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Early Learning Software II
The Big Picture

Computer programs for kids who can't even tie their own shoes, let alone read?

This month, SuperKids took an in-depth look at programs targeted at toddlers (18 mos. to 3 years), preschoolers (3 to 5 years), and kindergartners (4 to 6 year-olds). We were pleasantly surprised to discover that all of the programs we looked at provided impressive educational value in formats that were appealing to our kid testers.

• Reader Rabbit's Toddler [for ages 18 mos. to 3 years] from The Learning Company provides a visually entertaining introduction to the computer for very young users. Mouse control, shape matching, sing-alongs, and coloring activities will captivate first-timers.

• Fisher-Price Ready for School Toddler Edition [for ages 18 mos. to 3 years] from Davidson uses Fisher-Price's Little People as guides to 10 activities that include introductions to numbers, letters, mazes, as well as coloring, naming body parts, and matching animal sounds.

• Reader Rabbit's Preschool [for ages 3 to 5] from The Learning Company is an updated version of Let's Start Learning. Provides valuable activities for letter and sound recognition, and shapes and patterns. An excellent early learning tool for pre-schoolers.

• Fisher-Price Ready for PreSchool [for ages 2 to 4] from Davidson provides a fun way for the young child to acquire beginning computer, early pre-reading, and pre-math skills through engaging activities. Young users also will learn to follow directions, and complete assigned tasks.

• Reader Rabbit's Kindergarten [for ages 4 to 6] from The Learning Company provides a goal-oriented storyline, where the user must master multiple levels of 4 skill-building activities encompassing numbers, relationships, spatial reasoning, and memory. Best for child with an interest in computer-based skill building and an adequate attention span

• Fisher-Price Ready for School Kindergarten Edition [for ages 3 to 6] from Davidson provides a loose collection of 10 activities ranging from the alphabet and simple math, to coloring, shape matching, and memorization. Suitable for a child with a shorter attention span.

• JumpStart Kindergarten 2.0 [for ages 4 to 6] from Knowledge Adventure contains 18 activities aimed at fundamental skills including letter and sound recognition, counting and early math concepts, language arts, time concepts and the calendar. With its classroom exploration design, users with short attention spans will find much to do and reason to return.

Do we recommend starting pre-school children on computers? Yes, if they are interested, and if you are willing to work with them. Computer software is not a surrogate parent, care-giver, or teacher for these young children.

The key to selecting valuable early learning software for your children, is to match their current level of understanding with the level of the material presented in the programs. Click on the program names to read reviews of the specific titles, or click on "PC" or "Mac" in the price survey column to take a look at current market prices in our Buyers Guide.

SuperKids Ratings
Title	Publisher	Education Value	Kid Appeal	Parent Friendly	Buyers Guide (Price Survey)
Reader Rabbit's Toddler	The Learning Company	* * * * *	* * * * *	* * * * *	PC Mac
Fisher-Price Ready for School Toddler Edition	Davidson	* * * * *	* * * * ½	* * * * ½	PC Mac
Reader Rabbit's Preschool	The Learning Company	* * * * *	* * * * *	* * * * *	PC Mac
Fisher-Price Ready for PreSchool	Davidson	* * * * *	* * * * ½	* * * * ½	PC Mac
Reader Rabbit's Kindergarten	The Learning Company	* * * * *	* * * *	* * * * *	PC Mac
Fisher-Price Ready for School Kindergarten Edition	Davidson	* * * * *	* * * *	* * * * ½	PC Mac
JumpStart Kindergarten 2.0	Knowledge Adventure	* * * * *	* * * *	* * * * ½	PC Mac

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