Buyer's
Guide: Getting
Ready for Kindergarten: Best Software & Games
Related
Links
Preparing
Your Child for Kindergarten: Best
Computer Games
While
Kindergarten is largely a social experience, children who have
been exposed to certain educational concepts often find the
transition into school a little easier. Software that painlessly
introduces and reinforces essential early learning skills can help
encourage kids to learn and to think logically.
We've
selected some excellent programs for developing Kindergarten
readiness skills, below.
When
selecting outstanding Kindergarten software, we look for the
following:
An
encouraging, helpful environment for learning.
Strong
educational content that gently challenges a child,
rather than overwhelms.
Good
replay value.
Enough
entertainment value to appeal to children, but not so
much that it distracts children from learning.
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 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 often overwhelming
choices available to them.
Leapster Kindergarten is
an educational game cartridge for the Leapster. If you don't
already own the Leapster Multimedia Learning System (a portable
game unit for young children), you might seriously consider
purchasing it. Leapster Kindergarten is just one of many currently
available (with many more games in the works including Reader
Rabbit) educational games for the Leapster.
What does it do?
Children interact with the game using the arrow keys, attached
special pen, and by touching the Leapster screen. Kids play
multilevel educational activities that gently challenge them in
logical thinking, basic phonics, math, and more.
Why do we recommend this
title? The portability of the Leapster is a huge draw. The
game is truly fun and gently challenging, offering children to
learn and play "on the go".
Who is it for? Children who
are getting ready for Kindergarten through to children in the
midst of Kindergarten (ages 4-6).
Dragon
Tales: Learn & Fly with Dragons is designed for children ages 4-6 (we feel
4-5 is a better target audience). It uses the helping-and-sharing
philosophy of the television show and adds some clever
activities that gently encourage children to think
logically.
What does it do?
The program includes a
fair amount of practice with colors, shapes, logic, and
early math skills. Children help dragons earn their badges
by playing a number of activities that increase in challenge as
kids play.
Why do we recommend this
title? Gentle encouragement and gradually increasing
challenges. Good replay value.
Who is it for? Appropriate
for children entering Kindergarten. Ages 4-5.
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.
Didi
& Ditto Kindergarten is a new curriculum-based title by
the makers of the excellent Mia software titles.
What does it do?
Children collect fruits and vegetables for a vegetarian wolf by
playing activities that exercise skills in phonics, math, music,
and art. Kids can choose to play along with a girl or boy beaver.
Colorful worlds and charming characters are featured.
Why do we recommend this
title? The unique graphics draw children in, effectively
promising something different than the usual software fare for
this age group. The educational challenges are multi-level.
Who is it for? The
program is a little too sophisticated for younger children in the
suggested age group. Best for older Kindergarteners or advanced,
software-savvy kids.
JumpStart Advanced
Kindergarten features a tutoring system and multi-level
activities that help acquaint children with Kindergarten
curriculum.
What does it do?
Kids prepare for a big race by playing inviting educational
activities that help them practice pre-reading skills, early
phonics, pattern extension, simple math, music, and more.
Why do we recommend this
title? This program is best for reinforcing skills rather
than offering experimentation in skill-building. However, for what
it does, it is entertaining and educational.
Who is it for? The
difficulty levels make this appropriate for children entering
Kindergarten, as well as for children in the midst of
Kindergarten.
Didi
& Ditto Kindergarten is a new curriculum-based title by
the makers of the excellent Mia software titles.