Jennifer Smolar
4-22-2008
Products:
Software:
• Arthur’s Kindergarten
• Disney’s Learning
Kindergarten
• Jumpstart Advanced
Kindergarten
Prices:
• Arthur’s
Kindergarten:
$19.99
• Disney’s Learning Kindergarten: $24.95
• Jumpstart Advanced
Kindergarten: $14.99
System Requirements:
• Arthur’s
Kindergarten:
• Windows
95/98/ME/2000/XP, 16
6 MHz Pentium, 32 MB
RAM, 40 MB free disk
space, 8X CD-ROM, 256
color 640X480, sound
card.
Macintosh Power PC
180 MHz, System 8.6OSX, 32 MB RAM, 40
MB free disk space, 8X
CD-ROM.
• Color Printer
Recommended.
• Disney’s Learning
Kindergarten:
• Jumpstart Advanced
Kindergarten:
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Microsoft Windows
Pentium II 266 MHz
95/98/ME/XP
(Pentium II 300 MHz or
faster for XP)
Pentium class processor,
233 MHz
64 MB RAM (128 MB RAM
for XP)
64 MB RAM
80 MB free hard disk space 12x CD-ROM drive
16-bit color
8X speed CD-ROM drive
16-bit DirectX compatible Windows-compatible
sound card
sound card
16-bit color DirectX
compatible video card
• Optional: Javacompatible Web
Browser
What Kind of
Educational
Information Does
The Software
Provide?
Skills
• Arthur’s Kindergarten:
- Math, Memory, Shapes, Spelling,
Counting, Vocabulary, Rhyming,
Music & Art.
• Disney’s Learning Kindergarten:
- Memory Enhancement, Listening
Skills, Math, Observation, Alphabet
& Problem Solving.
• Jumpstart Advanced
Kindergarten:
- Reading, Phonics, Sounds,
Vocabulary, Math, Science, Art,
Music & Thinking Skills.
Reviews:
• Arthur’s Kindergarten: Good Reviews
“It was a good start for my son who moved from
London to the US to learn the ways of the schools
etc.Arthur has captured his fancy from the
Pbskids and the books in schools.This does the
same and I am sure will help him to get to speed
here in the US.”
“Great software program for kids in kindergarten
or maybe even a little younger.”
Reviews:
• Disney’s Learning Kindergarten: Mixed Reviews
Good:
“My daughter has been playing this game since she was three. It was a
little difficult for her at that age but she stuck with it. Now at almost six
she loves playing it and asks to play it several times a week. It has helped
her with problem solving, early reading, and math skills. It's more than I
expected from a game. I'm running it on Windows 2000 Professional. “
Bad:
“Sadly I agree with the other 1-star reviews
Visually it looked like it was going to be a great game/learning tool. The
difficulty stars at the bottom were a nice touch. But the repetitiveness of
the exercises was awful. I will have to try some of the other
recommendations. “
Reviews:
• Jumpstart Advanced Kindergarten: Good reviews
“This was a gift for my now 6 year-old when she was 4. She played it for many
hours by herself before showing my 4 year-old how to play. Now it is one of his
favorites as well. Because of games like this both of my kids are very skilled in
following computer instructions, maneuvreing around a game and utilising fine
motor skills to control he mouse. I have never had a bad experience with
JumpStart software. We have used JumpStart Baby, Advanced Preschool,
Advanced Kindergarten and Animal Adventures.”
“When my 5 year old is playing this game all of her siblings gather around to
watch. They really like this game. The concepts are well presented and the
learning is fun. I really like that even if they miss and pick the wrong answer
the game lets them try again. We have had this game almost a year and my
children still love it. It does a great job with addition, counting, colors,
recognizing patterns, spelling, sounding out simple words, story ordering and
it is just fun.”
SOURCES:
Amazon.com
http://www.encoreusa.com/product.aspx?ProductID=75614
http://www.learningcompany.com
http://disneyshopping.go.com
http://shop.knowledgeadventure.com/Products/JumpStart-AdvancedKindergarten
http://www.edutainingkids.com/buyersguidereadykindergarten.html