Our Buyer's Guides help make buying
choices easy for consumers. We test hundreds of children's
products and strive to keep up to date on the latest releases. Of
course, every family is unique. We can't please everyone. However,
we are able to select some special titles that are at the top of
our "edutainment" list--those that have that extra edge
in the categories of design, entertainment, education, and play
value.
Besides the
letter grades we give most products, reviews on this site often
come with a rating bar chart--a visual breakdown of how the
product rates in a number of categories. If you'd like to know
more about how software products are rated, click here.
As we test new
software and products, we will update these buyer's guides to
reflect current availability and up-to-date recommendations. These
guides are intended to help parents make sense of the overwhelming
choices available to them.
Best
Computer Games for Learning and Practicing Math
The software games we recommend
here stand out as educationally valuable and engaging.
Ages 3-6
Transition
Math K-1 merges fun and learning through a series of
workbook-style exercises on the computer, as well as a printed
companion workbook included in the package.
What does it do?
The program includes virtual workbook pages featuring such math fundamentals
as counting, shapes, and telling time, that help children make the
"transition" from basic preschool math concepts to
school math. Here kids will develop skills in sequencing,
patterning, counting, relating numbers to number words, grouping
items into sets, and telling time.
Why do we recommend this
title? Bright graphics draw children into a game filled with
solid drills and exercises. Children are expected to correct their
mistakes, providing them with an introduction to school
expectations.
Who is it for? Children
making the transition from preschool and Kindergarten math
curriculum to first grade.
Math Missions Grades K-2: The Race to Spectacle City Arcade is a
fantastic program from Scholastic that strikes an
extraordinary balance between play and learning. This game
cleverly involves children in practicing real-world math skills at
three difficulty levels appropriate for late Kindergarten, first
grade, and second grade--all in one package.
What does it do?
Children attempt to rebuild a city using their math skills. The
city is fun, but the store clerks are not very good in math. Kids
earn money for the city by playing a variety of fun activities.
Children measure, weigh, count money, explore quantities, work
with place value, and more, in the fun cartoon setting of
Spectacle City.
Why do we recommend this
title? The program provides plenty of practice with math
skills that children need. The program is fun, encouraging, and
creates a wonderfully positive environment for learning.
Who is it for? The range in
difficulty levels makes this game excellent for accommodating the
often large variance in children's skill levels in early
elementary. Late Kindergarteners to second graders.
Our Rating: A+
See our full
review of this excellent software here,
and our screenshot gallery of the
game here.
Stuart
Little Learning Adventures
doesn't follow the Stuart Little movie's story line at all, but it does
"star" the lovable mouse. Truly packed with educational
activities, this program contains 2 CD-ROMs, each featuring
activities based on language arts, visual arts, and math
curriculum for early elementary-age children.
What does it do? The program is not
particularly fast-paced, and it doesn't tie in with the movie's
story, but it is very creative and clever in its presentation of
educational concepts. More activities than you count are
featured in this set that takes children through number
recognition to counting to addition and subtraction and more.
Why do we recommend this
title? This is one of those rare programs that
can last for a very long time, and the time invested into it will
be very well spent. It is especially original for its introduction
of visual arts concepts and early math skills.
Who is it for? Large range
in difficulty levels makes the game appropriate for children as
young as 4 and as old as 7 or 8.
Achieve!
Math & Science Grades 1-3 bundles a number of titles together to create one
very educational package for children on the younger end of the
suggested age group.
What does it do?
Two of the four titles in the package are math titles: Mighty Math Carnival Countdown and
Mighty Math
Zoo Zillions offer a range of unique activities that exercise
children's early math skills. Children learn money math, 3D
geometry, addition, subtraction, place value, and more with these
titles. Sammy's Science House offers a nice exploration of early
science concepts like weather, animals, and seasons. The fourth
title, Thinkin' Things Fripple Town is a wonderful exercise in
both art and logic.
Why do we recommend this
title? Children explore math and science concepts in ways
that stretch their thinking and offer them a chance to truly
understand the concepts, rather than basic rote learning.
Who is it for? Best for
first and second graders who prefer open-ended games to fast-paced
arcade or adventure programs.
Time,
Money & Fractions: Grades 1-2includes
a CD-ROM featuring "electronic workbook" pages, as well
as a printed School Zone workbook. Three important math subjects
are the focus of this very useful set. The format is
wonderful: children work through workbook-style pages on-screen,
step by step. Each page is graded as soon as it is completed, so
that kids get immediate feedback. Children are encouraged
throughout the program, but the title virtually insists that kids
go back to the pages with errors so that they can correct them!
This format mirrors the type of learning that is encountered in
school.
What does it do?Kids learn to tell time, count coins, and work
with fractions through the CD-ROM's 30 workbook pages. Kids
are rewarded
with arcade-style games. Three different experimental activities
allow children to work with each featured math subject. For
example, kids can change the numerator and denominator of a
fraction and see what kind of effect the change has on an object. Children correct the pages containing
errors before they can earn a certificate.
Why do we recommend this
title? This program has just enough bells and whistles to
make workbook-style math activities fun. Children can experiment
with the three featured math concepts, making this program more
than just a math drill.
Who is it for? The program
is designed around first and second grade curriculum. Appropriate
for children ages 6-7 or 8.
Math
1 is an electronic workbook CD-ROM with
high replay value. It is amazing how easy it is to get kids to
practice math facts with these colorful and fun programs! Each
is packaged with a SchoolZone workbook for off-computer use.
What does it do?
Children progress through 30 virtual worksheets and are rewarded
with arcade-style games. Addition, subtraction, and even story
problems are featured. Children correct the pages containing
errors before they can earn a certificate.
Why do we recommend this
title? This program has just enough bells and whistles to
make workbook-style math activities fun.
Who is it for? Right on
target for first graders, although beginning first-graders might
find it slightly difficult. It is also appropriate as a review of
math skills learned in grade one.
For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: Math 1
Math 2
is an electronic workbook CD-ROM with
high replay value. It is amazing how easy it is to get kids to
practice math facts with these colorful and fun programs! Each
is packaged with a SchoolZone workbook for off-computer use.
What does it do?
Comprised of 30 virtual workbook pages, as well as arcade-style
games and animated rewards, this title will please parents looking
for an engaging method to help drive home second grade math facts.
Entirely age-appropriate drills are featured, and kids will work
with math "fact families", number lines, place value,
and addition and subtraction with regrouping. Children practice
skip counting with a connect the dots activity, reorganize numbers
(up to 100) in numerical order, explore fact families, practice
addition and subtraction with regrouping (using an onscreen
notepad), create number sentences, and more. In between these
serious skill-building exercises, they play arcade-style games
like guiding a kangaroo in a race that requires precise timing of
jumps over objects in the way. A companion printed
workbook is included in the package.
Why do we recommend this
title? Straightforward, bright presentation captures and
holds children's attention. Children enjoy the game, while parents
appreciate the game's clear educational agenda.
Who is it for? Right on
target for second graders.
For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: Math 2
Mia's Math
Adventure: Just in
Time offers a fun, though sometimes slow-moving,
adventure in which children direct Mia the Mouse on a mission to
travel back in time and put a stop to a nasty fire in her
grandma's house. The math activities she encounters along the way
are multi-level and of high quality, and problem-solving skills
are needed.
What does it do?
Kids solve multiple small problems as they progress through a
scavenger hunt-style adventure. They encounter math activities along
the way. Four different levels of difficulty are featured for the
activities only (not the adventure itself): one for each grade
from first to fourth grade. Depending on the level selected, kids
do addition, subtraction, multiplication, time-telling, geometry,
and other such exercises.
Why do we recommend this
title? A variety of educational skills are addressed in this
engaging, graphic-rich adventure. While the program doesn't teach
math explicitly, it does offer plenty of opportunities for kids to
practice it.
Who is it for? Although the
activities are multi-level (covering grades one through four) and
can be played independently of the adventure, the adventure itself
demands some patience and follow-through, making it most suitable
for children ages 8-9 who enjoy a challenge.
Math
Missions Grades 3-5: The Amazing Arcade Adventure
This is an excellent program for
a variety of math exercises within the context of an adventure.
What does it do?
Children attempt to rebuild a city by helping out store clerks who
are not very adept at math. Kids
earn money by playing a variety of activities found in the city.
Kids do real-world math problems in graphing, fractions, rounding
off, percentages, and more--and they work towards owning and
managing an arcade.
Why do we recommend this
title? This CD-ROM strikes an excellent balance between fun
and learning.
Who is it for? Three
difficulty levels are intended to cover third to fifth grade math. The
program is likely to be too challenging for children just entering
third grade, and is therefore best for children working at a
4th-5th grade level.
See our full
review of this excellent software here,
and our screenshot gallery of the
game here.
Deductive
thinking skills and mathematical concepts are exercised as kids
play this CD-ROM based on the award-winning PBS television show.
What does it do?
Kids recover a Mega-bolt from the scoundrel Hacker along with the
Cyber Squad. Kids play logical thinking activities that have them
making estimations, predictions, plans, and
deductions--higher-order skills necessary for success in math.
Why do we recommend this
title? Strong educational content is delivered subtly
through brain-teasing games. Although challenging at times, the
game is manageable and engaging.
Math
& Science Excelerator Grades 3-6 bundles 4 excellent software programs:
two Geosafari CD-ROMs focusing on math, and two Mango Plumo titles
that teach
science. Lots of skills practice and concepts to learn.
What does it do?
The two math titles are based on the Geosafari Knowledge Pad
electronic toy. These programs offer math quizzes that feature
bright graphics and a scoring format. Decimals, percentages,
number lines, fractions, multiplication, and division are the
games' focus. The Mango Plumo titles star a perky little bird and
feature adventure formats with creative and unique science lessons
about weather and space. This package is now bundled with the
excellent, kid-friendly World Book encyclopedia, making the
package an excellent deal.
Why do we recommend this
title? Lots of learning and variety is packed into this
bundle. The math quizzes are actually quite fun to complete
and feature lots of variety.
Who is it for? Best for
children at a third to fifth grade level.
Zoombinis
Logical Journey is a software classic starring unusual and endearing little blue
creatures called Zoombinis. Logical thinking skills are exercised
as children play a challenging and addictive game.
What does it do?
Players need to lead bands of Zoombinis to freedom.
Along the perilous path, challenges in the form of logic puzzles
must be overcome. All center around the Zoombinis' four
features--hair, eyes, "feet", and noses--which vary from
Zoombini to Zoombini. The puzzles are exciting and exercise kids'
logic and mathematical thinking without dealing with numbers.
Why do we recommend this
title? The
beauty of this title is its equal balance of education and
entertainment, with both factors sky-high in value. The puzzles
are enormously addictive, and the range in difficulty makes the
title appealing to children as young as 7 and as old as 77. This
title is a must-have software program.
Who is it for? Although the
target audience is 9 and up, this program is appealing to logical
children as young as 7. The game advances in challenge as children
succeed.
Time,
Money & Fractions: Grades 1-2 
