|
Educational: 4.5
Overall Design: 4.6
Ease of Use: 4.8
(4.0 = good, 4.5 = very
good, 5.0 = excellent)
|
Program Description What The Kids Said Who Is This Program For
Why We Selected This Program Computer Requirements
|
|
Reader Rabbit Thinking Adventures introduces children to structured play that encourages them to observe, listen and think as they become involved in the fun of preparing a surprise birthday party for Sam the Lion.
Reader Rabbit sets the stage and tells you how you can help in getting everything ready for Sam's birthday party. The program has 4 areas with 2 activities in each area, and you choose from these to begin the preparations.
At "Papa Bear's Store", you are organizing toys into different hoops based on simple distinguishing characteristics of each of the toys (colours, shapes etc. see top right).
In "Bab's Kitchen" you decorate cookies to match a cookie she shows you (matching patterns - see middle right). "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" is a board game where you have to use directional buttons to create a path to the donkey which also has you doing some basic adding. In the " Mouse Dance", you have to help the mice remember the right sequence of steps to the dance (see bottom right) which challenges the child to identify and to remember sequential patterns.
All 8 activities give the children hints and choices if they are getting stuck. The program also automatically adapts to the child's skill level. All activities provide 3 levels of challenge that can be easily set on screen. The program also has progress tracking that will allow the parent to see just how far the child has explored the different activities and what level of challenge he or she is able to do.
When you enter your name at the beginning the narrator says your name back to you and Reader Rabbit will also greet you by your own name when you re-enter the game.
Back to the Top
|
Sorting by type at Papa Bear's Store
Matching patterns in Bab's Kitchen
Remembering a sequence at the Mouse Dance
|
|
|
" My daughter was so excited when the rabbit greeted her by her own name. I couldn't believe it when she first told me. I had to go and see this for myself. She also noticed that there were hidden notes with her name on it." - mother of Renee, age 6.
"My daughter loved all the songs that were in the program. I noticed that she readily understood the instructions. Her ability to concentrate and listen was impressive. It would be nice if she listened like that all the time." - mother of Erica age 5 1/2
"My son liked it when the character on the screen would offer a suggestion or provide a clue. In this way, the program helps the child who is unsure was very cleverly done." - mother of Ronnie, age 4 1/2
Reader Rabbit Thinking Adventures is for any young child who is either intrigued by or likes playing on the computer and for the parent who wants to encourage play that also gets the mind going
.
This program would work very well as a first time computer program because it is very easy to work after a bit of initial guidance from a parent. The on screen assistance also automatically activates if the child is not able to immediately responding and helps him or her along with hints and suggestions.
Back to the Top
The quality of the screen images, along with the easy to understand songs and narrative from Reader Rabbit and his friends, makes this program instantly appealing to kids in the 4-6 age group. The universally high quality of all 8 activities had the kids engaged in play activity for long periods of time and had them wanting to return to the program many times.
Many programs will show your child's name on the screen once it has been entered in at the beginning. This is the first time we have heard the child's name actually being spoken back and incorporated into the narration of the program. (Apparently the program has an inventory of 527 spoken names to match an entered name).
The thinking stimulation and developmental value of the program is very thorough for children at this early stage of thinking type experience. The range of challenge offered by the 3 levels is also well matched for the age range.
The second CD in the program which is called the Personalized Learning Centre allows you to track how your child (and 99 others if you are teacher) is doing in all the activities. Once you know how well a child is doing, you can then print off computer activities and workbooks that will be customized to the child's performance level. We really like this aspect of the program because we believe that children, at this age in particular, should engage in lots of non computer based creative play that encourages their own initiative and develops basic thinking skills.
If you are looking for an early childhood software program that gets the mind going and is very specifically geared to children in the age range of 4 -6, this is an exceptionally well designed program..
|
Pricing and Online Ordering
(or call toll free -1-800-250-9229 )
|
|
|
Windows 95/98 Pentium 60, 16 Mb RAM, and 4X CD ROM.
Mac Power PC with 16 Mb RAM, System 7.1 or higher, and at least 4X CD ROM. The game requires 22 Mb of hard drive space.
Back to the Top
or to see other thinking and problem solving programmes
Curious George - Downtown Adventure - ages 5 -9
I Spy - ages 5 - 9
I Spy School Days - ages 5 - 9
Cluefinders Search and Solve Adventures - ages 9 -14
Zoombinis' Logical Journey - ages 9-14
Zoombinis' Island Odyssey - ages 9 -14
Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned For Danger - ages 10/11 - 15
The Return of the Incredible Machine - Contraptions - ages 11 & up
|
|
|
|
