piece of software. My child especially liked the Word factory where they put together different letters to form words. The hardest thing about this game is getting the child to stop.

More information: Reader Rabbit Learn to Read With Phonics. 

Jumpstart Kindergarten

Description: Teaching over 2 dozen needed skills that cover a full year of Pre-Reading and Math.Has 16 different games to keep children entertained while learning. In addition, advanced AI adjusts learning speed for your child. Also teaches about shapes, colors, telling the time, counting, and rhyming. 

Review: great fun and learning for the kids. Teaches them all the fundamental skills at the child's pace. However, activities such as art and color need to be more hands on for the child. 

More Information: Jumpstart Kindergarten

Jumpstart 1st Grade

Description: Learning software with 15 games as you explore the school. Learning to tell time, fractions, Math, music, art, geography, science, and storytelling

Review: Another excellent piece of learning software. One of the games is to earn Pogs, and it usually takes over 20 minutes to collect 1 out of a possible 30 as a reward. Keeps child entertained while learning at the same time.

More Information: Jumpstart 1st Grade

Reader Rabbit I Can Read With Phonics 1st and 2nd Grade

Description: Set at the Wordville train Station children improve upon reading skills as well as well as complete children's books (30 in all). Other things learned are vowels, compound words, antonyms, homonyms, and rhyming. 

Review: Great learning tool, but some of the characters are dated. Like former President Bill Clinton, and the recently passed Dick Clark. May need explanation if child asks. However, will keep child occupied for a long time with its multiple games and animations. 

More Information: Reader Rabbit I Can Read With Phonics 1st and 2nd Grade

The Problems: As much of a great learning tool it is, the software is dated. If you have a brand new 64 bit computer, or the latest greatest Mac OS, don't expect this software to run smoothly or at all. These titles are aimed at the lowest common denominator in requirements. These will work great on a second hand computer that isn't connected to the Internet. Old XP machines will work fine, and their cheap enough that you don't have to worry about your child going on the Internet and downloading a virus on your brand new computer.

Another reason I personally recommend getting a cheap machine is the installation of QuickTime with this software. I have found in the past that Quicktime tries to take over my machine, and takes to much resources in the background. Putting Quicktime on a cheap PC that I don't care about, and will help my child learn is the best solution I know of.

With the all the help this software provides children, I would give this a conditional four stars. Conditional only if you have another PC. If they updated the graphics, became more current, and got rid of Quicktime it would have earned the max five stars. Leave a comment telling me what you think.