And with good reason. Much of the learning that happens at this time is essential to a child’s future success. Reading, writing and comprehension are three major cognitive skills necessary to succeed in adapting to the modern world and learning almost any profession or trade.

So when looking at the quality of the product there are a number of factors to take into account. First is the software company’s history and reputation and, if available, other parent’s and children’s experiences of the product.

The two major players in the primary educational software market are Jumpstart and The Learning Company. Other companies have come and gone but these two have been the mainstay of educational PC games for two decades. Having said that there are other companies that may produce occasional hits but these two can be relied upon for their dedication to the medium.

Jumpstart is known for its grade based series, starting from toddlers, through preschool and all grades to grade 6. They have developed a reliable format that works with both engaging kids and educating them. They also refine their products so that any issues that slip through in the first version are fixed in 2nd and subsequent version. For more information on Jumpstart programs and what other parents have to say about them you can check out Amazon’s website.

The Learning Company is the second major educational publisher of primary software. Like Jumpstart they have titles for each grade but have divided them into two separate series depending on grade levels. The Reader Rabbit series of titles is catered for toddlers through to 2nd grade while the Clue Finders Series focuses on grades 3 to 6.

Both series are well regarded and again you can check out Amazon for Reader Rabbit and Clue Finders or click through the specifically recommended products below. You can also find some great games at the Big Fish Games website. They offer some great games for instant download and at a very cheap price.

Reader Rabbit (Elementary Grades)

Adventure Workshop 1st-3rd Grade 9th Edition Average Rating: 2 total customer reviews...

Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade Mis-cheese-ious Dreamship Adventures Average Rating: 5 total customer reviews...

Clue Finders (Middle School -Late Primary)

ClueFinders 3rd Grade Average Rating: 7 total customer reviews...

ClueFinders 4th Grade Adventures: Puzzle of the Pyramid Average Rating: 8 total customer reviews...

ClueFinders 5th Grade Average Rating: 5 total customer reviews...

Clue Finders 6th Grade Adv 2.2 - Jc Average Rating: 2 total customer reviews...

Jumpstart

Jumpstart 1st Grade Classic (PC & Mac) Average Rating: 10 total customer reviews...

JumpStart 2nd Grade Average Rating: 10 total customer reviews...

Jumpstart Advanced 3rd Grade V2.0 Average Rating: 12 total customer reviews...

JumpStart 4th Grade Average Rating: 4 total customer reviews...

JumpStart 5th Grade Average Rating: 3 total customer reviews...

JumpStart 6th Grade Average Rating: 2 total customer reviews...

In educational PC games the emphasis is on supporting the child to learn a particular curriculum based subject or, more often, a range of skills applicable to the child’s age and grade level.

Learning is undertaken via visual and audio cues including animation, video, music and audio narration. These elements work together in a well researched and developed game to produce an engaging environment for the child to learn in. They “want” to play the game because it is so much “fun”, all the while their interaction with the program is developing brain muscles that challenge in an entertaining way.

Educational PC games differ from console games in that they generally require the child to respond to requests for information by using either the mouse or the keyboard. Where in console based games input is directed through the specially designed hand-held controller, in educational PC games the child has to use a keyboard and mouse to respond to requests for information from the software.

This word-based focus develops not only hand eye coordination but also larger literacy and grammatical based skills. Console games are great for hand eye co-ordination but not so for challenging and expanding the ability to communicate broader linguistic skills.

The console gaming industry is changing rapidly. Revolutionary consoles such as Nintendo’s Wii system have transformed the way people interact with computers, becoming more interactive and dynamic than ever before. Nevertheless the basic skills of typing, keyboard recognition and mouse manipulation remain the predominant way we communicate complex ideas to one another. Children who are comfortable in that environment are bound to succeed in whatever future evolutionary direction humans and their computers take.

It may sound strange but it’s important that the software be something you are interested in because at this stage it’s recommended that you sit with your child and guide them through using the computer and the program particulars. If you or your child ends up being frustrated then it’s easy for the whole event to turn into a chore rather than an enjoyable educational experience.

Preschool Educational software is aimed at children from approximately age 2+. At this stage in your child’s learning you should focus on helping your child be comfortable with the basics. As letter recognition may not be highly developed at this early stage, teaching the child about the mouse and perhaps a couple of noticeable keys on the keyboard is emphasised.

Preschool educational software, such as Jumpstart’s Toddler program, is designed to develop these early skills and then build on them to teach the acquisition of both computer and pre-school skills. Shape and color recognition, alphabet and numbers are some of the concepts covered in preschool educational software, covered and reinforced in a fun and engaging way.

Regular short bursts of time are key in teaching new skills to toddlers, because their attention span is typically short. This could be as short as fifteen minutes a day, but use your own judgement of your child’s behaviour to gauge the most appropriate length of time. Whatever you decide, don’t be tempted to leave them on for too long as this may lead to a deterioration of the experience for all.

Most important is to pick a time when they are not over-tired or hungry and a time that ultimately fits in with your schedule so you are available if your child (or computer!) needs help.

The following are four highly recommended programs for pre-school and toddler levels.

JumpStart Toddler Average Rating: 11 total customer reviews...

Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby and Toddler Average Rating: 37 total customer reviews...

Sesame Street First Steps Average Rating: 11 total customer reviews...

Adventure Workshop Toddler 9th Edition Average Rating: 5 total customer reviews...

You can also find some great games at the Big Fish Games website. They offer some great games for instant download and at a very cheap price.

Much research has been done into the phenomenon of computer games and their educational value for children. Naysayers like to use the argument that computers are merely a distraction from the real world but in the 21st century computers are the real world and the children will need skills of computer understanding and manipulation to perform even the simplest tasks in their lifetime. The ability to use the mouse, locate letters on the keyboard and understand how computers operate, how they think, is an essential skill that, like any skill, takes practice to learn and master.

Offering kids the opportunity to use computers in a necessary step in their learning. Allowing them to learn other skills while they do this is a bonus that will ease your mind as a parent or educator, especially if you fit the right program to the right child. Making sure the child is emotionally comfortable with the computer is the first step, finding the right size mouse and keyboard for their small hands is the next and then the final step is choosing the right software.

There are a number of children’s educational software publishers who offer grade based programs through primary levels and beyond. Primary software is the ideal place to start and there are dozens of engaging and informative programs out there aimed at the early learning levels. Finding the right early learning software for your child will help them develop and succeed in numerous areas of their life.

Much research has been done into the phenomenon of computer games. Naysayers like to use the argument that computers are merely a distraction from the real world but in the 21st century computers are the real world and the children will need skills of computer understanding and manipulation to perform even the simplest tasks in their lifetime.

Introducing your child to educational PC games is an exciting time for both child and parent but it can also lead to frustration if certain preparations are not made before-hand.

The tone you set in introducing the computer to your child is just as important as the software you choose. By taking time before your switch on the computer, you can provide a nurturing and supportive environment for your child to learn and for you to enjoy the experience of watching your child grow:

• Set up the environment to suit you both. Make sure there is room for you both to see the computer comfortably if necessary and for your child to use the keyboard and mouse easily.
• Make sure your child is well rested and not over-excited. It may seem like computers will help your child calm down, but studies show they will work better when in a relaxed environment and mood.
• Choose the correct software to avoid frustration. Make sure it is in your child's aptitude level and also in their interests. See our articles for further details.
• Be patient. When your child is using educational software don't be eager to jump in and show them how it is done. Of course they need basic instruction on how to use a computer but often the software is designed so a child can figure the problem out on their own.
• Make sessions short. Research has shown that regular short sessions (maximum of an hour a day) frequently are more effective than longer infrequent sessions. Make dedicated short computer time a regular part of your day or week.
• Allocate time so you can be around to share their successes if they would like to show you. You don't have to be hanging over their shoulder (this is actually not recommended!) but be around and available if they wish to show you have they defeated the Ugly Turb Monster by adding 5+5.
• Have fun! Learning is best if its fun, for both of you.